Let's talk supplements! - Helping Bodies Heal

Let’s talk supplements!

In today’s world, supplements are a necessary “evil” for most of us.  Many of today’s fruits and vegetables contain fewer amounts of vitamins and minerals than in years past. Due to soil erosion, overuse of pesticides, manufacturing chemicals leaching into our soil and current farming practices, our food is just not as nutrient-dense as it could be — or used to be.

And even though food quality has declined, your body’s needs for vitamins and minerals has not.

For example, your body still needs*:

  • 300-400 milligrams of magnesium per day
  • 55-70 micrograms of selenium per day
  • 600 IU of vitamin D per day
  • 1000 mg of calcium per day

*required dietary allowance as set by the Food and Nutrition Board of the National Research Council/National Academy of Sciences.  Depending on your specific situation, higher/lower doses may be required during healing phase.

Supplementing SMARTLY is effective, healthful and in many cases, necessary.

Yet, all supplements aren’t created equally.

Which brand can you trust?  Which vitamins and minerals do YOU specifically need to take?  What dose do YOU need during the healing/rebuilding phase vs. the maintenance phase? What co-factors does your supplement need to include? Do you take them with or without a meal?  In the morning or at night?

I wish I could answer all of those questions for you but the answers are very specific to the individual.  However, I can give you 3 things to consider.

1. Bioavailability is important.  If you’re going to spend money taking supplements, you want to be sure your body can actually use what you’re taking.  Often that means ensuring certain co-factors are included or being sure to combine specific vitamins/minerals together, to increase uptake of the nutrients into the cells.

For instance, supplementing with turmeric (a.k.a curcumin) to lower inflammation is great.  But it’s only amazingly effective if it contains black pepper.  Combining turmeric and black pepper boosts absorption by almost 2000% without needing to increase the amount of turmeric you take.

Taking a supplement is one thing.  Your body’s ability to absorb/use the supplement is another.  They aren’t the same thing.

2. Quality is important. While it may be convenient to pick up your supplements from GNC, I don’t recommend it.  The FDA found big discrepancies between what some brands listed on the label and what was actually in them.  Read this article for yourself:  http://hlf-team.com/fda-finds-majority-herbal-supplements-gnc-walmart-walgreens-target-dont-contain-claim-instead-cheap-fillers-like-wheat-soy-powder.

I only purchase supplements from companies that sell direct to health practitioners. Why? These companies make better quality, more potent supplements with all the correct co-factors and have a mission to help practitioners serve their clients and patients exceptionally well.  The companies I source from have FDA-registered US facilitates, inspected and certified by independent third-party auditors.

3. Consistency matters.  The best supplement when it doesn’t get consumed, is zero percent effective.  I find most people are inconsistent taking their supplements when they:

  • Take a supplement they think they “should” take from some internet research they did
  • Don’t NOTICE any improvement after taking it for a while
  • Have too many supplements to take at different times of the day
  • Take supplements in an inconvenient form (capsule vs. liquid vs. powder, etc.)

Last year I worked with a client who sent me information on all of the supplements she took, it was over 19 of them!  She was spending over $200/month on supplements!  Like me, she had been using Dr. Google to research her symptoms for a treatment plan that worked. Also like me, she wasn’t getting better.

Here’s the bottom line:

  • Take only what you need – find this out from a professional
  • Purchase quality – it will speed up your progress and save you money in the long run
  • Stay consistent – put a reminder on your calendar, set an alarm on your phone, etc.
  • Understand supplements you’re taking for healing/repairing your body vs. maintenance supplements

Have questions about whether you’re doing the right thing with your supplements?

Just like I saved my client Robin from taking over $200/month in supplements, I can help you figure out your supplement situation also.  Whether it’s helping you skinny down the long list of your current supplements, helping you upgrade the quality of what you’re taking or help you figure out exactly what need to feel better, I can help.  

I invite you to join me for a complete Nutrition and Lifestyle Health Assessment which includes recommendations for Nutrition, Sleep, Exercise, Stress Reduction, Essential Oils and Supplements!

Here’s how it works:

  1. Complete the form below and make your payment
  2. I’ll email the forms I need you to complete so I have the information I need to create your assessment
  3. Email your completed forms back to me
  4. I’ll set up time for our Assessment Review Session (about 90 minutes)
  5. I’ll go through my findings with you, answer your questions and help you plan your next step!

If you don’t see an email from me in your inbox within 24hrs of submitting this form and payment, check your SPAM or JUNK folder.  If you have Gmail, please check your ‘promotions tab.’ 

Do you have questions?  No problem, leave me a comment below or send me an email to: chinyere@helpingbodiesheal.com – I’m happy to answer them for you!

Cheers to supplementing SMARTLY! 

 

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