During my years of consumer research and exploration of health and wellness I noted a curious pattern emerge. The various health regimes I adopted, whether vitamins, super green foods, Chinese herbs, or homeopathic remedies, seemed to stop working.

This had nothing to do with commitment, discipline or dedication, as you will see below. I simply felt my regimen was no longer effective. Perhaps this has something to do with my body’s ability to utilize and absorb certain nutrients. At one point in my journey I was taking highly concentrated frozen super “uber” greens delivered right to my door in ice packs and…. an elite patented, stack of amino acids to release growth hormone (anti-aging).

Boy, I was really feeling great, even though dealing with the frozen greens was a bit of a hassle and admittedly disturbed my harmonious feelings. Well the day finally came when the super greens were no longer needed and I only took the amino acids during times of extreme physical demand, such as our yearly ski trip.

I also noticed the same pattern with alternative and complementary medicine. I usually had a particular health goal in mind when I went for a series of acupuncture treatments, body work or chiropractic (just to name a few) and at some point in time, I either reached my intended goal or hit the ceiling for that modality. I concluded that this particular regime, whether vitamin supplementation or alternative medicine, had taken me as far as I can go at this time.

It can be discouraging to experience health benefits and healing for a time and then seemingly stop getting the same results you once did. Rather than be disappointed, this may be a clue that your body has done everything it possibly can with your present health regime. It is very likely that you have made progress with your health and healing regimen, and you can be reassured that your body’s innate intelligence will lead you to the next step, as needed.

I once knew a practitioner who tested his patients before treating them to determine what their body’s priority was for that day. The patient may have come in for a chiropractic adjustment but he found they needed a vitamin supplement for their nervous system. Perhaps the chiropractic adjustment would be more effective when the nervous system was addressed first. When it comes to nutrition and vitamins, your body is going to absorb and utilize what it can at the time.

Your body’s ability to absorb and utilize nutrition will be a factor in your overall state of health. The body’s healing intelligence is always seeking a state of balance. Paying attention to your body’s signals is a simple but powerful way to progressively improve your health.

Your body organism is changing every moment and the vitamin supplements and nutrition you take in will vary from time to time. The field of health and wellness has come a long way since I first began my exploration and you can be overwhelmed with countless products and choices for vitamins.

Breakthroughs in science are now influencing the ways we choose our health products. Biological fluids (urine, saliva and blood) are now being tested in a way that maps out nutritional and hormonal imbalances. Genetic testing and assessments are no longer the next frontier.

While lifestyle choices and demands have been the big determiners of health, DNA assessments and genetic testing have now made their way into the field of nutrition. The latest research is responsible for focusing consumers on the vitamins that address key areas of health:

* Bone density, ligament and joint health

* Heart health

* Memory and brain function

* Immune System

* Energy and Performance

* Anti-Aging and skin products

* Loss of sleep and nervousness

* Libido

Science will continue to make advances and breakthroughs while your body carries out the business of healing itself. Keep approaching your health and wellness with an open mind knowing that you can always make improvements and reach your goals. Varying your health regimen for the different stages of your life and lifestyle is the most sensible approach. My approach is one of “complementary”, meaning, where there is a lack, seek to complete it.