It's well known that poor diet and lifestyle choices result in a number of ailments. Coronary problems, cancer, diabetes, stroke, obesity, etc. are the red flag health issues. Out of the risk factors for these non-communicable diseases, unhealthy eating is a key one, followed by other problems such as tobacco consumption, hypertension, high cholesterol levels, high blood glucose levels, etc.
Further, statistics pertaining to childhood obesity are a worrisome reminder of the pitfalls of junk and processed foods, which does little to aid their growth and development. Studies show that in India, nearly 16% of children are overweight and 31% are in the risk of falling in this category. There is a huge population that is nourished in calorie intake but not in terms of nutrient intake. They face the challenge of meeting condition-specific needs in addition to foundation needs and could be the largest contributor in making India the future cardiovascular and diabetes capital of the world.
Causative factors
While there are numerous causative factors that are going into creating these situations, a lot needs to be done to prevent these statistics from turning into a wide-scale epidemic for the country. Several studies since the 70s that have been undertaken by the National Nutrition Monitoring Bureau reveal that consumption of food pattern has changed: there has been a shift towards higher protein, higher dairy, animal products, and oil and fats. There's a distinct difference between urban and rural consumption behaviours, there's a higher concentration of non-communicable diseases in urban populations that are linked to affluence and lifestyle. These shifts in consumption trends, in turn, have changed the focus of agricultural produce. Farmers are keen to farm items that are in demand, yield better results and have a higher sale value in the market - consequently, limiting the availability of other types of food materials that are required to consume a balanced diet.
Imbalance
When our food is harvested, it is often unripe. It's sterilised, heated, preserved, stored for a long time and, frequently, irradiated. As a result, vegetables and fruit thus lose considerable quantities of enzymes, vitamins and minerals that are essential to life. Rushed eating, ready meals and few natural wholefoods cause an enzyme deficiency in the body. Furthermore, pesticides and artificial fertilisers are used, which cause an imbalance in the delicate
ecosystem that exists in the soil and the germinating food. In this way no nutrients develop.
These foods only satisfy hunger, but offer the body's cells little in the way of living biological value. Other causes of enzyme deficiency include inactivity, bowel problems, being overtaxed, stress and being overweight. There's also the question of processing foods: for example, polishing grains robs them of crucial vitamins and other nutrition, and yet we consume these products.
Nutraceuticals
This has in turn spurred the nutraceutical industry which offers a host of remedies for all kinds of problems, for varied demographic requirements-supplements for kids, mothers, elderly, sportspeople, etc. Nutraceuticals, an emerging concept, can be broadly categorised as products which are extracted from natural sources (nature-like) or manufactured synthetically (man-made), which supplement the diet to provide nutrition over and above the regular food and help prevent nutrition-related disorders.
With the multitude of options at our disposal, complex market forces, the stresses of urban lives further leave people with few methods of staying fit, and healthy. While it's hard to influence the macro factors that have a bearing on our health, there are small but effective means of improving. It leads us to the question: what's the solution?
Quality is suspect
An efficient way of maintaining one's health is by eating well-steering clear of junk food and unhealthy products is the stepping stone. But the quality of most of the produce we consume today is also suspect. With this as a background, nutritional supplements play a vital role in delivering nutrients directly, enhancing the functioning of the body, and helping retain a balance of our systems. Our bodies are polluted by excessive amounts of heavy metals, all kinds of poisons, and protein and metabolic wastes. This "excess" burden becomes tough to manage for the body. The kidneys, the liver etc. cannot handle this overload, and the accumulated poisons are simply smothering the body. As a result, our body lives in a toxic condition (intoxication), and needs detoxification-a process that we seldom pay attention to. Although it's prescribed in various ancient texts, we don't often undertake active efforts to detox the body. Some supplements aid in detoxifying the body and helping it restore the balance of its functions and processes. Aside from these, each bodily function can be aided with the use of supplements-for example, in case of pregnant women, calcium for bones, iron deficiency, vitamins, immunity boosters, etc. among other types.
