How to Take Supplements Properly

How to Take Supplements Properly

It should be everyone's goal to derive most of our nutrients – vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and fiber – from food. Supplements are a supplement to a good diet and are not meant to replace food. But the reality is, between our hectic schedules, less-than-satisfactory cafeteria options, and whatever other reasons we give for unhealthy food choices, modern agricultural practices have left our once mineral-rich soil depleted. Mineral depleted soil equals deficient vegetation and modern technology provides a solution to that problem – the nutritional supplement.

What is a nutritional supplement? It's an extracted nutrient – either natural or synthetic – that is bound together in a form that is easily (or sometimes not so easily!) swallowed. It is intended to supplement the diet with nutrients known to promote health such as vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, herbs, etc.

It's the non-nutritive ingredients that cause concern. According to the FDA, there are over 29,000 supplements on the market. With so many to choose from, many of us believe if we buy higher priced nutritional supplements we are getting better quality products. However, this is not always the case.

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Lisa Tsakos
Lisa has been in her own practice for over 15 years and specializes in weight management. She teaches natural nutrition in both corporate and educational environments and is a shining example of someone who practices what she teaches. Lisa is a nutritionist and educator specializing in weight management. After losing weight several years ago through a more natural diet and by improving her digestion, she committed to sharing her new-found knowledge and returned to school to study nutrition. Over the past decade, her Nu-Vitality Weight Program has helped employees at numerous corporations lose thousands of pounds. In addition, Lisa regularly consults for groups and individuals with unique nutritional needs such as police officers and athletes. Lisa has been featured on the Discovery Channel, numerous radio programs and is a contributor to various publications. Additionally, she teaches nutrition at multiple post-secondary schools, has taught natural food cooking workshops, and authored two books.