Supplements
Supplements without healthy eating are ineffective, yet even with perfect nutrition, micronutrient deficiencies are unavoidable due to genetics and lifestyle. Discover why intelligent supplementation is a key part of preventive health.
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We always want to be clear on one thing: even though we're supplement manufacturers and see ourselves as "advocates" for healthy living — supplementation has its limits.
We've always stated this clearly. That's why all our content focuses on lifestyle, healthy eating, and applied biochemistry. We rarely talk purely about the benefits of supplements.
Because supplements are just one part—sometimes a bigger part, sometimes a smaller one—of a healthy lifestyle.
Let's put it this way: supplementation without healthy eating makes no sense. A healthy lifestyle without supplements is... impossible.
Everyone Has Micronutrient Deficiencies
Because each of us has weaknesses. Even the best nutrition plan (what would that even be?), even an apparently balanced lifestyle with minimal stress (who has that?) and plenty of sunlight (like in southern regions...), cannot optimally nourish us.
The reality is the opposite of what we'd hope:
And so on—we've all heard and told this a thousand times.
Rarely does anyone mention that none of us has perfect genetics:
Additionally, it's rarely discussed that more of certain nutrients could actually be beneficial. Here we think of one of the world's most famous biochemists, Bruce Ames.
He was once the chief toxicologist for the U.S. ("Ames Test"). Eventually he got bored and later became a nutrition scientist, creating the Triage Theory.
The observation that the body quickly becomes satisfied with micronutrients when mere survival is at stake. But when it comes to living a long, disease-free life, sometimes you need considerably more.
He proved this, for example, with vitamin K: small amounts of vitamin K are enough to prevent bleeding. But you need significantly more—at least 2–3 times as much—for vitamin K to also support our immune system or keep our blood vessels clean. We need that long-term.³
The Magnesium Example
That's why micronutrients matter. One of the best examples is magnesium. Research has shown that 26–56% of people don't meet the recommended magnesium intake.⁴
The sad part is that most people still only associate magnesium with muscle cramps. Current research published in reputable journals rarely reaches them.
One such study was published about two years ago.⁵ Researchers showed that our most important immune cells, T-cells, need magnesium for a protein on the cell surface to function—the protein that allows T-cells to recognize cancer or virus-infected cells.
The researchers found that "adequate magnesium levels translate into better performance of pathogen- and tumor-specific T-cells, increased antibody effectiveness, and improved CAR-T-cell function."
CAR-T-cells represent modern cancer immunotherapy. They work better with adequate magnesium because the body's own T-cells function better. The researchers consequently found that cancer patients with insufficient magnesium intake perform worse and die sooner.
A similar study was published nearly ten years ago in the respected British Journal of Cancer.⁶ Scientists showed there: for every 100 mg below daily requirements, pancreatic cancer risk increased by 24%. Significant numbers.
Smart Prevention with Supplements
Of course, we would never say that magnesium deficiency causes cancer or that magnesium supplementation cures cancer. That would be irresponsible.
Yet we each have only one life. And the evidence on micronutrients (see above) should encourage us to make smart decisions that help us stay healthy for as long as possible.
That means: with supplements. There's no other way.
Research by Carsten Carlberg ("Vitamin D response index")
https://genetisches-maximum.de/naehrstoffe/genetik-drei-wichtige-naehrstoffe-fuer-veganer/
Joyce McCann & Bruce N Ames (2009): Vitamin K, an example of triage theory: is micronutrient inadequacy linked to diseases of aging?
Max Rubner-Institut: Ergebnisbericht Teil 2 – Nationale Verzehrsstudie II
Lötscher et al. (2022): Magnesium sensing via LFA-1 regulates CD8⁺ T cell effector function
Dibaba et al. (2015): Magnesium intake and incidence of pancreatic cancer: the VITamins and Lifestyle study
