By Dr. Claude Mondiere, M.D., PhD.
We eat to live. Medicine is an empirical science and we are far from mastering the different parameters that influence us.
The so-called supplements’ raison d’etre is the sustenance of every day life.
Their goal is to provide elements missing in our food and necessary for our body's development and maintenance, to give us the energy to be physically and mentally active.
All human biology is regulated by feedback signals. We must find the right balance, which varies from one person to the next, and from one moment of our lives to another.
Our bodies are composed of multiple elements, including certain organs that pump, transform and stock what we eat.
There are essential amino acids, vitamins and minerals that the body does not produce but needs in order to produce energy.
If they are lacking in our basic nutrition, there may be shortcomings and malaise, even disease. Supplements compensate for these deficiencies.
There can also be overloads, which can be treated through cleansing, purging, fasting, or even bleeding in older times. These come up in all cultures and religions.
Throughout the evolution of mankind, observers have discovered the benefits of certain herbs and minerals, as well as various ways to preserve them for the prevention of seasonal deficiencies.
Various cultures have their healers who prescribe such “supplements” with a magical touch, thus commanding respect in their communities.
Since the 20th century we have new medicine prescribed by doctors, and house landmark remedies to stay healthy have vanished: who remembers the probiotics given with a antibiotics prescription by a Doctor to avoid a deterioration of the intestinal flora? Probiotics are back now because digestion is a crucial part of well being and we rediscovered that some people were very healthy before WWI.
Yet this is one return, against mounds of expensive, aggressive and often addictive prescription drugs.
With the dominance of pharmaceutical companies turned multinational, the cost of the health system in America (and in many other countries), the severe lack in cooking skills in many homes, a new kind of medicine, accessible to all in supermarkets without regulation, has emerged. .
We eat to live. Medicine is an empirical science and we are far from mastering the different parameters that influence us.
The so-called supplements’ raison d’etre is the sustenance of every day life.
Their goal is to provide elements missing in our food and necessary for our body's development and maintenance, to give us the energy to be physically and mentally active.
All human biology is regulated by feedback signals. We must find the right balance, which varies from one person to the next, and from one moment of our lives to another.
Our bodies are composed of multiple elements, including certain organs that pump, transform and stock what we eat.
There are essential amino acids, vitamins and minerals that the body does not produce but needs in order to produce energy.
If they are lacking in our basic nutrition, there may be shortcomings and malaise, even disease. Supplements compensate for these deficiencies.
There can also be overloads, which can be treated through cleansing, purging, fasting, or even bleeding in older times. These come up in all cultures and religions.
Throughout the evolution of mankind, observers have discovered the benefits of certain herbs and minerals, as well as various ways to preserve them for the prevention of seasonal deficiencies.
Various cultures have their healers who prescribe such “supplements” with a magical touch, thus commanding respect in their communities.
Since the 20th century we have new medicine prescribed by doctors, and house landmark remedies to stay healthy have vanished: who remembers the probiotics given with a antibiotics prescription by a Doctor to avoid a deterioration of the intestinal flora? Probiotics are back now because digestion is a crucial part of well being and we rediscovered that some people were very healthy before WWI.
Yet this is one return, against mounds of expensive, aggressive and often addictive prescription drugs.
With the dominance of pharmaceutical companies turned multinational, the cost of the health system in America (and in many other countries), the severe lack in cooking skills in many homes, a new kind of medicine, accessible to all in supermarkets without regulation, has emerged. .
With customers unwilling to consult, the food and pharmaceuticals industries conceived a new generation of supplements, easy to purchase and recommended through appealing advertising campaigns.
Many laboratories produce both the prescribed and over the counter forms and make dizzying profits through unregulated sales.
First we take a drug sold as a supplement not knowing exactly what we’re doing. Then there is the issue of spiritual malaise and the wild goose search for magical pills. And the placebo effect: we take a pill and automatically feel better, then again on the next day and six months later we just can’t imagine life without this pill. Addiction is set.
I’ve seen clients come in for a nutrition consultation bringing a box overflowing with pills. They no longer knew why they took each pill, they were confused. The first consultation ended with a meal plan for the week and discarding all the pills..
Most of the old fashioned pharmacists who used to make remedies no longer exist, paling in comparison to modern drugs. Others became pharmaceutical companies such as Pierre Fabre who manufactures cancer treatment and elements for high end cosmetology.
In addition, (this is especially true in the U.S.), many laboratories have developed altered versions of an element patented in the public domain such as Ginkgo, and use that same name, but don’t respect the patent nor the formula. In an analysis of 40 products named Ginkgo, only 2 had the active effects, and amounts found varied from one pill to the next. The effects were of course volatile. It took some time for some labs to return to the initial liquid formula, an easier way to stabilize the active form necessary for the action desired. Who remembers that Ginkgo Biloba was the first tree growing after Hiroshima and that this is why those studies started?
It’s clever to consider health supplements: food doesn’t always provide us with all we need. However, to be useful, these supplements ought to be 1/regulated before being put on the market to avoid a biochemical crapshoot 2 /prescribed by competent health professionals, and taken during a defined time period.
3/ mentioned to a doctor during a consultation because if they have biological effects.
These elements have helped billions of humans feel better during centuries...not through “exact science” but with the counselling of healing sages.
Many laboratories produce both the prescribed and over the counter forms and make dizzying profits through unregulated sales.
First we take a drug sold as a supplement not knowing exactly what we’re doing. Then there is the issue of spiritual malaise and the wild goose search for magical pills. And the placebo effect: we take a pill and automatically feel better, then again on the next day and six months later we just can’t imagine life without this pill. Addiction is set.
I’ve seen clients come in for a nutrition consultation bringing a box overflowing with pills. They no longer knew why they took each pill, they were confused. The first consultation ended with a meal plan for the week and discarding all the pills..
Most of the old fashioned pharmacists who used to make remedies no longer exist, paling in comparison to modern drugs. Others became pharmaceutical companies such as Pierre Fabre who manufactures cancer treatment and elements for high end cosmetology.
In addition, (this is especially true in the U.S.), many laboratories have developed altered versions of an element patented in the public domain such as Ginkgo, and use that same name, but don’t respect the patent nor the formula. In an analysis of 40 products named Ginkgo, only 2 had the active effects, and amounts found varied from one pill to the next. The effects were of course volatile. It took some time for some labs to return to the initial liquid formula, an easier way to stabilize the active form necessary for the action desired. Who remembers that Ginkgo Biloba was the first tree growing after Hiroshima and that this is why those studies started?
It’s clever to consider health supplements: food doesn’t always provide us with all we need. However, to be useful, these supplements ought to be 1/regulated before being put on the market to avoid a biochemical crapshoot 2 /prescribed by competent health professionals, and taken during a defined time period.
3/ mentioned to a doctor during a consultation because if they have biological effects.
These elements have helped billions of humans feel better during centuries...not through “exact science” but with the counselling of healing sages.
great article! i have always thought along those lines but didn't have any back up other than my intuition. kudos!
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