The most important part of any structure is its foundation. Go ahead and ask any architect. They’ll all say the same thing. A strong foundation supports the health of the entire structure. Even the cracks that develop on the top floor of a building can often be traced back to an issue at the foundation.
The same is true for your body. You require a foundation of basic nutrients every day for your body processes to run smoothly. From regulating your heartbeat to keeping your nails strong, your health starts with a strong nutritional foundation. Without it, your body doesn’t have the fuel it needs to run, and your foundation begins to crack. This can result in stress, signs of aging, and eventually chronic disease.
So, how do you maintain a base of good health? It all starts with foundational nutrition: maintaining daily levels of essential nutrients to support holistic health. Below, we’ll tell you what those nutrients are and how to incorporate foundational nutrition into your life.
All Nutrition Starts with Foundational Nutrition
It seems like every week people are raving about a new supplement on social media.
The message is simple: This is the ONE nutrient you’re missing, and it can improve every aspect of your life.
The truth is these supplements may have real benefits, but only if you maintain strong foundational nutrition.
For example, you might take a collagen supplement for healthy skin, hair and nails. Without enough of the foundational nutrient vitamin C however, your body can’t effectively synthesize collagen.
When you lack foundational nutrition, healthy nutrients go to waste in your body. And money goes to waste too. That collagen wasn’t cheap!
Foundational nutrition isn’t just the foundation for good health. It’s also the foundation of a healthy diet. With a strong foundation, your body can benefit more from the food you eat and the supplements you take.
Strengthen Your Foundation with These Nutrients
Support a strong foundation of health by incorporating these nutrients into your daily diet.
Essential Vitamins and Minerals
You know vitamins are good for you, but with all the supplements on the shelves these days, it can be hard to know which are essential. For example, apple cider vinegar is very popular for wellness, but it’s not an essential foundational nutrient.
The vitamins and minerals your body needs every day are:
- Vitamin A
- Vitamin C
- Vitamin D
- Vitamin E
- Vitamin K
- Vitamin B (B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, B7, B9, B12)
- Calcium
- Magnesium
- Iron
- Zinc [1]
It’s not easy to get all these vitamins and minerals in your diet daily. Americans are commonly deficient in vitamins D, K, E, B6, B12, and B9. Most Americans are also not getting enough essential minerals such as calcium, magnesium, and iron [2, 3].
For that reason, many people take a daily multivitamin to cover their basic vitamin and mineral needs.
Essential Fats
Essential fats are fatty acids that your body needs for critical processes such as brain function, immunity, and protein synthesis. Usually, we call them omega-3 and omega-6, and you get them from eating fish, nuts and avocados.
These are not the same fats you use for fuel, so eating more fatty acids does not mean you will gain weight. In fact, consuming essential fats is linked to weight loss [4].
Unfortunately, nearly 70% of American adults don’t get enough fatty acids (particularly DHA) to support a basic foundation of health [5].
Immunity Support
A strong immune system helps fight off intruders. When your foundational immunity develops cracks, your immune system gets weaker. People with weak immune systems may get sick more often, and stay sick for longer periods of time.
Essential nutrition for immunity support includes vitamins B, C, D, K and E as well as zinc and echinacea.
It’s especially important to get lots of these nutrients in the winter when you’re more likely to be exposed to germs. If you work in an enclosed space or don’t get much sun at this time of year, consider taking an immunity supplement.
Antioxidants
Antioxidants are like your body’s clean-up crew. As your body carries out its thousands of daily tasks, it can generate unstable molecules called free radicals. Free radicals can also come from pollution and cigarette smoke. Free radicals attach to your cells and DNA, degrading and destroying them.
Without antioxidants to rid your body of free radicals, they can cause a laundry list of chronic diseases and even death.
It’s incredibly important to include antioxidants in your diet daily, especially if you live in a city, smoke, or have a stressful job. If you don’t eat a lot of berries and leafy greens, take a curcumin supplement to ensure you meet your daily antioxidant needs.
