🌿 Vitamins & Supplements 101

If you are here you most likely are familiar with some sort of supplement. But what exactly are supplements, and how do they really work in the body?

Let's talk about it👇

🌿Vitamins vs. Supplements: What’s the Difference?

The words "vitamins" and "supplements" are often used interchangeably, but they are not exactly the same.

• Vitamins→ are specific, essential nutrients your body needs in small amounts (like vitamin D, B12, or Vitamin C). They are a type of supplement.

• Supplements→ are a broader category that includes vitamins and other nutrient compounds like minerals (magnesium, iron), herbs (turmeric, ashwagandha), and specialty compounds (collagen, CoQ10, probiotics).

👉To make it simple, all vitamins are supplements, but not all supplements are vitamins.

🧪What Are Supplements?

Supplements are concentrated forms of nutrients or compounds meant to support your body's natural processes.

• Vitamins and Minerals: essential nutrients→ Vitamin D, Magnesium, Iron

• Herbal Supplements: are plants used for therapeutic purposes→ Turmeric, Ashwagandha

• Specialty Compounds: are things that your body makes naturally, but may need support with→CoQ10, Omega-3s, Collagen

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👉 Supplements are not meant to replace a healthy lifestyle, they are designed to fill gaps or provide extra support.

✅ The Benefits of Supplements

• Can fill nutrient gaps from the diet or lifestyle

• May prevent or reduce symptoms of deficiencies

• Can support energy, sleep, mood, digestion, hormones, immunity

• Often used for prevention and maintenance

⚠️ The Drawbacks of Supplements

• Quality varies, not all supplements are created equal. They do not have as many regulations, so you have to know where and whose products you are using. Look for third-party testing (USP, NSF, or ConsumerLab) for quality assurance.

• Can interact with medications, tell your provider what you are taking before starting something new.

• May be less potent or slower-acting than medications

• Can lead to over-supplementation, causing more harm than good

🥦 Supplements vs. Food

Supplemets are helpful, but they are supposed to be exactly what they sound like, a supplement. They do not replace real food. Whole foods give your body nutrients in a natural package that works together.

An orange doesn't just contain Vitamin C, it also provides fiber, water, and flavonoids (plant compounds) that help your body absorb and use that vitamin more effectively. Whereas a Vitamin C supplement gives you the vitamin in isolation. This can be useful if you are deficient or need more support to your daily intake.

👉 Think of supplements as a support system but not the whole foundation. A nutrient-dense diet will always do more for your body than any pill.

💬 Questions to Ask Before Taking a Supplement

Before starting a new supplement, ask yourself (and your provider):

• Do I actually need this? → Not every symptom is caused by a deficiency. Further evaluation or testing might be needed.

• What form and brand is best? → Some forms are absorbed better than others like Mg glycinate vs. Mg oxide. This is why its important to read labels and research what you are taking first.

• Could it interact with my medications? → Some herbs and nutrients change how drugs are absorbed, metabolized, or cleared.

• How long should I take it? → Some supplements are meant for short-term support, whiel others may be safe for long-term use.

• Am I addressing the root cause?→A supplement can support your body, but lifestyle, diet, stress, and sleep are often where lasting changes happen.

✨ Educational only, not medical advice. Always consult your healthcare provider before starting or stopping supplements or medications.

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