What you should know about taking health supplements

Learning the ins and outs of various supplements

- CHESHIRE QUE, RND, RN, RD

As a registered nutritionist and dietitian for over two decades, I have been managing patient cases that require supplementation, yet I have also encountered patients who have been taking unnecessary supplements.

Some were even detrimental to their health. Others are against dietary supplementation, while there are those claiming that it is needed for optimum health. What's the real score on supplementation? Do we need to take supplements?

In an ideal world, where we should be eating a variety of wholesome plant food sources sans the ultra-processed and animal-based products, we probably won't need dietary supplementation. Unfortunately, most of us live in a fast-paced society that is thriving on convenient food sources that have undergone several processes to make shelf-life longer, making food tastier and easier to prepare. These processing methods tend to strip off vitamins, minerals, fiber, and the precious phytonutrients or plant chemicals needed for optimum health.

If you're not consuming at least three servings of vegetables and two servings of fruits daily, and if your staple includes fast food, junk food, refined carbs like white bread, and processed meat, then you are probably a candidate for nutrient supplementation. Simply because you cannot obtain the fiber, micronutrients, and phytonutrients your body requires for optimum health.