Digestive Health Support
Digestive health is the gatekeeper of foundational nutrition. Even if you eat lots of healthy foods, you won’t meet your foundational basics without healthy digestion.
Nutrients for digestive health include probiotics and prebiotics, vitamin D, fatty acids and fiber.
Maintaining Foundational Nutrition
The truth is that most Americans are deficient in foundational nutrition. About half of us don’t get enough magnesium and calcium. Nearly 70% don’t get enough vitamin K. About 90% are deficient in vitamin E, and a shocking 95% don’t meet their foundational needs for vitamin D [3].
This may be why chronic disease is on the rise in the USA [7]. The CDC reports that over half of Americans have one chronic condition and over 1 in 4 have multiple conditions [8].
Foundational nutrition is more important than ever. As food prices rise and healthy options become more scarce, we are at high risk of cracks in our foundational health.
This is why Manna considers foundational nutrition to be the cornerstone of our work. We base our nutritional support around three core foundational supplements:
These supplements provide your body with the nutrition it needs to maintain a strong foundation of mental and physical health. They provide everything your body needs to carry out its daily tasks and protect you from germs and free radicals.*
We know that it’s not easy to get your foundational nutrition daily. That’s why we’ve formulated our supplements to be easy to take and highly bioavailable. In fact, our liposomal formulas may help your body absorb up to 10x more nutrition with every dose. And our liquid supplements are tasty and easy to digest.
Better daily nutrition builds a stronger foundation of health. This affects every part of your life from vital organ function to healthy skin to mood and memory. It’s never too late to repair your foundations and start living a better, healthier life.
Consider taking stock of your diet and adding more nutrient-rich foods like fruits, vegetables, fish and nuts. And fill in the cracks of your foundation with essential liposomal nutrition from Manna.
FAQ
Foundational nutrition refers to the essential nutrients your body needs to function properly and stay healthy. This includes a balance of vitamins, minerals, proteins, fats, and carbohydrates, as well as adequate water intake. The idea is to provide your body with the building blocks it requires for everyday activities, energy production, and overall wellness. Eating a varied and balanced diet is key to achieving foundational nutrition, ensuring that your body gets a wide range of nutrients to support its various functions.
While there are lots of vitamins and minerals that contribute to good health, certain nutrients stand out for their essential roles. The vitamins and minerals you should be taking every day include Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Vitamin D, Vitamin E, Vitamin K, and the B Vitamins (B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, B6, B9, and B12), calcium, magnesium, iron, and zinc. A simple way to get all these nutrients, in addition to a well-rounded diet, is by taking a good multivitamin!
Building a good foundation of nutrition starts with a well-rounded diet that includes a variety of fruits, vegetables, proteins, and whole grains to ensure you’re getting a wide range of essential nutrients. In addition to eating well, you can enhance your nutritional foundation with supplements. Our Liposomal Starter Bundle is a great way to begin. It includes a multivitamin for daily essential nutrients, curcumin for antioxidant and anti-inflammatory support, and an immune-focused multivitamin to bolster your immunity. Together, these products help cover the basics of good nutrition and support overall health.
- https://health.clevelandclinic.org/which-vitamins-should-you-take/
- https://www.medicinenet.com/what_are_the_most_common_vitamin_deficiencies/article.htm
- https://lpi.oregonstate.edu/mic/micronutrient-inadequacies/overview#:~:text=Specifically%2C%2094.3%25%20of%20the%20US,and%2038.9%25%20for%20vitamin%20C
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3257626/
- https://www.nutraingredients-usa.com/Article/2021/05/24/Study-finds-most-Americans-low-in-omega-3-fatty-acids-could-impact-mood#:~:text=out%20My%20account-,Study%20finds%20most%20Americans%20low%20in%20omega,fatty%20acids%2C%20could%20impact%20mood&text=New%20research%20has%20found%20that,on%20the%20US%20Dietary%20Guidelines.
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5876976/
- https://www.cdc.gov/pcd/issues/2020/20_0130.htm#:~:text=Research%20has%20shown%20increases%20in,27.2%25%20had%20multiple%20chronic%20conditions.