Absolutely Spahhhvelous

More and more people are trying to stay healthy and lower the number of doctor visits these days.  Most turn to supplements in an effort to get the nutrition they feel is lacking in their diet to stay healthy.  Some wrongly believe the pills they take will cancel out their bad eating habits. Either way, there are some things to keep in mind when choosing those little helpers in a bottle.

Supplements don’t have to be expensive.  You can also keep your cost down by buying them in bulk.  Be sure and check the expiration date, however to avoid throwing your money away.

It doesn’t really matter when you take them. The thing to keep in mind is that you should take your supplements with a meal or some sort of food to increase the absorption rate.  They should be spread throughout your day, ½ in the morning and ½ at night.  A couple of nutrients can compete for absorption in your body such as iron and calcium.  These should not be taken at the same time.  Calcium is also shown to be better absorbed when taken with vitamin D3.  Most healthcare providers recommend 1200 mg of calcium a day taken with 1000 IUs of vitamin D3. But again, be sure to split up the time you take them for the best absorption. If you are getting a bit constipated from the calcium you are taking, you can remedy that by taking magnesium along with it. The RDA for magnesium is 420 mg/day, some healthcare providers say we need more, some say we need only that amount.  Please note, if you take more magnesium than your body needs, you will know by increased visits to the bathroom.

Look for a “USP” verified mark on the labels to help ensure you are getting what the label says.  Keep in mind that supplements are not viewed as medicine by the FDA and therefore are not regulated.  Brands can vary in the amount of ingredients wildly.  This USP stamp tells you that the supplement in that bottle has been tested and the ingredients have been verified to be in the contents. Another confusing word found on many supplement labels is “chelated” or “time-released”.  Time-released are usually not completely absorbed as they don’t dissolve quickly, thus there is a chance they will just pass through your system and not provide the desired dosage you intend to get.  There is also no evidence that chelating a supplement improves its absorption either.

I strongly recommend that whether you decide to start eating a healthier diet or turn to supplements to get the nutrition you need, check with your healthcare provider to ensure that you won’t be taking something that could interfere with other medications you may be taking.

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