You’re inundated with commercials, and as soon as you start searching – boom – your social media is popping up ads for “the best ever” something. You stand in the vitamin aisle in the grocery store, wondering “Do I need this? All of this? Any of this? WOW that’s a lot of money for a tiny capsule of something I can’t pronounce”. You walk away, overwhelmed or simply, over IT.
So, lets level set. First and foremost, a supplement is just that; filling a need you’re not satisfying with nutrition, offsetting (negative) effects of prescription medication, supporting your body during stress, or compensating for seasonality (weather or life stage, or – both!). Assess often, adjust accordingly.
Supplements should be taken intentionally; know the gap you’re trying to fill. Consider the stress you may be under; mentally, physically and medically – think, surgical procedures, round of antibiotics, hormonal life changes to ease? Is it a dark and depressing time of year where the entire northeast should probably supplement at least Vitamin D? I joke … kind of. Something I have said, time and again, just because it’s a great supplement, it may not be great for everyone.
Further, absorption is KEY. Unless your goal is to have expensive pee, then you need to make sure your body can actually use the supplement, and in what form. Liposomal delivery (liquid that survives the stomach and is absorbed in the intestines) is often recommended. Capsules, powders, tablets and now even gummies are readily available.
Regardless of delivery method for you, make sure to understand when to take each supplement, and with what – food? No food? Did you know, if you supplement D3, you should always take with K2? If you take a calcium supplement, make sure you wait to take your magnesium and zinc supplements, or – maybe an Iron supplement, are you pairing with vitamin C, or pairing with a C-rich foods? You get the point.
Lastly, shop for quality. Where is the product manufactured AND where is the supplement sourced from? Is it 3rd party tested? Organic or at a minimum, non-GMO should be prioritized. Added sugars, and other seemingly unrelated additives should be a red flag, if nothing more, to dig deeper. Supplements are not typically inexpensive; make sure you’re getting the most for your money.
So, I can’t say YOU need any supplement, but you’re human, life has a way of life-ing and we all need help from time to time. Come visit us to browse vitamins and supplements and meet local neighbors who truly care about your well-being.
j.m.
