There’s a lot of information on nutrition out there - which can be quite overwhelming sometimes. Paleo, veganism, low carb… what is truly healthy?
As an orthomolecular nutritionist, I get this question a lot and… Well, there’s much more to health than just following a plan. It’s understanding, what your body needs. That’s where micronutrients come into play!
What are micronutrients?
Micronutrients are trace elements such as vitamins and minerals. They differ from macronutrients, like carbohydrates, protein and fat, because they are necessary only in very small amounts.
Micronutrients include minerals such as fluoride, selenium, sodium, iodine, copper and zinc, and vitamins such as vitamin A, B, C, D, E, and K. Because our body is not able to produce all vitamins and minerals, it obtains them from the nutrient-rich foods we eat.
But did you know that 75% the Western population does not consume enough micronutrients on a daily basis?
The consequences of micronutrient deficiencies
Nutrient deficiencies impact many bodily functions including your skin health, immunity, energy levels, your ability to focus, and last but not least - stress. Being deficient in certain minerals and vitamins can also lead to numerous serious diseases, like anemia or osteoporosis.
The food we eat is not as nutrient-dense as it used to be
Unfortunately, we live in times, where soil depletion from intensive agricultural methods and pollution have a big impact on the nutritional value of our food. It is true that fruits and vegetables grown decades ago were much richer in vitamins and minerals than the varieties we get today.
Plus, our fast-food culture makes it even harder to meet our body’s nutritional needs every day - it’s so convenient to grab a sandwich on the go instead of cooking a healthy meal at home. Who can relate?
Natural or synthetic?
Currently, over half of the US population takes synthetic (artificially isolated in a lab from eg.petroleum) nutrients like multivitamins. But truth is that it’s unclear how well synthetic nutrients are absorbed in the body and if they are actually healthy. When you eat real food that grow in nature, you’re not consuming isolated nutrients, but rather a whole range of vitamins and minerals with fibre and enzymes, that allow for optimal use by the body.
The easiest way for extra micronutrients
I have been involved in the creation of functional superfood mixes by Your Super and I’ve been using them myself ever since!
The Super Green mix is my favorite, because it’s naturally really high in micronutrients thanks to wheatgrass, barley grass, moringa, baobab, chlorella and spirulina. Whenever I feel like I’m catching a cold I pop it into my green smoothie and I’m good to go - it’s amazing! But you can use it in all sorts of recipes - you can get some inspiration on how to use your mixes in the recipe blog.
I love this company because they align with my own values - sustainability, high-quality ingredients, transparency and giving back as much as possible. Did you know that they donate a life-saving food bar to malnourished children for every mix they sell? Plus, they source their superfoods sustainably at origin and support the local communities there. What’s not to love?
Best,
Ellen
- Orthomolecular Nutritionist and certified Detox Coach
