Supplements 101

If you know us, you know what HUGE proponents of supplementation we are. No matter how great your diet is, you need to supplement. No one eats perfectly all the time!

The big thing to remember is that all supplements ARE NOT created equally. So, if you think you are saving money by purchasing the giant Costco-brand multivitamins, you are likely wasting your money. The key is something called bioavailability which refers to your body's ability to breakdown the vitamin or mineral and actually metabolize it. Many vitamins are so full of fillers and other gunk (even tar!) that it simply passes through your digestive tract untouched. Yuck!

Over the years, we've been our own guinea pigs for a myriad of supplements (GNC, health food store variety, Shaklee, generic) and we've done a TON of research on how the vitamins are processed and ultimately absorbed by the body. The conclusion that we've reached is that there are only two brands worth paying for: Metagenics (www.metagenics.com) and Pure Encapsulations (www.purecaps.com).

Both of these brands are ONLY available through a health care professional such as a doctor or nurse. Why? Because supplementation is a tricky thing. You may not need 16,000% of the RDA for B-Complex. But, then again, you might.

After the birth of her daughter, Stephanie was experiencing fatigue, poor memory, acne, muscle pain, and headaches. When her labwork showed a B vitamin deficiency, her doctor (Dr. Marion Owen of Northside Urgent Care and Family Medicine), put her on a massive dose of B Vitamins (Glycogenics by Metagenics). Within one week, her energy was better, her acne began to disappear, and her overall mood improved. Because B Vitamins are water soluble, you really can't overdose on them. Your body will take what it needs and excrete the rest. MOST women need to be taking B Vitamins. But, having comprehensive labwork can determine where you are most deficient.

No matter who you are, everyone should be taking the following:

Multivitamins
EPA/DHA (fish oil with Omega-3)
B Complex (often called the "Get Happy" Vitamins...helps with energy and stress response)

Women need to be taking at least 1,200 mg per day of Calcium. Iron may also be helpful (See Optiferrin from Pure Encapsulations) since many women are on the low end of normal for iron stores.

If you have other health problems (arthritis, allergies, irritable bowel syndrome, etc), Pure Encapsulations' website is a great resource for helping you determine what might be helpful for your particular situation. You should still consult a qualified health professional before beginning any supplementation program.

The thing about supplementation is that no matter what ups and downs you go through in your diet, you are providing your body with a ready supply of necessary nutrients in a convenient tablet form. Your cells "self-serve" and take what they need. What they don't, your body eliminates. Making sure your body has what it needs to properly function every day will ensure that you feel your best.

For more specific questions about vitamins and general supplementation, email Sandra at sandrawhitern@yahoo.com

Here's to your health!