As a health conscious person, you’re dedicated to your and your families wellbeing. But self-prescribing supplements can often do more harm than good. Here’s five reasons you should consult a qualified nutritionist before reaching for that bottle of supplements.
1. You Might Be Treating the Wrong Deficiency Picture this: You’re a tired, run-down vegan parent and a friend suggests you should take an iron supplement. You buy one from the supermarket and start feeling a little better at first—but the energy boost doesn’t last, and you’re still exhausted, cranky, and struggling to keep up with your kids. Why didn’t the iron supplement work? It could be that low iron wasn’t the issue at all. Your fatigue might actually be caused by a vitamin B12 deficiency perhaps. “But I take vitamin B12,” you say. But did you know there are four different forms of vitamin B12? If you’re not taking the right one, you might still be missing the mark. Meanwhile, all that iron you’re taking could actually be causing oxidative stress if your body doesn’t need it. Over-supplementing with iron can harm you in the long run. 2. Iron Levels Aren’t Always What They Seem Let’s say you’ve had your blood tested, and your ferritin levels are fine, so you assume your iron levels are good. But here's the catch: ferritin isn’t the best marker of iron sufficiency. It can be artificially elevated when you’re experiencing inflammation, which could lead you to believe you’re getting enough iron when you’re actually not. 3. Excessive Supplementation Can Make Things Worse Some supplements, like zinc and iron, can actually lead to decreased nutrient absorption when taken in excess. You might think you’re replenishing your stores, but you could actually be making your nutritional status worse. 4. Some Supplements Compete for Absorption For example, calcium can impair magnesium, iron and zinc absorption at specific doses. Despite this many supplements combine these nutrients together. This can lead you to believe you’re geing optimal supplementation, when in reality, these nutrients are best taken separately to ensure your body absorbs them properly. 5. Micronutrients Are Best Taken In Specic Ratios Your body needs micronutrients in specic ratios for optimal health as micronutrients never work alone. For example, calcium and magnesium should be consumed in a 2:1 ratio. If the ratio is out, you might be increasing your risk of metabolic, inflammatory and cardiovascular disorders and not supporting micronutrients to work optimally. Why You Should Consult a Nutritionist Supplements should only be taken after a full diet assessment and review of your pathology results to ensure they’re actually needed. Your body’s nutritional needs are as unique as you. A qualied nutritionist can help you identify the right supplements (if any) and make sure you're taking them in the correct form and dosage for optimal absorption and health. Want personalised guidance on how to get the right nutrients from food and supplements? As a qualied vegan nutritionist, I can help you navigate your nutritional needs, ensuring you make the best choices for your health and your family’s well-being. Book a FREE Health Reset to see how I can help you feel your best and optimise your nutrition. Stephanie Sandor, Nutritionist BHSc., BComm., Cert IV (Fitness) Your Vegan Nutritionist (formerly Planting Nutrition)
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