WORDS: Alyce Cimino | Clinical Naturopath
The short answer, possibly not!
As a practitioner, I have a few statements that I unconditionally stand by
1. Nothing changes, if nothing changes and
2. Supplements and herbs are there for the short term.
There is the perception that supplements do no harm, and the reality is that simply isn’t true. It’s also why I am particularly careful when it comes to the products we stock in the clinic, recommend, and prescribe to clients – we want the best quality and for them to improve their wellbeing, not the opposite! However, with so many different products available in so many places, it’s easy to get swept up into the “ah it’s just a vitamin” thought process and as you are strolling through the supermarket,t a few extra bottles get swept into your trolley alongside the toothpaste and frozen peas.
So, how do you know if you need a supplement in the first place?
- Your pathology has indicated so; you have run recent blood work (6-12 months), and you are working to improve / change the levels on your results.
- Your qualified health practitioner has prescribed them to you; more often there not there is a big difference in quality when it comes to a supplement, the saying ‘you get what you pay for’ fits right in here. Your practitioner will also be watching exactly what is in the products; not only the ingredients but also the vitamin/mineral/herbal levels across different products AND the excipients of those products as well. I am always watching the excipients as well – these are items within a product, but they are of such a small amount that they aren’t required to be on the label. Often you will find some yuck things hiding in the,e such as Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (yep, what you want to avoid on your shampoo can be found inside some supplement products – and I promise these are well-known brands as well, not small companies on iherb)
As a consulting practitioner, we also have to complete Continuing Education Points each and every year to continue consulting and obtain insurance… this means we are always up to date with the latest health information and product information.
Things to ask before adding a new supplement:
- Why is this being prescribed to me? I always love to ask client’s “Why are you taking this?” and it’s not because I don’t know the answer, but rather I want to know if THEY know the answer.
- Is your Practitioner qualified to prescribe supplements? Naturoapths, Nutritionists, and Holistic dieticians have a large amount of nutrient training but also product training. There (generally) isn’t any financial kickback to the practitioner, which means we don’t profit from what we prescribe on the side. There is a move at the moment for body work practitioners – sadly, the training isn’t always there, and I have seen firsthand the damage that can be done, especially to hormonal and thyroid health.
- Where was your product made? Australia has some of the strictest rules around supplementation, products and items that sit on our shelves. While this can be frustrating at times, it also means the quality is generally a lot better than that found on iherb and other international websites. Companies also have to adhere to very specific regulations on how a product can be marketed.
- Will this interfere with my medication? There are some medications that require a supplement alongside – ie, statins and ubiquinol/coQ10 but then there are others that need to be avoided with other medications as they can interfere with how the medication works. If you have had a change in medication, you will need a supplement review as well.
So, should you be taking that supplement? possibly! But if you are taking several products for a long period of time, it means that it is now time for a check-in, to review what you are taking and stop what is no longer needed.