A Discussion on the Importance of Taking High Quality Supplements

WHY DO WE NEED SUPPLEMENTS?

Before we dive deep, it is worth discussing why you need supplements in the first place. Ideally, we would get all our vitamins, minerals and phytonutrients from the food we eat. Unfortunately, even with a “perfect” diet, this is nearly impossible.

Poor quality soil – a plant is only as nutritious as the soil it is grown in. Our agricultural practices cause a decrease in nutrient content.

Nutrient depletion – there is a decline in nutrient levels with storage, transport and processing/refinement.

Environmental toxins – we are exposed to many environmental toxins every day. These toxins increase oxidative stress in the body. Due to the massive environmental changes in the last 100 years, our bodies require more care than in the past. Supplements provide antioxidant power to support detoxification and combat free radical damage.

Inadequate fruit and vegetable intake – most people do not get the USDA-recommended fruits and vegetables daily servings. Recent research has shown that only 11% of us reach the goal.

Processed foods – trans fats, artificial additives (preservatives, flavors, colors, etc.), hormones, antibiotics and pesticides are nutrient thieves.

Biochemical individuality – we are biochemically unique, so everyone needs different amounts of vitamins and minerals based on our biochemistry, genetics, nutrition etc,

Gut health – suboptimal digestive function interferes with proper nutrient absorption.

Chronic stress – our society is a stressed-out mess. Chronic stress robs your body stores of vitamins and minerals more rapidly, especially B vitamins, vitamin C, zinc and magnesium.

WHY SUPPLEMENT QUALITY MATTERS

The FDA places the responsibility on the manufacturer to ensure that supplement products are safe before they are marketed. All of this means no matter what the price, quality is not assured. Either the nutrients are in a poorly absorbed form, or the product is loaded with other ingredients.

Vitamins and minerals are essential to our biochemistry and metabolism. They are catalysts to stimulate normal chemical reactions in the body; help in the production of enzymes, hormones, energy, new cells and DNA; protect genes from damage; turn on good genes and turn off bad genes. Without them, normal biological processes don’t run smoothly.

Research has shown the average person has deficiencies in vitamin D, folate, zinc, magnesium and iron. It is unlikely you will be able to eat your way out of deficiencies.

SUPPLEMENT QUALITY IS KEY

The FDA does not have to approve a supplement before reaching the market. Under the Dietary Supplement, Health and Education Act (DSHEA), it is up to the supplement manufacturers to screen for quality, safety and label integrity (what is on the label is in the bottle). Not all supplement manufacturers do this. Sometimes untested and contaminated ingredients along with binders, fillers, allergens and dyes find their way into the bottle. To achieve the lowest possible prices, manufacturers use cheap, synthetic and poorly absorbed forms of vitamins and minerals. The FDA will only take action after a misbranded dietary supplement has reached the market. High-quality formulations are often more expensive and are usually only sold through qualified practitioners.

NOT ALL SUPPLEMENTS ARE CREATED EQUAL

It is worse for you if you are taking low-quality supplements that are loaded with synthetic nutrients and/or toxin additives than it would be to not take anything at all.  

3 characteristics to pay attention to are grade, form/bioavailability and delivery method.

As a practitioner offering supplements to my patients, I select from companies that:

·       Use the highest quality raw materials in manufacturing pharmaceutical-grade supplements.

·       Meet or exceed Good Manufacturing Practices (cGMP) standards, the regulations set by the FDA

·       Are certified by the NSF, an independent product testing organization that confirms what is on the label is in the product and that the product contains no unsafe levels of contaminants.

·       Require regular third-party testing to verify stringent quality and purity standards are met.

·       Have dedicated distribution facilities with quality controls in place. This will ensure that fulfillment center conditions will not degrade the potency and efficacy of products.

If you are taking supplements, I encourage you to consider getting them from me. I know the companies that I use offer high-quality supplements that provide the nutritional support you are seeking.