I've been curiously and quietly following yours and Agent's counter perspectives. While I'm glad you are both challenging the dogma pervading the supplementation industry (Which happens to have a lot of support from the pharmaceutical industry, as I'm positive your both aware of😉). We need people to understand the differences between not only the substances and their raw material origins, etc, but also how they work within the body, and pharmacological half-Life etc, and most of all the difference in qualities, standards, regulatory parameters (And capture). You are both doing a solid job at this, despite coming at it from sometimes different perspectives, research and personal biases. So props for that🎩👏💯👍
The reason I'm commenting is because I would challenge your statement re "...people would stop taking their needed nutrients in supplement form".
As a former supplementation advocate, non practicing Naturopath, turned health professional/organic farmer, I would have agreed with that statement absolutely, a few years ago. Couldn't find a person that didn't "need" a supplement, or good diet! 😉
However, since then I would come to reverse my stance to say that very few, if actually any individuals "need" supplementation as a regular practice. This is despite the constant bombardment of endogenous and exogenous toxicants, the malabsorption, generalised poor nutrition content via conventional and even organic agriculture, lifestyle choices and individual specific trauma.
The flat out reason is the body doesnt actually utilise supplements in the exact way that it does when acquired from diet, environment or endogenous production. Look at the nutritional/vitamin scientific literature. It's marginally better than the DEI or critical race theory science!- AKA bought and paid for by industry, and in large cases, insultingly low quality.😐🤔🤦♀️
We don't even understand the full extent of exomic impact on basic cellular mechanisms properly, the impact of the "newly discovered interstitium" (🤨🤦♀️🤦♀️🤦♀️🤦♀️), or even freaking effects of photonics on mitochondria! Let alone the very institutional biased literature on orthomolecular or nutritional science.
I would hazard that perhaps instead of endeavoring to counter Agent's statements (or worrying about them), it would be better served to challenge your own dogma around supplementation. It's really not as it seems. Pretend it's "covid science" and go down the rabbit warren😉🤣😂
You may be surprised, you actually may not. But I can gaurentee that you will be the very best practitioner that you can be, and i am guessing that you are.😉
Agent may or may not do the same self analysis, but I think the "shock-jock" tactics are more important than a deeper reflection. Besides, at the end of the day, if an individual decides to discontinue a supplement regime or not, it is not actually within your' s or Agent's jurisdiction, scope. It's their decision as an individual with autonomous humanity, unless we are acting as a parental surrogate?!😐🤔🤨😉
With much respect and appreciation for you and your work.🙏🙏 🤗
I appreciate your insight into the topic and your expertise as a former naturopathic doctor. I also appreciate you presenting a difference of opinion in a friendly and professional tone.
Discussing supplements brings up a great deal of varying viewpoints and research. One must factor in nutrient interactions, co-factors, utilization, transport, and cellular uptake. So, it is a complex topic with no short answer. Sourcing our nutrients from food is always preferable and best for optimal health. However, in the U.S., we spend the most on health care and yet are the sickest first-world nation with the highest infant mortality rate. Chronic health conditions such as asthma are associated with nutrient deficiencies such as low vitamin D. This may warrant vitamin D supplementation for children who don't have adequate sun access (think of a child living in an unsafe inner city neighborhood). Another person may have genetically elevated lipoprotein (a), which studies have shown that diet has no impact on this, but adding in targeted nutrients can be supportive (via Dr. Sinatra, Dr.Dach).
Most clients come to me with bags filled with supplements, and my goal is to reduce or swap them out. Many holistic practitioners are no better than allopathic doctors, just swapping a supplement for a pill, and I am not of that mindset. So, I do hear what you are saying.
In addition, if one is under stress, takes the supplement the wrong way (i.e., with food when it should be without), or has unaddressed digestive and malabsorption issues, all may render the supplement useless.
I examine the individual via food logs, labs, extensive history, and nutrition-focused physical exams, and I listen (so essential!) and try to use supplements only for short-term therapeutic reasons. However, some supplements are warranted ongoing for some people based on their lifestyle and health conditions. An example is my son, who is in A.F. special forces training. These young men put more physical and mental stress on their bodies in a day than most of us will ever do in a lifetime. They are not allowed to take supplements and consume military food during training. These airmen should supplement their meals because they cannot get enough military food to meet their stressful demands. Often, they are run down, sick, or injured. Others may not be able to meet their B12 needs via diet alone. A long-term vegan will require even more supplementation than just B12. I have clients with anxiety who benefit from long-term use of Pharma GABA and magnesium L threonate. Perhaps with more significant dietary improvements, they could remove these supplements, but who am I to argue when these supplements have reduced anxiety so that they can function in society? No absolutes. Look at the individual. Food comes first, but the amount of nutrients from food depends on its source. Most people do not eat a variety of foods, and this may result in suboptimal vitamin/mineral consumption.
