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| Supplements FAQ |
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| Q.
What's the best way to take supplements? |
| A.
Usually it's best to take supplements with food both because
they're generally better absorbed and secondly they cut down
on gastric upset. Some supplements, like individual amino acids
are more rapidly aborbed when taken on an empty stomach and
as such may reach greater effective concentrations in the body.
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| Q.
Are all nutrients listed on the label of nutritional supplement
vitamins? |
| A.
All active ingredients are listed usually with the amounts present
in the supplement. Fillers however, while usually just listed,
may not be fully disclosed. |
| Q.
How long before I can expect to feel some effects and benefits
from my nutritional supplements? |
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A.
The effects vary from almost right away in the case of some
frank deficiencies, to never if the suppments used either
aren't needed or don't have any significant effects.
Usually
it takes a week or so before you feel any effects from supplements
although it may be much longer. Except for those vitamins,
minerals and other ingredients taken as nutrient insurance,
if there are no appreciable affects from the supplement formulations
that you're using after a few months it's time to rethink
your supplement program.
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| Q.
I'm financially challenged right now but I still want to take
some supplements to help me with my exercise. What can I take
that won't cost me an arm and a leg. |
| A.
Your best bet is to use a good quality multiple vitamin and
mineral supplement. This will correct any marginal deficiencies
and make sure that you don't run into any more. After that I'd
try to take some protein powder to increase your dietary protein.
A combination of milk and soy is most cost effective. |
| Q.
What about antioxidants. Aren't some of the vitamins and minerals
in my one a day good antioxidants? |
| A.
It all depends on what's in your one a day - by the way if it's
only one tablet a day it won't have everything you need, especially
not enough of the important antioxidants. If you're already
taking a high-potency multivitamin, or individual antioxidants,
you may not need an actual antioxidant supplement unless you're
into high volume/high intensity exercise and/or sports. If you're
into vigorous, regular exercise then you'll likely benefit from
a first rate antioxidant formulation. |
| Q.
My family has a strong history of diabetes and heart disease.
Will supplements keep me from getting these? |
| A.
At this point all I can say is that it's likely that combining
a good diet with exercise, and taking a number of potentially
effective supplements can improve your chances of avoiding these
problems or at least lessening their severity. Unfortunately
not enough is known about the long term effects of supplements
on various diseases. More comprehensive studies are needed before
we can say with certainty that taking certain nutritional supplements
are preventative or curative for specific diseases. |
| Q.
I'm short of time and energy so I need to know which supplements
will keep me healthy. |
| A.
It's important to realize that supplements are just that, to
supplement your diet, not replace it. Nutritional supplements
won't make up for a bad diet, although they will complement
one that may not be perfect. To make the best use of supplements
you have to work on improving your diet as well.
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Dr. Di Pasquale is a licensed physician in Ontario, Canada, focusing on Nutrition and Sports Medicine, as well as a world class athlete for over twenty years... [more]
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