The role of eating a proper, well balanced diet in keeping fit is unquestionable; but our bodies still often need help in achieving its perfect state of upkeep. By aiding the body's natural process to better ingest food and gain nutrients from them, nutritional supplements help in getting the best from what we consume. Think of them as external catalysts to the body's processes.
Variety of forms
Health supplements come in a variety of forms-liquid, tablets, capsules, etc. A cursory Google search of "health supplements" reveals a horde of brands, names and products that are a few clicks away from being delivered to your door, while a select few need prescriptions. There are many others that can be bought easily at drug stores over the counter. The aspect that needs examining is their efficacy. Constantly experimenting with health supplements whose qualities are not verified can prove to be harmful in the long run. However, as with any consumer durable, even health supplements must mention ingredients. To assess the quality, take a close look at the labelling-many of them include substances that are synthetic and miles from the ideal things to be consumed. For example, the high sugar content in some of the supplements is detrimental to diabetics. Or, certain ingredients might trigger allergies as well, leading to a fresh set of health problems. As the emphasis on organic produce and the movement gathers steam in India, the concept of organic health supplements is also gathering followers. Made from organically farmed products, they do as the labels say, without causing any harm to the body.
Salus offerings
Organic Haus offers health supplements made by Salus House: a German market leader in the health foods sector. As one of very few manufacturers of natural remedies in Europe, Salus covers the bigger part of the production process itself - from seeding and harvesting to manufacturing and filling. Monastery gardens have always been a place of healing, recuperation and meditation. In addition to fruits and vegetables monks also cultivated diverse aromatic herbs. They knew how to use herbs to make their food more delicious and how to use their natural healing powers to cure illness. This traditional naturopathic knowledge, as well as many years of experience in selecting and growing organic medicinal plants is the secret behind Salus pure tonics. To this day, the plants are harvested only after they have fully developed their effectiveness. In their special composition with vitamins and essential minerals, the health-promoting substances in Salus tonics have a unique invigorating and healing effect. In doing so, the company complies with the highest pharmaceutical quality standards for medicines and the organic quality standards for foods. The raw materials are mostly from certified organic cultivation. Salus completely renounces the use of preservatives and artificial or nature identical flavours. Since 1991, Salus also cultivates medicinal plants in Chile, as the water and air there are still free from harmful substances and the soil is not polluted by artificial fertilisers, pesticides or herbicides. Having been involved with the production of remedies from plant and fruit extracts since 1945, the company has delved into extensive techniques of gathering vital nutrients from ingredients to create potent supplements.
Regulat ingredient
Another company that retails with Organic Haus is Dr Neidermaier Pharmacy-a Germany based company that has been involved in the making of Regulat: a unique concentrated ingredient obtained from fresh organic fruits and vegetables via the patented cascade fermentation production method. Cascade fermentation is a multi-stage process that breaks down plant ingredients and their enzymes and protein structures to molecular level. At the same time, it concentrates their protective effect and essential ingredients. Its benefits are many; for example, some users also say that consumption of Regulat helps with jet lag! The formula affects the body's metabolism through the use of plants and fruits such as lemons, dates,
figs, walnuts, coconuts, soya beans, onions, vegetable glycerine, bean sprouts, celery, artichokes, millet, peas, a blend of spices, and saffron. It is free from allergens and safe for use for anyone suffering from allergies.
History
The natural remedial qualities of vegetables and fruits have been long recognised by Ayurveda. Organic herbal supplements take these benefits, and help with less serious ailments and work in harmony with the body's process to support gentle treatment.
There are conflicting schools of thought that oppose the use of herbal supplements, while others that support this division of treatment for minor ailments. The crux, however, is to understand the impact of what's being consumed, its ingredients and the long-term effects of the supplements. While there's no substitute for good wholesome food, balanced by an active lifestyle, there's no running away from the need to support our bodies. For consumers, it becomes even more imperative to be aware of the products they buy, and the brands they follow.
