Eating healthfully is already a daily struggle for many individuals. Adding the extra stress of inflation and unpredictable food prices at the grocery store can make it even more challenging to shop for nutritious choices. This is where strategic use of dietary supplements can help.
Supplements are designed to complement your diet, so if you are having trouble getting all the nutrients you need through food, supplements are your best budget-friendly asset. By incorporating quality supplements into your routine, you can bridge the nutrient gap and ensure that your body receives the essential vitamins and minerals it requires.
While it is widely acknowledged that a nutritious diet forms the foundation of good health, there is a growing body of research that shows the role of dietary supplements is an important adjunct to achieving optimal nutrition.
With the quality of food being less than optimal today, I believe it is necessary to include dietary supplements daily, along with the most wholesome diet you can afford. Strive to include fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins, and healthy fats in your diet to help reduce the risk of chronic diseases, support a healthy weight, enhance energy levels, and improve overall well-being.
One effective budget-friendly strategy is to opt for multipurpose supplements that offer a range of benefits. Combination supplements offer a holistic approach to nutrition by integrating a variety of nutrients, vitamins, and minerals into a single capsule. These supplements are designed to address multiple health issues simultaneously, offering convenience, cost-effectiveness, and targeted support for specific concerns.
Using combination supplements gives you extra bang for your buck, and you also don’t have to take as many pills. By investing in quality, science-supported supplements, you not only save money now, but also take preventive steps towards your future health, potentially reducing health-care costs in the long run.
A multivitamin supplement can cover many nutritional bases, but not all supplements are the same. Read labels carefully. A multivitamin should include calcium, iron, magnesium, potassium, thiamine, riboflavin, niacin, B6, B12, folate, calcium, magnesium, selenium, zinc, and vitamins A, C D, E, and K. Choose a multivitamin with 100 percent of the recommended daily intake (RDA) of most of its ingredients. (Not everything will be 100 percent or the pill would be too large.)
Though heart and immune health top the list of biggest health concerns for men and women, bone health is equally important, especially as you age. All three of these health issues can be addressed with the right combination supplement. Here are some ingredients to look for in combination products:
As a holistic pharmacist, I have received many questions from women throughout my career on how to prevent urinary tract infections (UTI). Cranberry has a long history
of use for bladder health. However, drinking cranberry juice is not only costly, but it adds a lot of calories, and studies have been inconsistent on whether cranberry juice can actually help.
One form of cranberry that has been found to be beneficial for fighting UTIs is cran-max, a concentrated cranberry extract that is sold by a variety of manufacturers.
A combination product that combines cran-max with probiotics can enhance both gut and urinary tract health. Working synergistically, probiotics and cranberries support urinary tract health by promoting a balanced gut microbiome, aiding in the normalization of the gastrointestinal system, and preventing bacteria from adhering to the bladder wall.
Who doesn’t have concerns about stress and fatigue these days with inflation and economic pressures? Most of us do. Finding a combination supplement that targets both stress and fatigue while supporting your immune system is important, since stress is a primary cause of fatigue and compromised immunity. This brings me back to my recommendation on aged garlic extract (AGE). Combining AGE with several B vitamins, including B1, B6, B12, as well as the amino acid GABA, which can calm the nervous system and promote relaxation, can help fight fatigue, tame stress, and support the immune system.
