Your Guide to Supplementation
We are often asked by our customers, “Beside omega-3
fish oil, which supplements should I be taking?”
Although we are supplement believers, in answer to that question, we have a short list. If you are in good health, we think that supplementation should serve the role of addressing the nutritional deficiencies in your diet:
Omega-3 Fish Oil
This is obvious. Most of us do not get enough omega-3 from fatty fish sources, and therefore we are deficient. With the vast benefits to your body, mind, and heart, everyone needs a high-quality omega-3 fish oil supplement like PharmaOmega.
CLA
Conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) is another essential fatty acid that used to be prevalent in beef and dairy. It has benefits for fat loss, building lean muscle mass, and the prevention of weight gain, among others. You can learn more about CLA at www.BeneOmega.com
Multivitamin & Mineral Complex
Even if you eat well, you will benefit from a good multivitamin and mineral complex. Because of the way that much of our food is made, vital nutrients are often missing, or at lower than optimal levels. A good “multi” will help you cover all of your nutritional bases.
An Antioxidant Supplement: A good antioxidant supplement goes above and beyond the antioxidant activity of the average multivitamin. Antioxidants have been shown to reduce the wear and tear of aging and toxins on the heart, liver, and almost any other body tissue. CoQ10 (ubiquinone), Resveratrol, and citrus bioflavanoids are all effective, natural antioxidants.
If you have a specific health condition, and you would like to know more from us about which supplements are best for you, feel free to ask our expert Wellness Coaching staff. Click here to submit your questions
How to read a supplement label
Deciding what vitamin supplement to take can be downright confusing if you don’t know the basics of reading a supplement label. Here are five things to remember the next time you are confronted with the tangled mess of information found on the average supplement label.
1. Serving Size: Before reading anything else on the label, read the serving size! At first glance, one vitamin supplement may appear to be stronger than another, but if the serving size is also twice as big, that might not be the case. In order to compare supplements, you want to break down the ingredient amounts per capsule.
2. Type of Pill: Typically, supplements come in three forms: tablet, capsule, or softgel. Tablets are the most common, but they are also the most difficult for your body to break down, and can be difficult to swallow. Capsules are generally easier for your body to break down, and, in some cases, can be opened up and mixed in water if you can’t stand swallowing pills. Softgels are usually the easiest of the three to digest, as they are filled with liquid, and absorbed efficiently.
3. Suggested Usage: Many vitamin supplements will indicate on the label when it is best to take it. For instance, a supplement may be best to take in the morning, in the evening, after meals or on an empty stomach. A supplement with a serving size of three capsules may want you to spread out the dosage over the course of a day or it may be best to take all three at once.
4. What is in it: Most supplements will give two statistics concerning its contents: the amount of a nutrient and the % daily value of that nutrient. However, some supplements will only give you one of those statistics. Be sure you know both the amount and % daily value of a supplement, in order for you to get exactly what you need.
5. What else is in it: Underneath the list of nutrients, there should be an Other Ingredients listing. This listing lets you know what substances were used for the capsule material, binders, or fillers. If you have any food allergies or dietary restrictions, be sure to read this section to ensure you can take the supplement.