Each year, Americans spend billions of dollars on supplements hoping to improve their health. Every drug store has a long aisle dedicated to vitamins, minerals, and other supplements that make an array of promises like weight loss, better sleep, improved memory, immunity, and more. In a world with so many choices, how do you know what to take or if you should even take anything at all? 

Let’s start here! It is always better to receive your vitamins and minerals from the foods you eat, however, many Americans do not meet their daily needs through diet alone. An estimated 87% of Americans do not eat the daily recommendations for fruit and vegetables, and over 40% do not receive adequate amounts of vitamins A, C, D, E, or magnesium. If you’re not eating a well-balanced diet most of the time, you should consider a good multivitamin like Metagenics® PhytoMulti®.    

Why Metagenics® PhytoMulti®? It is important to remember that not all supplements are created equal. The Food and Drug Administration “is not authorized to review dietary supplement products for safety and effectiveness before they are marketed.”1 This means customers must rely on trustworthy manufacturers to create effective products that are labeled correctly and contain the ingredients in the amounts they claim. We’ve done the research and so has Metagenics®. This particular brand has been proven to conduct rigorous control testing and provide reliable labeling. 

Which supplements are right for me? Besides brand name, how do you know which supplements you need and how much and how often to take? That depends on many things like age, gender and lifestyle. Many people can benefit from general supplements like multivitamins, fish oil and probiotics. Women in their childbearing years should consider a prenatal vitamin with adequate amounts of folate to prevent neural tube defects, and post-menopausal women should discuss taking a calcium and vitamin D supplement to support bone health and prevent osteoporosis with their doctor. The best way to find the right supplements for you is to schedule a full nutrition assessment to determine possible dietary gaps and deficits. 

For more information or to schedule an appointment with one of our registered dietitians, please visit our website or contact Woman’s Center for Wellness at 225-924-8313. Visit our storefront at womans.metagenics.com to check out available supplement products. 

*Disclaimer: Always speak with your doctor before taking any new supplements.