WEEK 1 - What Supplements Should I take? | SUPPLEMENT MASTERY SERIES
WEEK 1: What Supplements Should I Take?
The top of a new year is often when we start reflecting on what we want out of the next year. We start to think about how we want to show up for ourselves and others.
Health is often a hot topic when thinking about future goals.
As a holistic health practitioner (excuse me while I put on my nerd glasses), I could talk about health all day!
Be aware, kittens - there is something sinister happening this time of year in the health and fitness world. Your feeds are likely getting flooded with ads for supplement solutions that will magically resolve all your symptoms.
But there is a lot to be said about quality, absorbability, and your body’s unique health needs that need to be considered before diving into supplements. Not all supplements are created equal, and many are just plain trash.
And while I do not advocate for nutritional supplements as a primary support for getting healthy, supplements commonly help my clients get "over the hump” when working to get through a particularly sticky symptom or dysfunction.
For those of you who are not working with a holistic practitioner, I wanted to make sure you have a good quality resource for understanding the purpose of supplements, and the research behind individual nutrients, specifically regarding:
liver detoxification
skin care products
anti inflammatory diet supplements
pain relief
nutrients to help bloat
constipation relief
acne systs and acne treatment
heartburn relief
and womens health
This article is your resource for understanding supplements, how to choose the best quality supplements, what nutrients your body needs, and how to know if something more deeply rooted needs to be addressed.
This is Week 1 of my Supplement Mastery Series. I invite you to follow along and subscribe for empowering health tools delivered weekly to your inbox.
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Things to Consider Before Taking New Supplements
My 1:1 work with clients empowers them to understand their body’s unique health needs, so they can trust their symptoms, and take control of their health.
Sometimes that type of work includes nutritional supplement support.
However, know that using supplements to resolve symptoms without addressing the underlying cause is a waste of your money.
Always consult with a qualified healthcare practitioner before adding any supplements to your routine.
Who Should Take Supplements (and Who Should NOT)
When are nutritional supplements NOT a good idea?
without being properly assessed by a qualified holistic practitioner
if you are not also addressing the underlying causes of your symptoms
if any nutrients interact with the medications you are taking
if the supplement is not absorbable by your body (supplement quality, anti-nutrients, your diet, and your biochemical makeup will determine whether a nutrient can be absorbed by your body)
if your digestion does not work well (symptoms like constipation, diarrhea, chronic bloating after meals, acne, eczema, and heartburn/acid reflux, are all indications of poor digestive health)
if the nutrients you are supplementing will cause an imbalance of other important nutrients
if the product contains fillers, preservatives, sweeteners, or artificial colorings
When ARE nutritional supplements a good idea?
when additional support is needed on top of the action you are taking to address the root cause(s) of a symptom
when digestion works well (you have regular bowel movements, don’t experience chronic bloating, and have clear skin)
when food availability or dietary restrictions prevent you from getting the nutrients your body needs
after you’ve been properly assessed by a qualified holistic practitioner
when the product is good quality, containing no fillers, preservatives, sweeteners, or artificial colorings
How Do I Know Which Supplements are High Quality?
Choosing quality supplements doesn’t have to be daunting.
It’s easy in the food world to tell you to only choose foods with very few ingredients that only contain ingredients you recognize as whole foods.
But it doesn’t work the same way in supplements. Ingredients listed on labels of nutritional supplements often contain big words that leave a lot of people scratching their heads.
Words like magnesium-bis-glycinate, or N-acetylcysteine.
So you can see the rules you follow for choosing good quality foods, do not apply to supplements.
To simplify this process for you, my recommendation for choosing quality supplements comes down to purchasing from a reputable supplement supplier - a supplier that is known for:
vetting the products they carry
does not allow preservatives, fillers, sweeteners, and artificial colorings into the products they carry
who pay attention to temperature control
whose sole focus is on selling supplements - not a million other products
That last one is especially important, and I will tell you why.
In general, when supplements are one small portion of a larger operation (e.g. a big-box store), it is more difficult to regulate the quality, temperature, and potential tampering (yep!) of products, than it is with expert supplement suppliers.
Options for purchasing quality supplements:
When you find a product you know you like, go to the source. Order from that company directly. They often offer discounts and rewards for frequent buyers, and you can rest assured the supplement is only passing through their hands.
Dispensaries like Fullscript, Natural Partner, and Rupa Health - These dispensaries offer a variety of brands and products that are practitioner-grade, and vetted for quality and absorbability. You can only access these dispensaries through a healthcare practitioner, but they are an excellent way to access a wide variety of brands and products, all of which are of great quality. Access my Fullscript dispensary here.
What’s Next?
In Week 2 of the Supplement Mastery Series, we will be discussing what supplements to take for Liver Detoxification.
Questions or comments? Please post them in the comments below.
REFERENCES
Gaby, A. (2017). Nutritional Medicine (Second). Fritz Perlberg Publishing.
Barbaro, B., Toietta, G., Maggio, R., Arciello, M., Tarocchi, M., Galli, A., & Balsano, C. (2014, October 14). Effects of the olive-derived polyphenol oleuropein on human health. MDPI. https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/15/10/18508
