In the pursuit of a healthy lifestyle, building effective habits is pivotal. The journey towards wellness encompasses various elements, including nutrition, exercise, sleep, stress management, and supplementation. While many focus primarily on diet and exercise, the integration of supplements can significantly enhance one’s ability to achieve optimal health and well-being.
Incorporating supplements into daily routines requires a strategic approach. It’s essential to prioritize essential nutrients that may be lacking in one’s diet due to dietary restrictions, lifestyle factors, or inadequate intake of certain food groups. For example, individuals following plant-based diets or on certain medications like metformin and stomach acid-reducing drugs may benefit from supplementing with vitamin B12. I recommend the active form of B12, called methylcobalamin.
Vegetarians, patients with gut absorption problems, and women with heavy periods may be anemic and need to take iron. Vegans can consider an iron sourced from organic peas called Ferritin+ by Flora. Those who exercise frequently need higher amounts of protein to prevent muscle loss and may want to take Purica’s Power Protein with 8 Mushrooms (including cordyceps, red reishi, lion’s mane, turkey tail, etc.). Cordyceps are used by athletes to help with power, energy, and stamina during competitions.
Getting into the habit of taking supplements regularly can be difficult. Sometimes it can be about picking a form that you are willing to take. For example, I generally will not take fish oil liquids from the fridge each day because I may not remember or want to go through the hassle. My personal preference is to take supplements in a solid dosage form. I always tell patients that the best supplement to pick is the supplement that they will actually take.
The largest problem with taking supplements is inconsistency. Using pill boxes or getting your pharmacy to blister pack your medications/supplements can be a convenient way to remember to take them. Try to tie taking your supplements together with something that you already habitually do every day. For example, I make coffee every morning so I put my pill box close to my coffee and also add mushrooms and collagen to my coffee.
Some people read labels and are told to not take it together with other medications, supplements, or meals. Most of the time, it is only with uncommon medications or with medications that are only affected mildly by certain foods like dairy, so patients will take them 2 hours apart and then never remember to take them. If the supplement is only absorbed 90% when taken with meals but 100% on an empty stomach, I would rather have the patient get 90% each day vs. 100% every second or third day. Talk to a pharmacist about interactions.
Supplements can offer support in addressing nutrient deficiencies, achieving health goals, and optimizing overall wellness. Just get into the habit of taking them regularly.
Lyle Sunada is a compounding pharmacist and NAMS Certified Menopause Practitioner specializing in hormone balancing and alternative medicine at Cloverdale Pharmasave. Everything mentioned in the article is available In-Store.
