Even small ones, your long-term health and longevity can suffer,” highlights Monique. Things to keep in mind while taking supplements
The right supplements can help fill nutritional gaps. But before running out to buy a bunch of supplements, there are a few things to consider:
We are genetically adapted to obtain nutrients from food. There is a difference between the synergistic effects of nutrients in whole foods and supplements that contain isolated ingredients. Whole foods are best. So your first goal should be to eat the most nutrient-dense foods.
From a needs perspective, you can address underlying imbalances and other factors that may create a higher need for certain nutrients. For example, reduce stress, work on restoring digestive and microbiome health, and reduce exposure to toxins where possible.
Where possible, identify your unique nutrient deficiencies through testing. A standard blood test can reveal some useful information about important nutrients such as vitamin D, magnesium, B12, or folate or underlying imbalances that require targeted nutritional support.
Functional tests such as a bioacid test can help identify certain key nutrient deficiencies and your bio-individual needs for support in various areas such as immune function, gut health, or liver detoxification support. When in doubt, work with an experienced and qualified nutrition practitioner, who can help you identify your unique needs for supplementation based on your genetics, symptoms and testing.
Quality matters. Look for a reputable brand that uses high-quality, food-based or bio-available active ingredients in the right proportions and doesn’t use any unnecessary fillers, artificial flavors or potential allergens. Unfortunately, many supplements contain cheap, synthetic ingredients that are difficult for the body to absorb, such as synthetic folic acid vs. folate. Or they contain high amounts of nutrients that can be harmful in high doses, such as iron, iodine, or calcium. On the other hand, they may contain very little nutrients that we do not get enough of in our diet, such as vitamin D, magnesium or vitamin K2.
Monique concludes by saying, “In short, to support your long-term health and longevity, prioritize a nutrient-dense diet, address all factors affecting your nutritional needs, use a good quality multivitamin supplement to cover your bases. And if possible, work with a qualified nutrition practitioner to identify your unique needs for targeted supplementation.”
Thus, many variables including age, amount of physical activity, pre-existing nutritional status, pre-existing diseases, etc. affect dietary supplements and their use. Most importantly, nutritional supplements should be used as a substitute for a healthy diet rather than as the term suggests.
