Have you ever found yourself in the middle of the supplement aisle in a haze? Fifteen minutes later you’re still frozen with that same dazed and confused look on your face? If so, you’re certainly not alone. I would consider myself reasonably knowledgeable on selecting appropriate supplementation and yet I’m often fighting to look past marketing ploys or to recall the details of supplement quality from the recesses of my mind. It’s tough!
If we’re serious about our health and strive to make good food choices we certainly can’t overlook the powerful effect that everything we put in our mouths has on the outcomes in our body. When discussing proper supplementation with my clients I emphasize the importance of obtaining vital vitamins, minerals, and nutrients from the foods we eat in order for them to be fully absorbed and utilized. When considering supplementation I encourage individuals to consider 3 questions:
- Am I taking this for a known reason? (For example: Vitamin B12 deficiency)
- Am I able to obtain this nutrient from food? (For example: Vitamin B12 cannot be sufficiently obtained from food in those eating a strictly vegan diet.)
- Am I taking it for a known period of time or is it needed indefinitely? (For example: I will take Vitamin B12 for 3 months while I strive to obtain more through dietary sources and have my blood work checked again at that time. Or, I follow a vegan diet and therefore will obtain this essential vitamin from a high-quality supplement.)
After answering these questions it is appropriate to move forward with considering supplementation based on your responses.
So what now?
Dr. Tieraona Low Dog, an internationally recognized expert in the fields of integrative medicine, dietary supplements and women’s health, comes to the rescue in her newly released book Fortify Your Life: Your Guide to Vitamins, Minerals, and More. Dr. Low Dog shares her expertise in a clear and accessible manner laying a foundational understanding for selecting supplements with a personalized approach since each person’s needs are different.
By reading this book you will learn:
- the basics about the foundational supplements: vitamins, minerals, omega-3 fatty acids, probiotics, choline, and a few others
- the most important ideas for understanding supplements & how they work (including how to read those confusing labels!)
- about the most important supplements & how to make sense of the various forms you’ll find in your health foods store
- about nutraceuticals (what are they anyway?!) & how they interact with the biochemistry of your body
- the supplements you should consider based upon you lifestyle, age, gender, & whether you have certain health conditions
- how to make sense of the research & health reporting (that means being informed & knowledgable about your health!)
While Dr. Low Dog aids us in navigating and discovering the supplements that are right for each individual, she approaches wellness holistically: “Whatever the condition of your health, whatever your lifestyle choices are, be aware that supplements should always be seen as just that, a supplement for good health practices, not a substitute for them.” She continues with this helpful reminder, “You can’t live on highly processed foods, never exercise, or allow your anxiety and emotional stress to spin out of control, and then expect supplements to be the magic fix for the health problems you will surely develop from a lifetime of poor choices and poor health management.” I greatly appreciate her balanced approach of emphasizing diet and lifestyle choices while knowing there is indeed an appropriate place for supplementation.
If you want to take greater ownership of your health and be well-equipped in making decisions regarding what will best serve you and your family long-term, Fortify Your Life is an essential component of knowing how to navigate not only supplement aisle but many of your health questions as well.