Choose Supplements Wisely

HOW DO YOU KNOW THAT YOUR SUPPLEMENTS ARE WORKING?

Follow Cellular Medicine

Our body is built of trillions of cells which need optimum nutrition and a constant supply of micronutrients which are catalysts of all metabolic processes. Our body does not give us early warning signals to indicate a shortage of or an imbalanced supply of micronutrients. Understanding this is important.

Know your body

If you do not consume a well-rounded healthy diet you need supplements to fill in the nutrient gaps.

For example:

• If you are a vegan, you may need a vitamin B12 supplement and adequate iron, zinc, and vitamin D intake because you do not eat animal products.
• If you are pregnant, adding folate, DHA, choline and calcium is important to support nourishing a growing fetus.
• With age your body loses an ability to produce intrinsic factor which is needed to absorb vitamin B12. The absorption and assimilation of nutrients generally decreases, and therefore a well composed multi-nutrient supplement is important to support the body’s functions and immunity.
• Menopausal women are at risk of accelerated bone loss, therefore providing adequate amounts of vitamin D, vitamin C, lysine, proline and minerals is important.
• Frequent feelings of extreme fatigue may signal the need for more iron, B vitamins or coenzyme Q10.
• Frequent gastrointestinal distress may signal a need for a probiotic.
• If you are lactose intolerant, it would make sense to consider adding a calcium supplement to promote good bone health.
• When taking pharmaceutical drugs consider supplementing with vitamin C and B vitamins to assure proper detoxification in your body. Some drugs (i.e., diuretics) may promote mineral and other nutrient losses, and statins deplete your body of coenzyme Q10.

You should consult with your physician if any of these apply to you.

Ask for scientific proof or efficacy

Many multivitamins and supplements include descriptions of the efficacy of their individual components, and some are supported by clinical studies. But how do you know that a combination of different vitamins, minerals, and plant extracts in one formula you consider buying will bring expected cellular effects? In most cases the manufacturers do not deem it to be important and do not invest in researching the cellular effects of their products, but Dr. Rath’s company does.

Already a few decades ago Dr. Rath introduced a nutrient synergy approach in designing nutritional supplements. This involves scientific laboratory testing and pairing nutritional components in various combinations to get desired cellular biological effects. These include better energy production, pronounced antioxidant effects, collagen synthesis, cell growth and many other aspects. Yet, Dr. Rath’s formulations undergo not only scientific but - many clinical tests for their health effects in the body. Dr. Rath’s supplements are supported by real research with scientific results published in over 150 peer-reviewed professional journals and books by reputable publishers.

Make sure your body absorbs the micronutrients

One of the simplest ways to ensure your supplements reach your body’s cells is to take them with food or pair them for enhanced absorption. Eating prepares the stomach for nutrient absorption and initiates a cascade of digestive processes that optimize the bioavailability of the vitamins and minerals.

Some nutritionists recommend that iron should be taken on an empty stomach. However, science shows that vitamin C taken with iron supplements significantly increases iron absorption and utilization.

Certain vitamins perform better if paired with a little fat. Vitamins A, D, E, and K are better absorbed when eaten with fat such as that from milk, yogurt or avocado. In the case of vitamin D taken with a high-fat breakfast (sausage or bacon) the absorption can be one-third greater than when consumed with a fat-free breakfast.

Also, while a high fiber diet is good, it contains lots of phytates which can limit absorption of minerals, therefore when eating bran cereal do not take mineral supplements at the same time.

Pairing specific nutrients can also affect their absorption. For example, EGCG from green tea is rather poorly absorbed on its own but we observed that its absorption and availability in your blood increases when consumed with quercetin (which is contained in onions). Also, you do not need to pay for the more expensive turmeric supplements which are advertised as “highly absorbable.” When consuming turmeric pair it with black pepper which is rich in piperine which supports the absorption of curcuminoids, powerful anti-inflammatory compounds found in turmeric.

Look at supplement details and how vitamins are manufactured

Most supplements contain similar ingredients but they are not created equal and price is not the only factor.

Often supplements have cheap fillers, ingredients or colorants used in some pharmaceutical drugs, others skimp on active ingredients, and still others do not thoroughly investigate the sources of vitamins or nutrients used in their products. Overall attention is mainly focused on supplement price only. According to the Consumer Lab, a known publisher of test results on health, wellness, and nutrition products, about 46 percent of the multivitamins they tested failed to live up to their labels.

Not all supplements sold on the market are carefully vetted before being accepted. The Dr. Rath formulas are backed by a Certificate of Analysis from the manufacturers that verify they meet the rigorous testing and safety specifications established by their standards. Also, our research is involved in verifying the sources and purity of all raw materials used in our formulas.

Understand why some vitamins are cheaper than others

Some argue that inexpensive vitamins are just as effective as higher priced vitamins. However, read the type of ingredients specified on the label, both the active and inactive ingredients. They will tell you the difference between the $39.00 and $12.99 you pay for a multi-nutrient formula. Usually the less expensive versions contain cheaper ingredients such as synthetic vitamin E or do not meet high contaminants standards. They often contain too many fillers and “shelf-extenders” that can range from talc to hydrogenated oils which may sound harmless but can have detrimental effects on your health. In one multivitamin product in a lower price range you will not be surprised to see synthetic dyes derived from petroleum (Yellow 6, Blue 2 lake) or coal tar (Red 40 lake), titanium dioxide, and other compounds you would rather avoid.

Investigate if the most advertised supplements are ones you should trust

Most of us buy products from names we know, which means we purchase the vitamin brands that are most advertised. You would think that you could trust their research and quality — but is it always the case?

It is important to know that often words such as “nature,” country,” “rainbow” or “garden” in the name of a product more accurately spell “Pharmaceutical.” If you are taking supplements, look who manufactures them or who owns the company that offers them, in particular the most popular and advertised nutritional supplement brands.

If you do your homework, you would not associate these global corporations with the ultimate care of your health needs rather than your pockets and maximizing profits. These are corporations that pay for ads on TV and radio, in magazines and online. Think about it.

Learn about an advantage of the nutrient synergy approach

One of the current trends in the vitamin and supplement industry is personalized vitamins. Usually the purchase starts with a quiz which tracks everything from whether or not you eat red meat to your workout schedule, and results in specially tailored recommendations based on lifestyle, age, gender, and nutritional needs. And these vitamins and supplements run in the higher priced range.

Dr. Rath’s nutrient synergy approach involves science in testing how to combine various nutrient formulas for enhancing their efficacy. Also, the gradual adding of different micronutrient programs to your regimen assures that you take only what you need and avoid unnecessary supplementation. You can look at the research results and decide which supplements to take and how to combine them depending on your health needs. In case of any doubt or questions, our nutritional consultant can assist you with supplement suggestions at no cost: healthinfo@drrath.com