Considerations When Using Supplements

28 Jan Considerations When Using Supplements

The problem

With so many supplement options on the market today coupled with the tendency to use Google to self-diagnose health problems and find possible solutions, it can be overwhelming to figure out which products can be most supportive in your health quest.

If you’ve ever gone down the rabbit hole and Googled your symptoms, it’s easy to believe you have just about every possible condition, imbalance or disease that you come across in your research. Truth check: many symptoms are common in various imbalances.

Before you go filling your pantry full of supplements and likely causing more harm than good by overlapping multiple supplements that contain the same ingredients and exceed the required daily amount, and spending a ton of money that you don’t need to, don’t guess, test. Talk to your medical professional or natural health care practitioner first so you can target your specific issue and get right to the heart of the matter instead. Often symptoms are interconnected but may not be the root cause. Save money by getting professional help and limiting what you spend on buying supplements that are not appropriate trying to figure it out on your own.

My take on supplementation

I’d love for my clients to get as many nutrients as they can from food, but sadly our foods and soils are devoid of many minerals, so supplementing is often required when dealing with a specific health issue and even for general maintenance of optimal health.

Personally, I don’t believe in supplementing for life, that would be akin to being on medication for life. I believe that different times, seasons and reasons call for various nutrients. I often rotate my own supplements depending on what’s happening in my body and my life. And I take supplement vacations. Not only to take a break from popping pills but to really listen to what my body is telling me.

I believe there are other times where a “renovation” is required. Where we bring in the qualified professionals (someone that has experience and education to understand your biology and anatomy – like me or another health professional), good quality materials (high quality, therapeutic grade and doses of specific nutrients) and get to work making the renovation our main priority so it can be done as quickly and effectively as possible (focus on the one main issue) until the job is complete, rather than hiring my brother-in-laws friend who works on the job only on weekends or whenever there’s time in his schedule.  My approach is to bring in the pro’s, get the job done, get out and move on and not prolong the renovation for long periods of time with the whole house being in chaos during that time.

Personally, I don’t suggest specific supplementation for anyone without doing a full intake and working with them personally, however I can share the few nutrients that I personally use on an ongoing basis that I find helpful for me.

In my ongoing rotation

• Minerals – because our soil and foods are devoid of them & are required for vitamins to do their jobs
• Vitamin D – supports immune function, helps manage blood sugar, hormone regulation, digestion, mood, cognition and fat loss
• EFA’s – supports brain function, cell membrane permeability, cardiovascular health and reduces triglycerides
• Magnesium – metabolize carbohydrates, protein and fat, helps maintain muscle function, is required in over 300 body functions
• B complex – supports energy production, damage from stress, cognitive function and immune function

What I’m taking now in the winter:

(to keep my immunity & spirits high)

• Vitamin C – antioxidant protection against free radicals and immune support
• K2 – to help absorb Vitamin D
• Zinc – support the body’s natural defence system and the metabolism of vitamins, minerals and other essential nutrients
• B12 – energy production, helps the body metabolize nutrients and form red blood cells
• Lions mane – supports brain function, strengthens the immune system, stimulates digestion, and protects against cancer

It may be worth noting that I personally take as many supplements as I can in liquid form. For ease of use and because they generally offer a higher more bio-available dose than capsules.

If I can offer a suggestion when choosing supplements, chose products that are high quality from a sustainable and verifiable source AND enlist a pro to help you determine what you really need rather than guessing and wasting your money on products that not even be helpful or absorbable for you.

If you’d like to see the products I use and recommend, feel free to visit my virtual dispensary and take a look around.

Much love and happy renovating!