Supplements?

Almost everyone I know takes some sort of vitamin or supplement. I hear debates about this all the time, especially in my field. I hear people say that supplements are the worst and that you should avoid them at all costs. I also hear people say that they need their supplements to function and that they wouldn’t be able to live without it. After all this back and forth, I can understand why it seems impossible to find the right answer. But there has to be an answer somewhere correct? Surely there’s a mad scientist deep in a cave someplace that has come up with a solution and is hiding it from us. There must be. Right?

Well, I’m not sure about the mad scientist thing, but I do know that there IS an answer to our problem here. Do you want it? Are you itching to know? Are you dying to find out if you were right so you can finally go tell Susan from PTA that she can suck it? The answer is: There is no one right answer. WHAT? It’s true. Sorry, it looks like you and Susan will have to butt heads about something else.

We're all a little... different.

Let me introduce you to a little theory called bio-individuality. Everyone is different. Everyone’s body is different. Therefore, everyone’s needs are different. There are a host of different reasons why someone may need to take supplements! And guess what? I’m gonna let you in on a little secret: Peoples personal choices have absolutely no impact on you. *gasp* BY JOVE! I know, freaky right? But seriously! Who cares whether or not Susan wants to take a multivitamin in the morning or not? Does it effect you? No. Will it ultimately effect your life path? No. Then why does it matter? So instead of feeding you mumbo jumbo as to whether or not you should take supplements, I figured I’d give you a list of this to consider when making this decision.

1) What are you looking to achieve by taking a supplement?

Is it to up your vitamin intake? Is it to address a specific health problem? To get a better night’s sleep? Anxiety? Depression? Getting clear about what the supplement is for will help you narrow down what you specifically need.

2) If it’s a vitamin supplement, do you know how much of it you should be taking?

Vitamin amounts tend to either be under or overestimated. Either people don’t get enough of a vitamin, or they get way too much. I did some research. According to Harvard Medical School, the recommended nutrient amounts are as follows:

• Calcium: 1,000–1,200 mg
• Folate: 400 mcg
• Iron: 8 mg
• Vitamin A: 700 mcg
• Vitamin B: 6 1.5 mg
• Vitamin B 12: 2.4 mcg
• Vitamin C: 75 mg
• Vitamin D: 600–800 IU
• Vitamin E: 15 mg

Obviously there are quite a few more nutrients your body uses, so this is just a select few. But it gives you a good idea of the amounts needed. Side note: If you’re deficient in a nutrient, you’re going to need to take a higher dosage until your body reached the optimum levels.

3) Have you been diagnosed by a doctor, or did you self-diagnose?

If you are trying to deal with a specific health problem, make sure you’ve consulted with your doctor before taking anything. I work at a physician’s office where the main doctor prescribes medical grade supplements to help treat patients. Medical grade supplements are a slightly better quality than over the counter and are more potent. Usually a physician will prescribe them, but you can also buy these supplements online.

Now, if you have no major health problems and you end up taking a vitamin that you don’t necessarily need, chances are, it’s not going to affect you too much. However, if you are dealing with things like gut dysbiosis, chronic fatigue, or another major health issue, it’s super important that you consult with your doctor BEFORE you take supplements. Especially ones that are medical grade.

4) Have you researched the quality of the supplement before taking it?

The market is FULL of flashy pill bottles claiming to be the Holy Grail solution to all your problems. Some companies even add artificial fillers to make the vitamins cheaper to produce. ICK! Always, always, always research the brand of vitamins you are wanting to use.

Every person is a unique snowflake...

Obviously the best case scenario is having a variety of food in your diet to make sure you’re getting all your key nutrients. But in today’s world here a lot of people tend to stay indoors and eat from fast food restaurants, it has become increasingly difficult to keep nutrient levels up. At the end of the day, it really just comes down to YOUR health needs. If you feel comfortable with revamping your diet and lifestyle in order to optimize your health, by all means: you do that! That is the best thing you can do for yourself. But for some people who primarily work in an office, or don’t have the means to eat a plant-based diet, sometimes supplements can lend a hand. It all comes back to that one theory: bio-individuality. Everyone’s needs are different.

Do you take supplements? How do you feel with or without them? Send me a message on my Instagram and let me know!

Personal: @_miss_rowan

Health Coach: @WellnessByRowan