If you have not noticed the health supplement industry is booming. Top economists are calling the wellness industry the next trillion dollar industry. All around us we are surrounded by advertisements of various supplements. There are an overwhelming number of choices. Do you really need to supplement your diet?

Yes, if you want to have a long healthy life you must supplement your diet! You have probably heard doctors tell you that supplements are expensive pee. It is hard to believe but some doctors still believe that. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion but you would think a doctor would know the truth about nutrition.

The truth is our soil is more depleted than ever in history. This means all produce is lacking in vitamins and minerals. Even if we ate the USDA recommended 13 servings of fruits and vegetables per day we would still be lacking. The produce is that depleted!

It is probably safe to say over 99% of the population does not even get half of this recommendation in a day. The North American diet is full of processed foods, fast foods, and chemicals. Our body is on overdrive trying to get rid of the bad stuff without ever getting the appropriate amount of nutrients it needs. This leads to even more depletion in our bodies.

The next reason we must supplement is because of green harvesting. Most fruits and vegetables are harvested green so they can be ripe on the shelves. This depletes them of all the phyto-chemicals they would have gotten if they were ripened on the vine.

The fact is that even the Journal of American Medical Association (JAMA) has reported the need, not the choice, of, at the very least a vitamin and mineral supplement to your diet.

Quality is very important when supplementing your diet. It is important to educate yourself on what kind of supplement is the best for your body. To start your supplementation program it is very important to use a good whole food vitamin and mineral supplement. When I say whole food I mean that the ingredients come from food and not synthetic chemicals.

There are many more whole food vitamins available than minerals. Most natural mineral supplements are actually very small rocks. Some are even in liquid form claiming the body is able to absorb them. The truth is a rock is a rock. Our bodies were not designed to absorb rocks. A mineral must first be absorbed by a plant before our body is able to utilize it and all its benefits.

If you still think you are exempt from at least a vitamin and mineral supplement you have probably never experienced a major illness. It is true that most people have to have their health taken away before they start taking responsibility for it. That is just part of the hard knock theory of life.

If you are a person that can learn from other people's mistakes take a close look around you. You will find in the news that illness and disease is rampant. Fifty years ago there were only a handful of auto-immune diseases. Today there are over 80 identified with many more people that doctors do not know what to call what they have.

Sometimes the "Yeah but people are living longer than ever" objection comes up. The truth is that people are actually dying longer than ever, living their life in constant pain and illness. If you would like to find out how you can improve your health and not become a sickness victim, click on the link in the resource box for more information.

Copyright © Mary Thayer

Mary Thayer is an Ezine expert author who is passionate about health and wellness and helping others achieve better health. Visit http://www.optimalhealthsecret.com to learn how to Look Good, Feel Good, and Live Well!