If Our Ancestors Didn’t Take Supplements, Why Do We Need Them Now?
It’s a fair question.
Our ancestors weren’t taking probiotics or omega capsules, yet many of them were incredibly resilient. They lived closer to the land, ate simply, and relied on food—not supplements—for nourishment.
So why, in a modern world overflowing with food, has supplementation become so common?
The answer isn’t that our bodies have changed. It’s that our food has.
The Healthiest People Live Closest to the Land
Historically, the healthiest populations shared one thing: they ate food where it was grown.
They harvested at peak ripeness, ate seasonally, and consumed foods soon after picking or slaughter. Preservation, processing, and long-distance transport were rare.
Today, that way of eating is trending again—but what was once a survival necessity has become a luxury. Access to truly fresh, unaltered food in America often requires more time, money, and proximity to high-quality sources than many families realistically have.
Why Modern Food Isn’t as Nutrient-Dense
Physicians like Dr. Casey Means often point out that the longer food is separated from its root or source, the more nutritional value it loses.
This happens because:
• Vitamins degrade over time
• Soil quality has declined
• Produce is picked early for transport
• Foods are bred for shelf life, not nutrients
By the time food travels long distances and sits in storage, it may look beautiful—but it’s not what it once was nutritionally.
We’re eating plenty of food, but many of us are under-nourished.
Why Supplements Exist Now
Our ancestors likely didn’t need supplements because:
• Their food was fresher and more nutrient-dense
• Sugar intake was low
• Ultra-processed foods didn’t exist
• Digestive systems weren’t constantly overloaded
Modern life is different. Sugar is everywhere, stress is chronic, and digestion is compromised for many people.
Supplements didn’t become popular because people stopped caring about health—they emerged because modern life created modern nutritional gaps.
Why Quality Matters
Not all supplements are created equal. Because this is a booming industry, sourcing and purity matter more than ever.
Choosing a trusted brand—like doTERRA—means prioritizing transparency, quality testing, and ingredients that support the body rather than overwhelm it.
A Few Foundational Supports to Consider
Rather than taking everything, many people benefit from a few basics:
Digestive enzymes help the body break down higher-sugar and processed foods, improving nutrient absorption and reducing digestive strain.
Probiotics support gut balance, immunity, and digestion—especially important in a high-stress, high-sugar culture.
Omega-3s are essential for brain, heart, and inflammation balance, yet difficult to obtain consistently in a fish-deficient nation where sourcing can be hard to trust.
A New Perspective
Needing supplements doesn’t mean we’re failing—it means we’re adapting.
We live in a very different world than our ancestors, and supplements can help bridge the gap between how we eat today and what our bodies still need.
When used intentionally and sourced wisely, they’re not a replacement for real food—they’re a modern tool for modern life.
And thankfully, we have more high-quality options than ever.
