Helping Kids and Families Cook & Eat Healthier.

Supplement Wonderland: A Guide to Navigating the Vitamin Aisle

  Posted on   by   No comments

These days it seems a supplement is available for every conceivable ailment and nutritional need. Television shows and articles can make you feel like you need to make every supplement out there part of your regime. However, if the ultimate goal is to primarily meet your nutritional needs through what is in your kitchen, not your medicine cabinet, how do you determine what supplements you really need? The following guide will help you demystify the vitamin aisle and find out what’s right for you.

  1.    Multivitamin. A high quality multivitamin can help fill in the dietary gaps that occur in even the best of diets. The key to selecting the right multivitamin is to look for a whole foods based supplement with no artificial fillers and only moderate amounts of each nutrient, rather than mega doses that are ultimately wasted. Look for a supplement that is taken in multiple doses over the day or split the vitamin and take it in separate doses to increase your body’s ability to absorb the nutrients.
  2.    Omega 3s. The essential fatty acid omega 3 is crucial for brain function, heart health, and much more, but it can be hard to get sufficient amounts through diet alone. Look for a fatty acid supplement that only provides omega 3, as you naturally get plenty of omega 6s and need to keep the ratio of the essential two fatty acids in balance.
  3.    Vitamin D. Though our bodies can naturally synthesize vitamin D from the sun, statistics show that most people are vitamin D deficient. With vitamin D’s role in bone health, reduced risk of certain cancers, immune support, lower blood pressure, and more, you don’t want to miss out on this critical vitamin. If you are wondering if you are low on this vital nutrient, your doctor can check your levels and advise you on whether you should be supplementing.
  4.    Need Specific Supplement. If you have a specific health concern, you may want to choose one additional supplement specifically targeted for that concern. Resist the urge to fill your cart with every supplement available and instead talk with your doctor or a holistic practitioner to recommend what would best suit your needs.

 

Categories: Tips & BitsTags:

Author: Coach Kim

Comments

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *