Here are some nutrition facts that will shake you. 30% of all cancers in the world are caused by improper nutrition. 22% of the people who die from cardiovascular disease every year, do so because of the absence of a balanced diet and nutrition. 50% of all diabetes in the world is because of bad nutrition. The total economic cost of all these nutrition related illnesses every year is estimated to be as high as - 71 billion dollars. This brings before us to the importance of proper nutrition and how we can use nutrition to step up our life and lead a better life. Let us take fats, In a country like the United States, about 21% of all deaths are because of coronary heart disease(CHD). Not only that saturated fats and cholesterol are related to the development of atherosclerosis. Every epidemiological study has shown that increased consumption of fats is responsible for an increase in the bad cholesterol - Low density lipoprotein - common known as LDL and also an increase in total cholesterol levels which can severely damage and block the arteries supplying blood to the heart.. Increased accumulation of fat in the body leads to obesity. In fact obesity increases the risk of chronic diseases such as hypertension, high blood cholesterol, type 2 diabetes, CHD, stroke, gallbladder disease, osteoarthritis, and certain cancers.

In the U.S., on an average 25% of post-menopausal women have osteoporosis. This ranges from 10% in African American to 20% in Asians and Caucasians. Lower calcium intake is the culprit out here in causing reduced bone mass and consequent risk of fractures.

Sodium is essential to our body in controlling blood pressure and regulation of body fluids. Higher sodium intake is responsible for higher blood pressure. Therefore, there is a need to control sodium levels. Consumption of whole grains or other forms of the same like whole wheat bread is related to the reduced risk of certain cancers and cardiovascular disease. The reason for this would be certain protective chemicals like antioxidants, phytochemicals and plenty of fiber.

Similarly, the consumption of fruits and vegetables has a protective effect against CHD and stroke. Fruits and vegetables contain vitamins B6, B12, E, carotenoids and folate, all of which necessary for the proper functioning and health of the body. Regular physical exercise greatly reduces the risk of heart disease, colon cancer and type 2 diabetes. Thus ensuring a long life. It also helps build strength and enhances mental health

The only way to prevent obesity, manage weight and improve uptake of essential nutrients is through exercise and proper nutrition in tandem. With the kind of busy lifestyle we lead, doing quick exercise, may not be that difficult. Even if one does fast walking for ½ an hour every day, it is enough to give us adequate aerobic exercise. However it is ensuring adequate nutrition that becomes a challenge. Most of the food that we eat in the middle of a busy working day is fast food. That gives most of us very poor nutrition. That is why we need nutrition supplementation independent of food sources. A supplement is defined as any substance added to the diet to make up for a nutritional deficiency. Common supplements include vitamins, proteins in their basic form of amino acids, minerals, herbs and other botanicals.

Today there are plenty of nutrition supplements available from healthcare and pharmaceutical companies. Taking supplements in the non-natural form however can cause many side-effects. For example, most women do not know that calcium supplementation manifold increases the risk of kidney stones. For that matter, even taking too much of Vit C can have a detrimental effect on the bones.

The best thing is to take supplements in the natural form in the form of herbal nutrition. This ensures adequate nutrition in the natural form that reduces the risk of harmful side-effects. They include some of the oldest forms of traditional medicine such as Ayurveda - The Indian traditional system of medicine which uses not only herbs but a holistic system of treatment. Then there is Chinese traditional medicine, which is equally good. But what is more popular, is herbal nutrition supplements in the form of pills and syrups for a diverse range of indications. These include Aloe Vera, Boswellia, Cascara Sagrada, Evening Primrose Oil, Flax seed, Korean Ginseng, Rosemary and many others.

While normal individuals need supplements for ensuring adequate nutrition. It is the sportsperson who needs it for their achieving their career goals. The importance of sports nutrition can only be gauged by the fact that today, every coach in any sport carefully monitors what his players eat and in what quantity. This is because fitness has become very important in sports today. Therefore, no wonder that supplements like Alpha lipoic acid, creatinine, GABA, DHEA are popular with sportsperson , who are increasingly on the lookout for quick performance enhancers. Clearly complete nutrition can only be got from nutrition supplements and if they are herbal supplements, then the question of safety does not arise. If you reading this and have not yet started taking nutrients supplements - do not wait, go for nutrient supplementation and step up your life to ensure good nutrition and perfect health. References:NutritionalSupplements.com Real people provide unbiased reviews of today's most popular supplements, vitamins and herbs. From diet pills to muscle builders to fat burners to weight gainers, get the truth about these products from the people who buy them...instead of the companies who try to sell them to you!