Supplements come in various forms, from powders to capsules. They range from muscle-building amino acids to immune-boosting herbs and everything else in between. While each supplement varies in form, formulation, and purpose, the idea behind supplementation is remains the same: to enhance a person’s diet by taking nutrients in addition to food sources. Supplements were created to complement a healthy and balanced lifestyle.
If you are interested in achieving optimal health then you’ve probably considered taking supplements. However, while these supplements can do you a lot of good, it is important that you know how to properly take them in order to maximize their benefits.
Supplement Staples
Before you start taking any type of supplement, make sure that it won’t interact with any medications you’re taking. If you must, do consult a doctor who knows your medical history. If you’re confident to go ahead and start a supplementation program, here are a few of the staples that you might want to try first:
Probiotics
A healthy gut can make it easier for you to absorb all the nutrients you’re taking. It also helps prevent various gastrointestinal issues while improving skin health and your immunity against various diseases. Probiotics are healthy bacteria that have been found to promote good gastrointestinal health.
Multivitamins
Ideally, you should be getting a variety of nutrients every day. One of the best ways to make sure that you do is by incorporating variety into your diet. Eat lots of different fruits, vegetables, dairy, and lean meats. However, there will be times when you might experience a deficiency in some essential vitamins or minerals. This is where multivitamin supplements come in handy and let you to fill nutrient gaps in your diet.
Protein Powders
They are a great addition to smoothies and milkshakes and are good plant-based sources of protein for vegans. If you workout regularly, you can take advantage of these protein powders to increase your energy, minimize recovery time, and decrease muscle fatigue.
Things To Consider When Taking Supplements
Choose The Right Supplement For You
As with everything else you do for your body, you have to assess your state of wellness and fitness level first. Make sure that the supplements you’re taking fit your lifestyle and complement your diet. Preferences also play a large part when it comes to choosing the right supplements.
If you don’t like how a certain supplement tastes even after it’s masked with various types of sweeteners and fruits, then you should stick to a more palatable alternative. Chances are you won’t be able to commit to taking those and they’ll just collect dust at the back of the cupboard, unopened for months. Also, masking the taste of a supplement with sugary food is not ideal if what you’re aiming for is better health. Choose supplements that you know you can stick with in the long run.
Buy From A Trusted Brand
Buying from a reputable company is important. It is the only way to ensure effectiveness and, more importantly, safety. Products coming from trusted brands have gone through a series of lab testing and rigorous compliance reviews.
Be Mindful Of What You Pair Your Supplements With
What you take with your supplements actually matters. Some vitamins, for example, are fat-soluble. In order for these types of nutrients to be fully absorbed in your body, a certain amount of fat should be present. Vitamins A, D, E, and K are fat-soluble. If you’re taking these vitamins, make sure to pair them with foods that contain healthy fats such as avocados, nuts, and fish.
It is also important to note that some nutrients may interact with each other, such as iron and calcium. Make sure not to take them together at the same time of the day, since they will negate the effects of the other. Leave an interval of a few hours, or you can alternate taking them every other day.
Conclusion
Supplements can improve the quality of your health as long as you know how to take them properly. The best thing you can do is to go through a fair amount of research before you fill up your cart with bottles of pills and powders. Be an informed consumer. After all, your aim is to become healthier. Consuming products, even if they are meant to be good for you, in the wrong way or in excess can still make you sick. Also, always make sure to buy from a reputable brand and to follow the right dosage.
References:
https://greatist.com/eat/what-you-should-know-about-supplements#1