How do I know if I need to supplement? And really, are supplements good for you anyway? I make sure that my clients know exactly why a supplement may or may not be helpful.

Reasons to Take Supplements

Nutrition supplements, when used safely and appropriately, can be an effective strategy to complement dietary and lifestyle changes. For my clients with PCOS or gut health conditions, I always make sure that we first focus on implementing the most supportive nutrition and lifestyle changes. However, changing behaviors can be difficult to do. So one reason to take supplements is to support progress in the early stages while my clients are still learning to form new habits.

Another reason to take supplements is that some conditions require more potent support than nutrition and lifestyle changes alone can provide. For example, women with intense period paid can experience significant relief with supplementation of good, high dose fish oil, but they might find it hard to get a high enough dose through diet alone.

Lastly, some medications can deplete essential nutrients. With medication use, nutritional supplementation can help replete insufficient levels of nutrients in the body. For example, common medications prescribed to women with PCOS may include hormonal birth control or Metformin, both of which can deplete nutrients and would be a reason to take supplements.

While there are many reasons to take nutritional supplements, choosing the right ones for your health needs is key.

How to Supplement Smartly

Three important criteria I use when choosing supplements for my clients include efficacy, quality and dose. Personalized care from a nutrition or health professional trained in safe and effective supplement use is essential.