Do You Really Need Supplements?

Dietary supplements, by their very definition, seem like they’re unnecessary. If you really needed them, why would they be called supplements? 

You would think the food you eat every day would give you everything you need to be energized and healthy. In one sense, it’s true — there are foods out there that do amazing things for your body, from giving you longer stretches of energy to helping you become physically stronger.

The problem, however, is the food we eat every day.

Walk down any aisle in the grocery store and you’ll find ingredients that didn’t even exist a century ago. Sucralose, canola oil, high fructose corn syrup — all of these things were added into the human diet in very recent history. 

Our Food Has Changed — And Not in a Good Way

Even when you try to eat “healthy,” you’re still dealing with a modern food system that’s stripped many foods of the vitamins and minerals they used to have. The soil where crops grow today is less rich than it was 50 years ago due to commercial farming practices. That means even fruits and vegetables don’t have as many nutrients as they used to (1, 2).

Add in the stress of modern life, a lack of sleep, and long hours on screens, and your body ends up needing more nutrients than ever — while getting less from your food.

This is where supplements can help.

Supplements Help Fill the Gaps

Supplements are tools. They’re not meant to replace real food. But when your body is running low on certain nutrients, the right supplement can give you a much-needed boost.

For example:

• Electrolytes and Minerals:
  If you’re feeling tired, getting muscle cramps, or not recovering well after a workout, you might be low on key minerals like magnesium, potassium, or sodium. A good electrolyte supplement can help you feel more balanced, more hydrated, and more energetic†.
  
  

• Ashwagandha and Green Tea (L-theanine):
  If you’re dealing with stress, anxiety, or poor sleep, your nervous system might be overloaded. Ashwagandha is a natural herb that helps your body handle stress more calmly. L-theanine, found in green tea, helps you feel focused and relaxed without making you sleepy†. These can support your mind and mood in a natural way.

What If I Take Medication?

Here’s something most people don’t hear: a lot of medications deplete nutrients as a side effect.

Birth control can drain your body of B vitamins and magnesium (3). Acid blockers (like the ones used for heartburn) can make it harder to absorb vitamin B12 (4). Statins (used for cholesterol) reduce CoQ10, a nutrient your heart and muscles need to work well (5).

That means, even if the medication is helping one issue, it could quietly be creating another. Supplements can help restore those lost nutrients and keep your body in balance.

Supplements Aren’t Magic

Let’s be clear: no pill will fix a poor diet or lack of sleep. But if you’re already trying to take care of yourself — or even just getting started — supplements can give your body the support it needs to make real progress.

Of course, not all supplements are created equal, and all too often companies take your hard-earned money and give you a cheap product with low-quality ingredients that do nothing for your body. Or worse, ingredients that actually harm your body.

Because supplements don’t need to be regulated in the same way food and drink do, supplement companies regularly get away with adding garbage to their products and sweeping it under the rug. And all too often, people choose the cheapest supplements they can find (which are usually the ones doing this very thing), making compromises to their health for the sake of marginal convenience.

Not at ViCera. In every aspect of our product formulation, we have made sure to gain access to the best — the best livestock for our protein powder, the best ashwagandha root for Ignite, even down to the best sea salt in the world for Hydrate.

We’re not wasting our time cranking out unnecessary fluff products that your body doesn’t actually need. 

Instead, we did all the essentials at the highest level.

High-quality supplements help you build energy, reduce stress, and feel more like you again.

If you’re tired, overwhelmed, or wondering why you don’t feel as good as you think you should — it might not be something wrong with you.

Your body might just be missing something.

Supplements can help you fill in the gaps, feel better faster, and build real, lasting health from the inside out. Because “just getting by” in life isn't good enough — your body deserves real support.

If you need help choosing which of our supplements are right for you, feel free to reach out to customer service — you’ll hear directly from a real member of our team about what to consider for your particular situation, product details, and more. You’ll be on your way to a healthier you in no time 💪

† We are required to say that these statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. Products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

Relevant Studies

1. Davis, D. (2009). Declining Fruit and Vegetable Nutrient Composition: What Is the Evidence?. Hortscience, 44, 15-19. https://doi.org/10.21273/HORTSCI.44.1.15.

2. Mayer, A. (1997). Historical changes in the mineral content of fruits and vegetables. British Food Journal, 99, 207-211. https://doi.org/10.1108/00070709710181540.

3. Lussana, F., Zighetti, M., Bucciarelli, P., Cugno, M., & Cattaneo, M. (2003). Blood levels of homocysteine, folate, vitamin B6 and B12 in women using oral contraceptives compared to non-users.. Thrombosis research, 112 1-2, 37-41 . https://doi.org/10.1016/J.THROMRES.2003.11.007.

4. Damodharan, S., Raj, G., Sakthibalan, M., Dakshinamoorthy, K., & Muraliswaran, P. (2020). Effect of long-term acid suppression therapy with proton pump inhibitors or H2 receptor blockers on serum vitamin B12 levels in elderly population. Irish Journal of Medical Science (1971 -), 190, 1213-1217. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11845-020-02399-w.

5. Banach, M., Serban, C., Ursoniu, S., Rysz, J., Muntner, P., Toth, P., Jones, S., Rizzo, M., Glasser, S., Watts, G., Blumenthal, R., Lip, G., Mikhailidis, D., & Sahebkar, A. (2015). Statin therapy and plasma coenzyme Q10 concentrations--A systematic review and meta-analysis of placebo-controlled trials.. Pharmacological research, 99, 329-36 . https://doi.org/10.1016/j.phrs.2015.07.008.