As you have heard, it is becoming more and more difficult to get adequate nutrition from the foods we eat. On reason is the love we have for pre-packaged, processed food which are generally not very nourishing and are often loaded with chemicals and preservatives. They are very convenient, but nutritionally, can't hold a candle to the basics; meats, cheeses, fresh fruits and vegatables. These foods are generally not too damaged by processing before they reach the dinner table.

One of the challenges facing every homemaker today, is how to prepare meals that are quick and easy without destroying the nutritional value of the food. Most vitamins and minerals found in fresh fruit, vegetables and meat are heat-sensitive. They can be destroyed 30%-75% of their nutritional value.

Patients frequently ask "Doctor, do I need vitamins?" This is a question that can only be answered on an individual basis. I feel that if your diet is adequate in the required food groups, your need for extra vitamin supplements may be small. Vitamin deficiencies are a product of many factors such as; your diet, environment, stress levels and your body's ability to assimilate nutrients. 

While virtually all vitamins and minerals are essential for the growth and repair of body tissue; the amino acids are the most important. They are mostly found in proteins, meats, cheeses, fish, poultry, nuts, legumes, etc.

For those of you who have a spinal degenerative condition, I may recommend a Glucosamine Sulphate preparation. This is the building block for "connective" tissue repair and will speed-up your recovery process; it provides your discs with added nutrition for tissue repair.

There are new foods that are detrimental to the healing process. The most destructive of these is refined sugar. Most of the so-called "snack foods" are loaded with sugar. Patients who suffer from hypoglycaemia (low blood sugar) are often surprised to find out that they must avoid sugar in their diet. I am very cynical of "fat free" foods - they are a joke and generally loaded with sugars to enhance taste. Be careful!

As well, patients who are suffering from stress, infection, or disc degeneration should have large doses of vitamin C between 3,000 and 5,000 mg.

There's an old saying, "You are what you eat." If that was taken literally, we'd all be in trouble. Please remember your diet affects your recovery process and your health in general, so let's get into the habit of better nutrition.