How to Choose Supplements Wisely In humans, scientists believe that excess oxidative stress plays an important role in the initiation and promotion of atherosclerosis, cancer, cataract, arthritis and other degenerative diseases. Exposure to environmental perils, such as smoking, pollution or irradiation, eventually increases the oxidative stress beyond the ability of the organism's defence system to cope with it. To maintain health, we need a diversity of vitamins, minerals, bioflavonoids, and other nutrients. National health organizations have determined that we need 13 organic compounds and 19 inorganic elements for proper cell function. Because these cells are constantly under siege from free radical damage, there needs to be something extra to counteract that damage. Although we receive many of these nutrients from our diets, it is impractical and virtually impossible to obtain an optimal dose through diet alone. The medical establishment, and the public at large, is at last awakening to the knowledge that Vitamin Supplements play a huge role in preventing disease and ensuring a long and healthy life http://www.bionutrition.org/cellular-nutrition.asp .As knowledge about Nutrition and the need for increased potency of Vitamins and Minerals becomes better researched it has become clearer that a high percentage of people believe in taking supplements, and that this proactive approach to their own health, and the prevention of degenerative diseases, will save billions of dollars in health care costs. There is still much we don't know about the ways nutrients work together. A healthy body is an extremely complex system, and each functional area requires a diverse mix of nutrients. For many reasons, nutritional supplementation should provide nutrients that are both balanced and in adequate doses. For example, certain vitamins supplied in isolation can result in other nutritional deficiencies, and many micronutrients can be toxic at excessive or imbalanced levels. All components need to work together both safely and effectively." Please know that all vitamin and mineral supplements are NOT alike! You may be tempted to buy the biggest bottle of Vitamin C from the "big box" store pharmacy. But the perceived value may not be reflected in your desired outcome or result. What follows are some questions and answers on HOW TO CHOOSE A NUTRITIONAL SUPPLEMENT. There will be a brief mention as to why you need to start taking supplements, to understand the importance of providing the right ingredients - in the correct amounts, in the right balance, and in the correct forms - for all age groups. To be useful, all nutrients must be of high quality and be bio-available; in other words, in a form the body can absorb and use. The U.S. Recommended Dietary Allowances (RDA) lists essential vitamins and minerals in amounts necessary to ensure a continuation of life and to address nutritional deficits that may cause acute deficiency diseases. They should be formulated to do more than defend against deficiency diseases; they are designed to promote optimal health. The proper vitamin/mineral needs to contain greater amounts of almost all the necessary vitamins and minerals than are prescribed by the RDA. There is need to expand the meaning of "essential" to include several nutrients that recent research has shown help to maintain optimal health. We need a combination of antioxidant compounds to counteract free-radical damage in the cells. But mainly this will be how to buy something that will help you support your immune system. And this immune system is the very framework for your health and ultimately your life. It should be treated like gold! While vitamin and herbal products are inherently safe, it is in their manufacturing where the real issues of consumer safety lie. It is fact that nutritional supplement companies are basically an uncontrolled industry. Contamination and adulteration of a nutritional or herbal product, intentional or otherwise, can have serious consequences for the unsuspecting consumer. While government regulations provide for a measure of public oversight and an assurance of public safety, they do not necessarily act as an effective deterrent for the ‘unscrupulous '. There are enough gimmickry and quackery companies and products around, that, with regard to quality and safe manufacturing practices, the consumer must do their own “due diligence”.                                                                                                                                                                                                                 WHY DO WE NEED TO SUPPLEMENT IF WE EAT WELL