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Natural WONDERS Pamela Zakostelsky, nothing can be and potions, all neatly arranged like a mini cityscape, each one promising to make you feel better? Not that the claims made for them are completely wrong, but faced with scores of different products, many of which are out of date, purchased under the assumption they're useful, or no longer relevant to our ailment or purpose, it can be hard to keep track of what's what. The reality is, you probably don't need every bottle. But deciding what to keep and what to ditch is not necessarily an easy process. If you're focused in your approach, it can be done. Here's how. W ho hasn't gone to their pantry and noticed a pile of bottles and boxes of natural pills 84 SHEILA MARCH 2012 help improve health, but according to naturopath Vitamins and supplements can achieved without a targeted approach Start with the out-of-date nutrient products and throw them in the bin. Hopefully after that cull you will have what naturopaths consider to be the top of the wellness pyramid for prevention. Ideally, that would include products such as an organic blend of plant oils, mercury-free fish oils, green supplements with spirulina, wheat grass or a blend of vegetables with high lelvels of antioxidants, bioflavonoids, a multivitamin powder with magnesium, and maybe a live acidophilus supplement for good measure. If your supplements contain a good representation from each of these groups, you will be off to a good start to creating a useful collection. Many scientific studies claim that the body needs appropriate nutrients, vitamins and minerals in order to stay healthy and in what naturopaths call homeostasis, or equilibrium, and that this cannot be done purely through diet. If your goal is weight loss and improved physical fitness, supplementation is especially important because you will want to make sure you receive adequate nutrition while reducing your intake of calories and increasing activity. If you are detoxing your body to increase your energy then purging the liver will mean you will need extra nutrients through supplementation to replace those lost through detoxification. The reason for increasing the nutrient profile is to up the ante on what you need to prevent those unhealthy cravings that tempt us. T you probably don't need EVERY BOTTLE THE REALITY IS the labels of supplements, but the correct therapeutic dosage should be established by getting advice from a qualified professional. Seeing a naturopath can also help you to get the benefits of the correct therapeutic dose of vitamins, usually a larger amount of certain nutrients known to prevent, heal or ease the symptoms of he dietary requirements for essential vitamins and minerals are printed on certain disorders and diseases. The quality of the fuel you put into your body directly reflects the quality of energy you exert, so choose your source for vitamins and minerals carefully and make sure it is matched with good, professional expert advice about what it is your body really needs. As a general guide, follow the pyramid opposite.