A LITTLE WORD ON SUPPLEMENTS
The UK supplement industry is huge and growing rapidly - expected to be worth £559 million by 2025. You can find pills, herbs, tinctures, powders that support literally every ailment and desire in most supermarkets, health food stores and pharmacists.
I am aware that people tend to take supplements to support their health and health outcomes and in some cases supplementation is helpful and occasionally necessary (anaemia, pregnancy, low levels of Vitamin D or B12 etc). However, it is worth mentioning that most of the essential nutrients our bodies need can be obtained from a nutritious and balanced diet. Many of the supplements available in shops have been shown to have little to no effect and can cause more harm than good.
Why is this?
Supplements can interact with certain medications & other supplements leading to harmful side effects.
The industry is unregulated - anyone can sell anything basically!
A lot of shop bought supplements contain bulking agents & fillers and not much of the good stuff - always check the ingredients!
They often don’t contain the most bioavailable forms and dosages of the desired nutrient and are therefore poorly absorbed by the body - more often than not are a waste of money!
Be careful of claims that seem too good to be true - they often are!
The benefits:
Taking supplements can be helpful to support a wide range of conditions including nutritional depletions and deficiencies, mental and physical health alongside a varied, healthy and balanced diet.
There are lots of great brands out there providing well sourced and effective supplements.
When choosing supplements, go for the highest quality you can find and ask for advice on which brands to trust if you’re unsure.
Choosing whether to take a supplement is an individual choice. It is important to remember that everyone needs and metabolises nutrients differently and therefore, a one-size-fits-all approach is unlikely to be helpful for everyone. Before taking a supplement, please ensure your information is reliable and from a trusted source. I would always recommend speaking to your Nutritionist, GP or health practitioner before buying supplements.
