This is the first in a series of 5 on what we, at Damron Chiropractic & Wellness, consider to be the “Vital & Integral Players” – VIPs – of the supplements necessary for healthy aging.

Let’s face it, there are a lot of supplements out there today.  So many, in fact, that it’s near impossible to to discern what supplements to take, leaving many of us scratching our heads and walking away empty handed.  Well, believe it or not, there are some supplements that are more important to our overall health than others simply due to the incredible benefits they provide.  One might call them the VIPs of supplements.

The top five nutritional supplements, ranked in no particular order, that provide you with an optimal foundation to begin your wellness journey are:

• Fiber
• Fish Oil
• Digestive Enzymes
• Probiotics
• Multi-Vitamin

While this list in no ways ranks in terms of significance to one another, it is meant to provide you with the basics to ensure your journey begins on the right foot.  It is the starting point.  Many times we never take that first step due to the uncertainty surrounding what direction that first step should be in.  A common phrase describing this indecision is “analysis paralysis” – a decision is never made because we consume ourselves with analyzing our options to the point of complete confusion.

So let’s begin by dedicating this post with the first nutritional supplement on the list, fiber.  When it comes to fiber we know that it is an essential part of our diet, but what does it do?  Most of us might immediately think of Metamucil when we hear the word fiber or that fiber helps to keep things moving in the right direction, if you know what I mean.  But fiber is so much more than that.

Fiber is actually a carbohydrate that is found in the plants we eat each day such as fruits, vegetables, legumes, and grains.  However, due to its chemical makeup, it cannot be digested by the body.  Passing through our system undigested is what makes fiber so important to our overall health and puts it on the top five list above.  Fiber’s benefits to our bodies include:

• Helping to lower our blood cholesterol.
• Preventing diabetes because it slows the absorption of sugar into the bloodstream.
• Lowering the risk of heart disease.
• Reducing overeating by helping to make us feel full.
• Promoting a healthy bowel function.
• Adding zero calories to a meal to help to control weight.

Fiber gives our body that initial tune up.  Cleaning out the old to get ready for the new.  The new you! Unfortunately, most Americans are not getting enough fiber in their diet each day.  The average adult eats an average of 10-15 grams per day when the recommendation ranges between 25 for women and 38 for men according to the Institute of Medicine.

To help you reach your dietary goal of fiber intake, fiber supplements can help.  Sometimes our busy lifestyles get in the way of maintaining optimal health.  That should never stop us from giving our bodies what it needs to thrive.  Continue to build on eating whole foods full of fiber like brown rice, raw vegetables, fresh fruits, beans, nuts, and whole grains.

Utilize fiber supplements to fill in the gaps, because gaps can make for a very bumpy road.