Do I Actually Need Supplements, or Is Healthy Eating Enough?

Even a healthy diet can leave nutrient gaps, making supplements an important complement—not a replacement—for foundational wellness.

I followed all the healthy eating rules. I avoided processed food, loaded up on veggies, and made nutrition a priority. But I still ended up in a hospital bed, facing Stage 4 colon cancer. That experience forced me to rethink everything I thought I knew about health. Stage 4 colon cancer wasn’t part of the plan—but it changed how I approach wellness today.

It raised the question I hear all the time: Is healthy eating enough? Or do we actually need supplements to fill in the gaps?

🎧 Prefer to listen?

“Over 90% of Americans are missing essential nutrients in their diets—even with efforts to eat healthily.”

Most of Us Have Nutrient Gaps

nutrient gaps in diet

Even when we try to eat well, the stats don’t lie: 90% of Americans fall short on key nutrients¹. That’s not just from junk food. Even people eating fairly balanced diets still run into shortfalls.

That’s when I started looking differently at supplements—not as an “extra,” but as a tool to support the foundation I was already building through food.

4 Reasons Supplements Still Matter
supplements vs food

1. Food Quality Isn’t What It Used to Be
food nutrient depletion

• 80% of people don’t eat enough fruits and vegetables
• Nearly half fall short on whole grains, healthy fats, or protein
• Soil depletion has stripped produce of nutrients over the decades²

Even a “clean” diet doesn’t guarantee your body is getting everything it needs.

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2. Life Today Demands More
modern lifestyle and nutrient needs

• Chronic stress depletes vitamins and minerals faster
• Nutrient needs increase with age
• We face more toxins, pollutants, and chemical exposure than ever before

I’ve learned to use targeted supplements as part of managing the daily chaos—not just when something goes wrong.

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3. Your Body Isn’t Like Everyone Else’s
personalized nutrition

Family history, stress levels, sleep quality, genetics—they all affect how your body uses nutrients. After discovering some of my own markers for cancer risk, I started using a personalized supplement plan—built from a simple health assessment that took my unique needs into account.

Guessing doesn’t work. Personalized support does.

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4. Stress and Illness Burn Through Nutrients
stress illness nutrient depletion

When you’re sick or under stress, your body uses up vitamins C, D, zinc, and protein even faster. That’s when a solid nutritional foundation really matters.

Supporting your body in those moments isn’t about perfection—it’s about giving it what it needs to recover.

Wrapping It All Up
importance of supplements

Healthy food matters—a lot. But for most of us, it’s not enough on its own:

• 90% of people are missing key nutrients
• Modern life adds stress, toxins, and extra demands
• Everyone’s needs are different
• Stress and illness speed up depletion

The right supplements don’t replace food—they support it. They help you build something solid.

👉 Curious about what’s hiding in cheap supplements? Don’t miss my next post.

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Bonnie Smit is a stage-four cancer survivor and special-needs mom who homeschooled her three kids through countless medical appointments. Now she shares faith-grounded wellness insights to help women build healthier lives without losing their peace. She offers support and encouragement inside her wellness community. When she’s not inspiring others there, she’s sipping coffee and wondering where the day went.