bell - a verbalization of consciousness

Supplements

We talk about ‘commercialism’ and other (negative?/positive? — controversial.) effects that arise out of developed, capitalist nations all the time, especially America. We talk about our frustrations with this type of system throughout our entire lives.

Specifically, in the United States, I hear people complaining about the Fast Food market, and how it detracts from time in the home, with the family, around the table, cooking and eating (and cleaning-up after) a meal. I hear complaints (generally from an older population) about impossible diet plans, temporary gym memberships and failed arobic workouts. I’ve witnessed a countless percentage of citizens on cigarette breaks at work; millions of average patrons consume a glass or two of dark, home-brewed columbian coffee with a pinch of sugar and drop of milk at the start of their day and again at lunch; College students around the globe are popping pills and downing Red Bull to make it through the week and puffing herb or downing Red Dog to make it through the weekend. Our nation’s children are too energetic — they’re given Ritalin. Our nation’s women are too obese — they’re given Xenical. Our nation’s men are too sexually incompetent and too bald — they’re given viagra and Rogaine. Our nation’s parents are too depressed or too compulsive — they’re given prozac. Systems of capitalist markets and economies are designed to allow new products into the market to help provide for a need in a better way — more productive, more efficient, or what have you. It’s a system where healthy competition will produce a better product to make for a better society. But as of late, I look around and see a rise in commercial products for a demand that isn’t natural. There is an increased supply for a demand that is created, a fabrication endorsed by the very companies that sell the product. It’s as if America’s motto has turned into, “if you’re feeling this way — take this!” Are you tired? — take this. Are you too pained — take this. Are you too stressed-out — take this. Are you too slow? take this. Are you too weak? Take this! Too ugly — Take THIS. Too stupid— TAKE THIS. Are you too different — TAKE THIS! … YOU CAN‘T DO IT, CAN YOU? TAKE THIS!

We have become a society of ‘supplements.’ I’m not saying calcium pills and daily vitamins aren’t going to help you live longer. I’m not saying the use of niacin or Glucotrol or NSAIDs or DMARDs is a poor decision (especially for people with heart disease or diabetes, or Rheumatoid arthritis ). I’m saying, that in a world where so many supplements are available, we have got to be careful not to cross the line of necessity — a distinction that so many companies try to blur.

The other day I was at this natural foods store, buying some organic vegetables, and multi-grain bread. I was looking for products with Glucosamine and other good-joint-stuff to help strengthen my knees (for ultimate, of course) and on the shelf I saw a box of pills that was titled ‘Memory’ and subtitled with, “Enhance your Memory.” I looked at this for a moment, and thought to myself. “Well, gosh, it’s not like I have the greatest memory in the world. If I could improve my memory, how great would that be? What are these pills all about?” And then I realized what I was doing. I was denying myself the ability to improve on my own. I can’t sit here and generalize and say, “Supplements are bad. Stop taking them. Damn America!” That’s not the point. In fact, that is the opposite of the point. I was merely confronted with the realization that a chunk of the market looks me in the eye and says, “Aaron, listen, we know what your goals are. We know what you’re working on. We know how you want to improve yourself. But listen to us (were professionals) when we say - ‘You cannot do this on your own. You are not able to make this change without our help’. Take this.”

I want to live in a way where I believe that I can do it, without supplementation. I can get in shape. I can learn this. I can eat healthier. I can find outlets for my stress. I can like myself. I can do it on my own. Well, at least I want to try.

Why not live in a way where we believe we can do it, and more importantly that we try — try with all our might. On a side note, I watch ninja movies all the time (well, with as much frequency as possible)— and with every martial artist (of whatever Kung Fu form) there is a particular grace of skill, art of movement, subtlety of ability. It is the optimum use of the human body, focused on a holistic excellence of the self — and I have to imagine, these guys aren’t taking diet pills and popping advil.

Posted by bell at February 16, 2004 03:25 PM | TrackBack