How to Choose a How to Choose a SupplementSupplement

©Dr. Kevin Passero 2005©Dr. Kevin Passero 2005

What is the Goal of Your What is the Goal of Your SupplementSupplement

To assist the body in its ability to To assist the body in its ability to function optimallyfunction optimally

Primary health should be maintained Primary health should be maintained through healthy living practices and through healthy living practices and good lifestyle hygiene. good lifestyle hygiene.

Lifestyle HygieneLifestyle Hygiene

Eating a healthful diet plentiful in fresh Eating a healthful diet plentiful in fresh vegetables, fruits and high quality meats.vegetables, fruits and high quality meats.

Avoiding highly processed foods that Avoiding highly processed foods that contain hydrogenated fats, preservatives contain hydrogenated fats, preservatives and artificial colors and flavors.and artificial colors and flavors.

Drink ample amounts of filtered water.Drink ample amounts of filtered water. Exercise regularly Exercise regularly Maintain good sleep habitsMaintain good sleep habits

Looking at your HealthLooking at your Health

One of the most important things to One of the most important things to do when considering what do when considering what supplement you should take is sitting supplement you should take is sitting down and evaluating what aspects of down and evaluating what aspects of your health need the most support.your health need the most support.

Family HistoryFamily History

Family History can be one of the Family History can be one of the most important markers for what most important markers for what health challenges you may face in health challenges you may face in the future.the future.

Start by making a list of all the Start by making a list of all the health problems primary family health problems primary family members suffer from.members suffer from.

Influencing FactorsInfluencing Factors

Next take into consideration lifestyle Next take into consideration lifestyle habits that may have contributed to habits that may have contributed to these problems. these problems.

For instance if you Father was a For instance if you Father was a smoker and had heart disease your smoker and had heart disease your risk may not be as high if you don’t risk may not be as high if you don’t smoke.smoke.

Red FlagsRed Flags

If a certain trend is very consistent If a certain trend is very consistent throughout a family history pay very throughout a family history pay very close attention to it. close attention to it.

For example colon or breast cancer For example colon or breast cancer can often be very common between can often be very common between parents, siblings, aunts and uncles.parents, siblings, aunts and uncles.

Red FlagsRed Flags

If one or more of your family members If one or more of your family members was afflicted with a condition (like was afflicted with a condition (like heart disease) at a younger than heart disease) at a younger than average age, you should be extra average age, you should be extra cautious about your risk factors.cautious about your risk factors.

Family HistoryFamily History

If your family history shows a strong If your family history shows a strong trend towards a chronic disease, you trend towards a chronic disease, you will want to choose supplements that will want to choose supplements that have been studied to support the have been studied to support the body’s resistance to that particular body’s resistance to that particular disease process.disease process.

Other Pertinent Health Other Pertinent Health ConditionsConditions

Supplements are often chosen on a Supplements are often chosen on a basis of supporting the body through basis of supporting the body through already existing conditions.already existing conditions.

Always consult with a qualified Always consult with a qualified healthcare practitioner to determine healthcare practitioner to determine which supplements are best suited which supplements are best suited to safely support your body.to safely support your body.

Other Pertinent Health Other Pertinent Health ConditionsConditions

It is important to consider health It is important to consider health conditions you may currently have conditions you may currently have and how that may affect your body’s and how that may affect your body’s ability to utilize, absorb or process a ability to utilize, absorb or process a supplement.supplement.

It is also very important to consider It is also very important to consider what types of pharmaceutical what types of pharmaceutical medication you are on and how medication you are on and how these can interact with supplements.these can interact with supplements.

Choosing the Type of Choosing the Type of SupplementSupplement

PowdersPowders

LiquidsLiquids

CapsulesCapsules

TabletsTablets

Powder and LiquidsPowder and Liquids

Powders and Liquids are often the most Powders and Liquids are often the most highly absorbed forms of supplements.highly absorbed forms of supplements.

This makes them well suited for This makes them well suited for individuals with a decreased ability to individuals with a decreased ability to digest and absorb nutrients and for those digest and absorb nutrients and for those who cannot swallow pills.who cannot swallow pills.

Powders and LiquidsPowders and Liquids

Because Elderly individuals often have Because Elderly individuals often have compromised digestion, powders and compromised digestion, powders and liquids are the preferred form of liquids are the preferred form of supplementation. supplementation.

People with conditions that affect the People with conditions that affect the digestive tract, like chron’s disease, digestive tract, like chron’s disease, ulcerative colitis, celiac spure, and IBS ulcerative colitis, celiac spure, and IBS are also good candidates for liquid and are also good candidates for liquid and powder forms of vitamins. powder forms of vitamins.

Liquids and PowdersLiquids and Powders

Children are also good candidates Children are also good candidates for these forms of supplementation for these forms of supplementation because many do not yet know how because many do not yet know how to swallow pills.to swallow pills.

