It is hard to discern the truth about the nutritional health supplements available on the market today. How do you know which of the nutritional vitamin supplements to pick? Some of the questions I believe are important are the following:
Questions regarding Nutritional Health Supplement choices:
*Is this a quality nutritional health supplement that will meet my nutritional demands, does it work?
*Is this a fair price for this specific nutritional health supplement?
*Is this vitamin supplement going to make me feel better or is it going to just fill a need for my body, will I notice a difference?
*What is the difference between grocery store nutritional health supplements and physician distributed nutritional supplements?
*How long do I need to take this particular nutritional health supplement?
Is this a quality nutritional health supplement that will meet my nutritional demands, does it work?
As far as the quality of any given nutritional health supplement it is important to choose quality. You would not choose to eat produce that is spoiled or rotten so why would you choose a supplement that you do not know how it was manufactured or where the ingredients come from? There are a lot of nutritional health supplements on the market that contain a lot of fillers and synthetic ingredients that can put stress on the body just trying to process them, namely the digestive tract, kidneys and liver.
Is this a fair price for this specific nutritional health supplement?
The prices for quality nutritional health supplement are going to be a little higher because they are made with quality ingredients. I often warn patients against getting the bargain two for one price at the grocery store for glucosamine chondroitin because when I ask them to bring it in all I see is those two ingredients. There are often times when the body needs synergistic nutrition (other nutrients) in order to fully utilize the nutritional health supplement you are taking. The body is very complex and it is important to know you are supporting it correctly. Total Joint Relief by Nutriwest has all the synergistic nutrition in order to support the joints. I also cringe when there is a sale on the fish oils. Please know that it is easy for fish oils to go rancid and this is not something you want in your body. High quality fish oils are a must. My favorite is Metagenics EPA/DHA Extra Strength Enteric Coated. These are quality fish oils in a great ratio and enteric coated which greatly minimizes or completely eliminates any burping up of the fish oils.
Is this nutritional vitamin supplement going to make me feel better or is it going to just fill a need for my body, will I notice a difference?
Depending on how severe your nutritional vitamin deficiency is and how important that nutrient is to the body will depend on whether or not you will feel a difference on that particular nutritional health supplement. The fact is the fruits and vegetables we eat only have a fraction of the nutrients they use to due to depleted soils. Therefore to support your diet with quality nutritional health supplements is a must to remain healthy. You can also look to family genetics to see if you need support in a particular area of your health.
What is the difference between grocery store nutritional health supplements and physician distributed nutritional supplements?
The nutritional health supplements exclusively sold by physicians or health practitioners are referred to as nutraceutics, pharmaceutical grade nutrition or high-grade quality nutritional supplements. They are more concentrated, have better manufacturing processes and have been proven to work through studies and patients. These nutritional health supplements are also mostly sold through physicians so the patient can be monitored for any side effects. So it is of utmost importance that you read any and all contraindications to any of the quality nutritional supplements you purchase.
How long do I need to take this particular nutritional health supplement?
The duration of taking the supplements will depend on the nutritional health supplement you choose and how severe the illness or deficiency. There are great testing methods that are now available to determine what your needs are. They are not the blood tests normally done in your medical doctors office, they are specific tests to determine if you are deficient in certain minerals, vitamins, fatty acids, amino acids and antioxidant levels. With this information you will be given timelines and dosages for taking your specific nutritional health supplements. However, as a basic support program I would include the following listed below as a minimum nutritional health supplement program and then use other more specific nutritional health supplements for other needs or concerns that need addressed. For example: Ultrameal Plus by Metagenics to bring down cholesterol or triglycerides and Core Level Lung by Nutriwest after an upper respiratory infection or for damaged caused by smoking. Most people do not realize that when you get sick and take a drug, although the illness is no longer showing symptoms your body is still in repair and most likely needs some quality nutritional health support to continue to heal that area and or tissues. This is a great way to work with traditional medicine.
Basic Nutritional Health Supplementation:
*Multivitamin/Mineral Complex
*Omega 3 essential fatty acids
Or you can get both of the above in the Wellness Essentials Men or Women
*Digestive enzymes
*DSF, otherwise know as De-Stress formula, an absolute patient favorite at our office. Supports important nutrients your body depletes during times of prolonged and acute stress.
