6 Questions to ask yourself before you go buy that next ‘miracle’ supplement
Do you get FOMO when it comes to the latest supplement in your social media feed?
Are you being influenced by attractive packaging, quick fix promises and the hype of clever marketing?
You know what they say - if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is!
It can be super tricky to navigate the ever-growing supplement space and the sneaky marketing tactics employed by brands! Start with these questions and seek professional guidance before yet another bottle of vitamins makes its way to the back of your cupboard to collect dust:
1. Do I know and understand what all of the ingredients are?
For example, pyridoxine, Eleutherococcus senticosus, Silybum marianum, s-adenosylmethionine, co-methylcobalamin, Siraitia grosvenorii - it’s like a foreign language if you’re not trained in herbs and nutrients! There are also excipients (inactive ingredients) that are often not listed on the label that may need to be considered.
2. Are any of those ingredients contraindicated for my case?
The minimum I want to know in order to safely prescribe to a client is any allergies, medications, health conditions + any other supplements they may be taking. Despite misconceptions, natural doesn’t always = safe and we must evaluate risk vs benefit for each individual, being especially conscious of any medication interactions.
3. Do I actually understand the therapeutic actions of those ingredients?
Are you rectifying a particular nutrient deficiency or are you seeking specific actions like anti-inflammatory support, or analgesic actions, or both? Herbs and nutrients often work on multiple pathways in the body - the important thing is targeting the ones that are specific to your needs and knowing the required dose, timing, duration, expected time frame and outcome.
4. Am I potentially overdosing on any ingredients?
Herbs and nutrients have therapeutic dosage windows and upper limits - too little and you may not see benefit, too much and you may cross toxic thresholds or have negative side effects. We always want to review any supplements you are taking to screen for overlap. Nutrients go by many names in their different forms eg. cyanocobalamin, mecobalamin, co-methylcobalamin, hydroxocobalamin are all names for B12 and pyridoxine hydrochloride, pyridoxal 5-phosphate and P5P are all forms of B6, making it super tricky to the untrained eye!
5. Is this supplement high quality and can I trust that it contains what I think it contains?
In Australia, approved therapeutic goods (supplements) making health claims must be listed on the ARTG (Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods) and will have an AUSTL number on the label. This means that claims made must be backed by evidence and that their products may be subject to random testing. Ingredient integrity/potency must also be maintained up until the expiry date.
HASTA batch testing is an additional measure some products go through for sports people etc. who cannot risk consuming any banned substances. Always exercise caution when buying supplements online, as not all regions have such high standards and some products have even been found to contain undisclosed medications!
6. Am I trying to use supplements as a quick fix instead of addressing my diet/lifestyle/mindset?
All too often people attempt to take a conventional medical approach to holistic medicine, trying to replicate the ‘pill for an ill’ method with natural products. Ideally we want to adopt a root cause approach, using supplements as their name suggests they are intended - to supplement the body only as needed alongside diet and lifestyle optimisation.
Having worked in the retail supplement space and as an ex health food store manager, I have seen the worst of how people stack supplements when going it alone and have also been horrified at the unsafe self prescribing - particularly in the older population where they are often on multiple medications. Those promising labels and half price specials will get the best of us and I’ve heard plenty of people describe an ever growing ‘supplement graveyard’ in one of their cupboards!
Supplement reviews are a key pillar in my practice - book your initial consultation for a thorough health assessment and peace of mind when it comes to your supplements.
