Are you wasting money on supplements? ...5 ways to get the best from your supplements!

Discussions with our patients often include what supplements they are taking. Some patients complain that they aren't seeing the promised benefits form their supplement regimen and often the problem can be easily pinpointed and rectified!

Here are 5 tips for ensuring that the supplements being taken are doing what they should do and that they are not just a waste of money.

1. Is it really once daily?

Some supplements provide their best effect when taken as  a divided dose (twice or even three times daily) while others are easily dosed once daily. Read the instructions carefully and discuss the dosing with your health care provider to ensure safety and efficacy.

2. Is the dose only one pill?

Some supplements, especially whole food vitamins may require a number of pills be taken to arrive at the

correct dose. Many patients are accustomed to one a day vitamins and end up taking far fewer of these pills than would be able to provide the required effect. Check the directions for the correct dosing instructions.

3. Should it be taken with food?

Some supplements cannot be well absorbed unless taken with food. Other supplements may not be well absorbed when taken with food or may have reduced effectiveness when taken with some food or beverages. Talk to your healthcare provider about when best to take certain supplements to ensure the supplement is not loosing effectiveness. 

4. Taking it often enough?

Very often patients forget to take their supplements every day. Another common complaint is that patients forget to buy new supplements when they run out and so go for several days without their supplements. Not taking enough may not provide the results needed.

5. Does it work well alone?

Sometimes vitamins and minerals don't work on their own and need to be in combination to ensure their efficacy. Eg: Calcium and magnesium work well together. Vitamin D often is found in combination with K2. 

BONUS: Are all those supplements necessary anyway?

Many patients take supplements recommended by friends, family, the internet and other sources. Upon close examination of many supplement regimens there may be unnecessary supplements as well as supplements that may be contraindicated or may interact with other things they are taking. Having your health care provider evaluate your supplement needs is usually the best way to go about starting a supplement regimen.

Getting your nutrients from your food is always advisable however sometimes additional supplementation is necessary. Choosing natural, organic whole food supplements wherever possible is also shown to improve absorption and efficacy of many supplements.

To make it easier for our patients, you can now purchase your supplements on our blog or website. www.saporitochiropractic.com. Just click on the shop supplements link!

For more information or to schedule a Nutrition Therapy appointment, please call us at 860-596-1491.