John Arts - Natural health researcher John Arts is a natural health researcher and supplement formulator. If you have questions or would like a free health plan you can contact John on 0800 423 559 or join his newsletter at www.johnarts.co.nz.

Life is not perfect and certainly this applies to health. There is much we have no control over. We are born with a set of genetic weaknesses we inherited from our parents. We could not control what our parents fed us as young children.

While accepting that there are many things we cannot change, the key to health is to identify all the things we can change, starting of course with what we put in our mouths and what we do with our bodies.
If you are not well, or perhaps have the first signs of some health problem, the first call should be to your GP to get a proper diagnosis. Once you have done this, you should gather information about the role nutrients from diet and supplements, to help your body's defences restore your health. You may require a period of more intensive supplementation with specialist products before dropping to a maintenance level.
For example, let's say you have some arthritis in your fingers and hands. Left unchecked the condition will steadily worsen. Add the compounds that prevent oxidation of joint cells, reduce local inflammation by changes to dietary fats and the difference can be profound. Not only will there be almost certainly a reduction in pain and swelling, but the rate of degeneration could slow quite dramatically.
If you feel great, I still strongly recommend supplementing a good diet with a maintenance level of a broad spectrum multi-antioxidant that is also a full multi-mineral and multivitamin. This becomes a real insurance policy that guarantees you are getting optimum levels of all these critical micronutrients. Avoid products that claim you can get all the nutrients you need in a one-a-day formulation. It may sound great, but no single tablet can contain optimal levels of antioxidants and minerals.
If you are not well it is worth remembering that many of the background causes of the problem were directly or indirectly linked to insufficient micronutrients over many years. You cannot expect to return to health while ignoring the very things that caused the problem in the first place.

John Arts is a natural health commentator and researcher. If you have questions or would like a free health plan you can contact John at john@johnarts.co.nz or phone 07 578 9051 or 0800 423 559. You can join his newsletter at www.johnarts.co.nz