NAVIGATING LIVING WELL SUPPLEMENTS

from the sourcing of ingredients to the manufacturing practices of the supplement company. “You can’t just go to the drugstore, buy off the shelf and assume you are getting the nutrients or herbs that are on the label,” says Hockenbroch. “Because it is an unregulated industry, the dosage listed may not be the actual amount and you may be getting other unwanted contaminants like fillers, heavy metals or pesticides, to name a few.” Supplements should be NSF certified and U.S. pharmaceutical grade, which ensures the raw ingredients are free of contaminants and the end product does not contain binders, fillers, dyes or unknown ingredients.

Increasing awareness and desire for ways to address and improve health has grown the supplement world into a $33-billion industry. Choices once limited to vitamins and minerals have expanded to herbals, adaptogens, enzymes, pre and probiotics, powders and drinks in any host of combinations guaranteed to solve your issue. With so many supplement products on the market offering solutions to every health issue or promise of “super health,” discerning can be daunting. Leading functional medicine practitioners Kristen Bentson, DC, MS, IFMCP, and Jill Hockenbroch, CRNP, CFMP, share some insights to help you better navigate your way towards health.

A Targeted Approach

Bentson and Hockenbroch approach utilizing supplements in very targeted manners to address health concerns and support the body’s processes. Through in-depth health history along with specific functional testing, a clearer picture unfolds for each patient as to where their individual imbalances may be. Then, specific targeted supplements can be introduced to address issues and optimize health.

Bentson sees the number one issue with patients as their not realizing they are taking one or more nutrients that are in several of their supplements. Unknowingly, they are far exceeding safe limits and potentially contributing to or causing some of their symptoms.

Many of the supplement products entering the market today are blends of herbs, enzymes, adaptogens and other nutrients combined in a broad one-size-fits-all manner. To further complicate things, combination products are often listed as “proprietary blends,” so a consumer doesn’t know the sourcing or the exact amounts they are consuming.

Even though the initial costs of quality supplements and proper testing may seem higher, in the long run it is often less expensive by not wasting money on things you don’t need, things that don’t work or things that are actually causing distress for the body.

Know Your Sources

Both Hockenbroch and Bentson stress the importance of quality,

Bentson says that where you are purchasing from is equally important. Products may be stored inappropriately, mislabeled or even be fraudulent. Purchasing directly from the supplement company or a reputable online dispensary helps better ensure that you are getting a quality product. If doing due diligence, Bentson notes that one should be able to get a Certificate of Analysis (COA) of the product. Some trusted brands include Pure Encapsulations, Thorne, Standard Process and Metagenics.

Similarly, various forms of a vitamin or mineral can have varied roles in the body as well as varied bioavailability. Magnesium is a prime example. Magnesium oxide is one of the most often purchased forms. It also happens to be the cheapest, the least bioavailable and has mainly just a laxative effect.

“Those looking for help with tension, poor sleep and headaches may benefit more from magnesium glycinate introduced slowly into the diet,” says Bentson.

“The key is getting the right magnesium form for you.”