Live Healthy Now

Nobody wants to go to the doctor's office. A lot of us don't even have health insurance. I chatted with Nutrition Consultant and Certified Holistic Health Counselor Matt Stokes (pictured below) about what you can do to stay healthy — because as you know, an apple a day doesn't always cut it.

Tonic: So Matt, what are the five best supplements or foods to keep a person away from the doctor's office?

Stokes: I feel the need to answer a question like this with broader strokes — when you ask simple questions like that of nutrition, you sell it short.

Tonic: Sorry, nutrition.

Stokes: Any five single things like spinach, carrots, salmon, brown rice and goji berries actually helping everyone on their own is just silly. We are all so different. But the five things we need more of are:

1. Water: We need it for virtually every reaction in our body to take place. I'd venture to say most people go through at least mild bouts of dehydration making these reactions more difficult.

2. Green, leafy veggies: They are nutrient-dense and fiber-rich.

3. Foods rich in essential nutrients: Essential nutrients are nutrients we don't produce on our own to to the extent that we need them. An example would be fatty acids.

4. Antioxidants and phytonutrients: During photosynthesis, fruits and vegetables do a surprisingly good job of dealing with the free radicals that are produced. It is believed that our bodies can benefit from these same properties by eating fruits and vegetables which are high in antioxidants and phytonutrients.

5. Quality whole grains: They are fiber-rich and don't tax our metabolic system the same way that refined sugars do.

Tonic: Are there alternative ways to replace prescriptions for depression and anxiety? Like St. John's Wort?

Stokes: With regards to natural ways of fighting depression and anxiety, I pay a mixture of attention to finding the best diet for the individual, and maybe even more importantly, exercise. There are studies that show regular exercise beating out antidepressants in some cases.

Tonic: The FDA doesn't regulate supplements, so it's hard to be sure you're really getting what it says on the bottle. Which supplement brands do you trust?

Stokes: I hesitate to recommend brands, but encourage people to understand what makes a good brand so they can choose for themselves — and to see supplements as "supplements" and not replacements for a lacking diet. Things to look for in a good brand are the following:

1. Make sure the supplement producer does independent, third-party testing to verify the quality of the ingredients.

2. Look for GMP — "Good Manufacturing Processes."

3. Make sure they are following ISO Standards.

4. Look into the manufacturer's attention to absorbability.

5. Listen to your body. If anything you aren't taking isn't treating you the best, find something else.

Tonic: Thanks Matt, that's very helpful! Any other advice for protecting your health, especially if you don't have insurance?

Stokes: It seems that the best thing to do is be the opposite of what the insurance system wants you to be. Be proactive about your health. Don't wait until you need serious drugs to fight an illness. It feels great to feel great. Yes, you could be hit by a bus tomorrow, so why eat spinach? You could also eat well for a month in which you don't get hit by a bus, and begin feeling amazing for the rest of your life, which will probably consequentially be longer.

So, if you want to stay healthy, eat right, and get some exercise! Sometimes, the answer is so simple. Be sure and grab your supplements out of the cupboard and check them out by Matt's standards. If you have questions, visit his website: www.stokeshealth.com and shoot him a message!