CapsulesCapsules

Capsules are the best absorbed pill Capsules are the best absorbed pill form of supplements.form of supplements.

The gelatin capsule is very easy for The gelatin capsule is very easy for the body to breakdown.the body to breakdown.

Capsules production requires no Capsules production requires no binders or coatings.binders or coatings.

TabletsTablets

Out of all forms, tablets are the most Out of all forms, tablets are the most poorly absorbed. poorly absorbed.

Tables require the use of binders and Tables require the use of binders and coatings for the production process.coatings for the production process.

For healthy people with strong For healthy people with strong digestion, it is usually not an issue.digestion, it is usually not an issue.

AdditivesAdditives All of the supplement forms can have All of the supplement forms can have

additives in them that negatively affect additives in them that negatively affect people with certain sensitivities.people with certain sensitivities.

Soy, corn, wheat, diary and other Soy, corn, wheat, diary and other substances may be present in some substances may be present in some supplements. supplements.

This can cause various negative side effects This can cause various negative side effects for sensitive individuals. Always check for sensitive individuals. Always check with the manufacturer to see if your with the manufacturer to see if your supplement contains any of these additives.supplement contains any of these additives.

PurityPurity

Many times the raw materials used in Many times the raw materials used in supplements were produced in ways that supplements were produced in ways that create impurities.create impurities.

For example, many B-vitamins contain For example, many B-vitamins contain dairy by-products as a result of poor dairy by-products as a result of poor manufacturing. manufacturing.

For sensitive individuals this can be a For sensitive individuals this can be a problem.problem.

PurityPurity

Artificial preservatives like BHA and Artificial preservatives like BHA and BHT are also commonly added to BHT are also commonly added to raw ingredients. raw ingredients.

These preservatives have been These preservatives have been implicated in certain types of tumor implicated in certain types of tumor growth.growth.

Nutrient FormsNutrient Forms

For certain types of nutrients For certain types of nutrients (specifically the B family) co-enzyme (specifically the B family) co-enzyme forms of nutrients can be used.forms of nutrients can be used.

Co-enzyme forms are in a state that Co-enzyme forms are in a state that the body can easily utilize.the body can easily utilize.

Bio-AvailabilityBio-Availability

Many nutrients are available in a Many nutrients are available in a variety of forms. variety of forms.

Certain forms allow the body to more Certain forms allow the body to more easily utilize that nutrient. easily utilize that nutrient.

Kreb cycle bio-nutrients like citrates, Kreb cycle bio-nutrients like citrates, alpha ketoglutarates and succinates alpha ketoglutarates and succinates are very bio-available for use by the are very bio-available for use by the body.body.

Bio-AvailabilityBio-Availability

Always check what forms nutrients Always check what forms nutrients are in when selecting a supplement.are in when selecting a supplement.

ReviewReview

GoalsGoals Looking at your healthLooking at your health Family HistoryFamily History Current Health ConditionsCurrent Health Conditions Powder/Liquid/Tablet/Powder/Liquid/Tablet/

CapsuleCapsule AdditivesAdditives Bio-Availability Bio-Availability

BotanicalsBotanicals

StandardizationStandardization

LiquidLiquid

Dry HerbDry Herb

Cultivation Cultivation

Standardization Standardization

Most studies conducted on botanical Most studies conducted on botanical products are done on standardized products are done on standardized preparations.preparations.

This means that a certain constituent of This means that a certain constituent of the plant has been selected for and is the plant has been selected for and is concentrated to a set amount.concentrated to a set amount.

Advantages/DisadvantagesAdvantages/Disadvantages

LiquidsLiquids

Usually in the form of tincture in a Usually in the form of tincture in a base of either alcohol or glycerinbase of either alcohol or glycerin

Able to be more highly concentrated Able to be more highly concentrated than raw plant material.than raw plant material.

Freshness guaranteed for long Freshness guaranteed for long periods of time.periods of time.

Reduced compliance due to tasteReduced compliance due to taste

Dry HerbDry Herb

Freshness a big issue. Many plants Freshness a big issue. Many plants loose some of their medicinal loose some of their medicinal properties during the drying and properties during the drying and packaging stages. Further, the packaging stages. Further, the longer they sit on a self the more longer they sit on a self the more medicinal properties they loose.medicinal properties they loose.

Not as concentrated.Not as concentrated. Freeze dried usually the best form.Freeze dried usually the best form.

CultivationCultivation

Wildcrafted- Plant was hand picked Wildcrafted- Plant was hand picked from a natural habitat.from a natural habitat.

Organic- Plant was cultivated using Organic- Plant was cultivated using organic farming techniques.organic farming techniques.

Conventional- Plant was cultivated Conventional- Plant was cultivated with the use of pesticides and with the use of pesticides and herbicides.herbicides.