There are many different ways that people try to define “health.” Living a healthy lifestyle often requires listening to what your body may be trying to tell you. When we have patients struggling with certain symptoms, it’s a great time to open the conversation about evaluating their daily habits. You will often hear us in the office stress the importance of nutrition when discussing overall health and wellness. Some basic nutrients for good nutrition include carbohydrates, protein, fats, vitamins and minerals, and water.
A well-rounded diet is essential for
Supporting growth and development
Promoting an optimal metabolism
Supporting a healthy immune system
Fueling the body and maintaining energy
Regulating hormones
Supporting Neurological functions
Protecting against age-related illnesses and disease
Managing certain health conditions
Supplements can help improve or maintain health by providing essential nutrients and enhancing the benefits of a healthy diet. Supplements are meant to do just that, supplement! Having a thoughtful routine with vitamins and supplements are important for filling in the gaps (deficiencies in vitamins and minerals) that you may have. When our bodies are shouting at us that they are tired, bloated, anxious, crampy, etc., it could be as simple as finding a key nutrient that you are missing. It is also important to know that as we age, it can be more difficult to absorb certain vitamins or forms of the vitamin. Some medications can also interfere with our ability to absorb or harness some vitamins from the diet.
There are so many supplement brands out there, how do you choose the right one?
There are many things to consider when choosing which supplements may be the best for your needs, and among this concern is which brand or company to trust. While there is no strict “right” or “wrong” answer, there are certainly vitamin/supplement manufacturers that we would recommend checking out! Always verify that the company you purchase from is transparent about where their product is raised or caught, how it is grown, and how it is processed. If they don’t want to share the facts behind their product, there’s probably a reason.
Why are high-quality, organic, whole food-based supplements important?
It is crucial to evaluate your supplement’s nutritional label and pay special attention to the ingredients list. Many supplements will have additives that are problematic for a variety of reasons. Some additives can even be harmful or interfere with the absorption and efficacy of the product. Manufacturers will use additives as bulking and binding agents, coating agents, for coloring, and flow agents. Some brands will also include unnecessary sweeteners to enhance the taste of the product.
The reason that we promote certain supplement brands in our office is because we encourage organic, whole food-based products. These sorts of products are made with the focus of “good health comes from good nutrition,” and try to minimize any additives necessary throughout their product processing. For example, Standard Process is our go-to supplement brand because they provide high quality ingredients. Read below one of their statements -
“From our inception, Dr. Royal Lee recognized the negative impact the Standard American Diet had on overall health. He believed that processed foods depleted our food sources of the rich nutrition once found in them. He understood that good health comes from good nutrition, and the best nutrition comes from whole foods. Dr. Lee dedicated his life to perfecting the production of whole food-based supplements from the soil used to grow crops to the manufacturing processes used to create the supplement – Standard Process has always focused on putting vitality into every bottle.”
A look into how our own office staff supplement their diet
(please note some of these supplements may change in daily use/frequency due to season or acute illness):
Dr. Brandon - Standard Process (SP) Catalyn, SP Cardioplus, SP Omega-3 Fish Oil, SP Zypan, SP Prosynbiotic, Turmeric, Sassy’s Elderberry, SP Drenamin, SP Cataplex B, SP Power Mix.
Kaitlyn - Collagen, Standard Process Cod-Liver Oil, Earthley Nourish Her Naturally, Standard Process Mammary PMG, Megafood Baby and Me 2 Prenatals, Earthley “Good Night” Magnesium Lotion, Sassy’s Elderberry
Mila - B12, Vitamin C, Vitamin D, Collagen, Standard Process Allerplex, Zinc, Probiotic
Kristen - Magnesium Glycinate, Wild Caught Fish Oil, CoQ10 with Lipoic Acid, Probiotic/D3, Grass-Fed Beef Collagen, Standard Process Symplex F, Shatavari, General Multi-Vitamin, Spirulina/Chlorella
If you have questions about how to make the most out of your supplement intake, just talk to one of our staff members the next time you're in the office!
Another great starting point is the Systems Survey, which can help us highlight deficiencies in your diet that might be worth addressing - see the link below:
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