I Didn't Think I Needed to Supplement ... Until I Watched This

Interviewer: Doctor, you've researched supplements for a number of years. How important are they and can people get enough nutrients throughout their diets? A lot of people say I eat good I don't need those, is that possible?

Dr. Derrick DeSilva: I get good, I don't need those expensive things that make my pee yellow. Is that what you are talking about that doctors used to tell people many years ago?

Interviewer: Yeah.

Dr. Derrick DeSilva: Well, I'll tell you what if you look at the nutrient density of foods' spinach, kale, broccoli, even the fruit today, it isn't there. The density, the concentration of nutrients is not in the food today then it was 20, 30 years ago. Why? Have you ever tasted a tomato that is grown at home during the summer versus a tomato that you buy in the store. Well, in New Jersey we are know for your tomatoes. I know difference. You can eat a tomato. I have patients, who grow these things grow organically that are organic farmers. I've got a myriad of patients that bring more fruits and vegetables in the summer, and I love it, I love it, I love it, I love it. By the way, anyone that is watching wants to send me fruits and vegetables that are organically grown please do so and I'll give you my address shortly. You can eat that tomato, and it tastes so sweet and wonderful that's what a tomato should taste like, right? Well, it isn't there. The reason it tastes so good is because all of the nutrients. It's ripened on the vine, and if you go to the store, you pay more for vine-ripened tomatoes. Are you kidding me? Really? I've got to pay more to get this thing ripened on the vine. That's my answer to you is you cannot. You have to supplement. I'm not saying you shouldn't eat. That's why they are called supplements because it's a supplement to your diet. Doctors say this to me all the time. You know we will be sitting in the rounds and somebody will start to tease me, inevitably. And then I look at them and say "I'm not limping. I don't look like I'm 70 years old. I can still out run you let alone out walk you. Defiantly, double the amount of push-ups you do. I will double them." We did that once in the lounge. One of the doctors said to me, "Really?" He did like 20 push-ups and the guy was my age. I'm 56. I said, "20 that's it? My sons can do, I don't even." I doubled it, and I took my jacket off, and I doubled. I said, "Now, will you listen to me." He said, "Yeah, I'll listen to you." But I said, "You're going to buy my supplements. I'm not going to give them to you." But it's true. It's because I take care of myself. I take my supplements, I exercise. I watch what I eat. I make sure I get plenty of sleep. I drink lots of water. So all of those need to become part of regiment. Not just taking a bunch of supplements. 

Interviewer: So many people get confused when they look at supplements. There's so many you can buy. Where do people start?

Dr. Derrick DeSilva: I think people need to start with supplements with a reliable source. I think you need to find a company that you like that you trust and go with it and I think you need to ask them questions and go from there. You have to do your own homework.