This year saw an exciting expansion of scientific knowledge in support of the field of nutrition and dietary supplements to benefit human health.  The more scientists learn about genes the more they realize that it is nutrients that make all the difference in terms of being healthy.  This should not come as a surprise to anyone, since our bodies evolved in the context of using nutrients to aid survival.  In the following sections I rank the top 10 nutrients of the year (don’t leave home without them).

Our bodies are confronted daily by excessive production of free radicals caused by our polluted environment, stressful lifestyles, and over-medicated society. Though we can certainly reduce the amount of free radicals our bodies’ produce (not smoking, decreasing stress levels, and avoiding toxic chemicals), our bodies are still unable to fight the overwhelming daily attack on the natural defense system.

Cellular energy. It sounds modern, but it’s as old as life itself. And it’s the very foundation of good health. When we have cell energy, we think better, feel better, move better, look better and perform better. That’s because, at a very basic physical level, our cells are responsible for everything our bodies do. Healthier cells mean improved vitality, mental clarity, weight management and physical performance. Cell energy also offsets the aging process brought on by cell degeneration. In a manner of speaking, achieving optimum cell energy is akin to having our own internal fountain of youth.