I love that you are an organic farmer. Is this for personal consumption or as a business? If a business, you can gladly share your website here!
A woman commented on my comment on Unbekoming’s interview with you and it seems like you might know more about this: “When they started adding vit D to milk it killed babies. Don't believe the hype about vit D. Please watch Dr. Garrett Smith's videos on you tube. "Vitamin D is a poison" and he also often discusses vit. D in his weekly livestreams, which are all available on his Nutrition Detective channel.
If you are worried about vit D, get a sunlamp, and start with short exposure to see what's right for you.” A quick search shows Dr Garrett warns about vitamin A too?
Hi Dani. I have never heard of vitamin D in milk killing babies, but it makes sense to me when you think about it. Infants consuming "processed" milk fortified with vitamin D may get very high vitamin D levels, which is toxic since they consume large quantities. I just looked up his website to familiarize myself with him. I plan on watching his videos on hair tissue mineral analysis as I was taught this is not an accurate way to assess mineral status, so I do not run that test. But I am open to hearing what he has to say.
But for now, I still stand by my statement that some people will need to supplement with vitamin D. I do not believe in absolutes- saying "no one should take vitamin D" is no better than mainstream news saying a vaccine is safe and effective for everyone. You can't speak in those terms.
Provitamin A is sourced from plants. Previtamin A is syntheisized from animals who eat those plants. Each vitamin A form has distinct functions. Vitamin A should not be taken in high supplement doses. If a healthy person eats plants and animal proteins, they should be able to meet this nutrient needs without additional supplementation. But for instance, someone with psoriasis, I may add in "skin nutrients" which includes vitamin A, short-term.
I've been curiously and quietly following yours and Agent's counter perspectives. While I'm glad you are both challenging the dogma pervading the supplementation industry (Which happens to have a lot of support from the pharmaceutical industry, as I'm positive your both aware of😉). We need people to understand the differences between not only the substances and their raw material origins, etc, but also how they work within the body, and pharmacological half-Life etc, and most of all the difference in qualities, standards, regulatory parameters (And capture). You are both doing a solid job at this, despite coming at it from sometimes different perspectives, research and personal biases. So props for that🎩👏💯👍
The reason I'm commenting is because I would challenge your statement re "...people would stop taking their needed nutrients in supplement form".
As a former supplementation advocate, non practicing Naturopath, turned health professional/organic farmer, I would have agreed with that statement absolutely, a few years ago. Couldn't find a person that didn't "need" a supplement, or good diet! 😉
However, since then I would come to reverse my stance to say that very few, if actually any individuals "need" supplementation as a regular practice. This is despite the constant bombardment of endogenous and exogenous toxicants, the malabsorption, generalised poor nutrition content via conventional and even organic agriculture, lifestyle choices and individual specific trauma.
The flat out reason is the body doesnt actually utilise supplements in the exact way that it does when acquired from diet, environment or endogenous production. Look at the nutritional/vitamin scientific literature. It's marginally better than the DEI or critical race theory science!- AKA bought and paid for by industry, and in large cases, insultingly low quality.😐🤔🤦♀️
We don't even understand the full extent of exomic impact on basic cellular mechanisms properly, the impact of the "newly discovered interstitium" (🤨🤦♀️🤦♀️🤦♀️🤦♀️), or even freaking effects of photonics on mitochondria! Let alone the very institutional biased literature on orthomolecular or nutritional science.
I would hazard that perhaps instead of endeavoring to counter Agent's statements (or worrying about them), it would be better served to challenge your own dogma around supplementation. It's really not as it seems. Pretend it's "covid science" and go down the rabbit warren😉🤣😂
You may be surprised, you actually may not. But I can gaurentee that you will be the very best practitioner that you can be, and i am guessing that you are.😉
Agent may or may not do the same self analysis, but I think the "shock-jock" tactics are more important than a deeper reflection. Besides, at the end of the day, if an individual decides to discontinue a supplement regime or not, it is not actually within your' s or Agent's jurisdiction, scope. It's their decision as an individual with autonomous humanity, unless we are acting as a parental surrogate?!😐🤔🤨😉
With much respect and appreciation for you and your work.🙏🙏 🤗
Hello Barefoot Healer
I appreciate your insight into the topic and your expertise as a former naturopathic doctor. I also appreciate you presenting a difference of opinion in a friendly and professional tone.
Discussing supplements brings up a great deal of varying viewpoints and research. One must factor in nutrient interactions, co-factors, utilization, transport, and cellular uptake. So, it is a complex topic with no short answer. Sourcing our nutrients from food is always preferable and best for optimal health. However, in the U.S., we spend the most on health care and yet are the sickest first-world nation with the highest infant mortality rate. Chronic health conditions such as asthma are associated with nutrient deficiencies such as low vitamin D. This may warrant vitamin D supplementation for children who don't have adequate sun access (think of a child living in an unsafe inner city neighborhood). Another person may have genetically elevated lipoprotein (a), which studies have shown that diet has no impact on this, but adding in targeted nutrients can be supportive (via Dr. Sinatra, Dr.Dach).
Most clients come to me with bags filled with supplements, and my goal is to reduce or swap them out. Many holistic practitioners are no better than allopathic doctors, just swapping a supplement for a pill, and I am not of that mindset. So, I do hear what you are saying.
In addition, if one is under stress, takes the supplement the wrong way (i.e., with food when it should be without), or has unaddressed digestive and malabsorption issues, all may render the supplement useless.
I examine the individual via food logs, labs, extensive history, and nutrition-focused physical exams, and I listen (so essential!) and try to use supplements only for short-term therapeutic reasons. However, some supplements are warranted ongoing for some people based on their lifestyle and health conditions. An example is my son, who is in A.F. special forces training. These young men put more physical and mental stress on their bodies in a day than most of us will ever do in a lifetime. They are not allowed to take supplements and consume military food during training. These airmen should supplement their meals because they cannot get enough military food to meet their stressful demands. Often, they are run down, sick, or injured. Others may not be able to meet their B12 needs via diet alone. A long-term vegan will require even more supplementation than just B12. I have clients with anxiety who benefit from long-term use of Pharma GABA and magnesium L threonate. Perhaps with more significant dietary improvements, they could remove these supplements, but who am I to argue when these supplements have reduced anxiety so that they can function in society? No absolutes. Look at the individual. Food comes first, but the amount of nutrients from food depends on its source. Most people do not eat a variety of foods, and this may result in suboptimal vitamin/mineral consumption.
I love that you are an organic farmer. Is this for personal consumption or as a business? If a business, you can gladly share your website here!
A woman commented on my comment on Unbekoming’s interview with you and it seems like you might know more about this: “When they started adding vit D to milk it killed babies. Don't believe the hype about vit D. Please watch Dr. Garrett Smith's videos on you tube. "Vitamin D is a poison" and he also often discusses vit. D in his weekly livestreams, which are all available on his Nutrition Detective channel.
If you are worried about vit D, get a sunlamp, and start with short exposure to see what's right for you.” A quick search shows Dr Garrett warns about vitamin A too?
Hi Dani. I have never heard of vitamin D in milk killing babies, but it makes sense to me when you think about it. Infants consuming "processed" milk fortified with vitamin D may get very high vitamin D levels, which is toxic since they consume large quantities. I just looked up his website to familiarize myself with him. I plan on watching his videos on hair tissue mineral analysis as I was taught this is not an accurate way to assess mineral status, so I do not run that test. But I am open to hearing what he has to say.
But for now, I still stand by my statement that some people will need to supplement with vitamin D. I do not believe in absolutes- saying "no one should take vitamin D" is no better than mainstream news saying a vaccine is safe and effective for everyone. You can't speak in those terms.
Provitamin A is sourced from plants. Previtamin A is syntheisized from animals who eat those plants. Each vitamin A form has distinct functions. Vitamin A should not be taken in high supplement doses. If a healthy person eats plants and animal proteins, they should be able to meet this nutrient needs without additional supplementation. But for instance, someone with psoriasis, I may add in "skin nutrients" which includes vitamin A, short-term.
Would Fermented cod liver oil (Greenpastures) capsules be a supplement or an animal source?
Very helpful to know!