Supplements: Do You Need Them? A Little Help From Baptist Health South Florida

Yesterday was Presidents Day. Which for most simply means a day off from your routine. I usually have Mondays off and use them as the day to reset my system and move on from the questionable food choices I may have made on Saturday and Sunday. .  Since the beginning, my blog has been all about helping myself and others live balanced and healthy lifestyles, and as many of you know, I have had to learn how to eat healthy and enjoy exercise. It was not in my nature. [If you do not believe me, check out this post.]  As I have progressed in my health and fitness journey I have come to realize the importance of research and an understanding that “knowledge is power”.

Supplements have always been a big part of my healthy lifestyle, but often times I wondered if they were completely necessary. Have you?

Today, Vitamin D, Curcumin and Biotin are part of what I have lovingly named my “Supplement Graveyard”.  I, like many others, would start taking a trendy supplement like Biotin for hair growth or Evening Primerose for glowing skin until I got sick of taking them or I did not get the desired results my GOOGLE results ensured me. Month after month,  I would throw each disappointing vitamin bottle into “the graveyard” and move onto the next. According to this article from Baptist Health South Florida supplements are a 30 billion dollar industry. I repeat: 30 BILLION DOLLAR INDUSTRY.

There are supplements that advertise everything from weight loss and clear skin to lowered cholesterol and mood enhancement. Did you know that most of the supplements we take are unnecessary if you are healthy adult? We can get all of the vitamins and minerals we need from a well balanced diet rich in nutrient dense foods like fruits, vegetables, whole grains and lean protein; however, there are certain groups of people that may need supplementation. If you are interested in learning more on supplements make sure to head on over to this article from Baptist Health South Florida to guide you in your supplement journey.

Suggestions to get more vitamins and minerals in your diet:

Get a Nutribullet or Ninja: Add a daily super juice to your routine. This is the best way to get a burst of energy and meet your daily dietary needs.

Hide them:

Make Soup: throw in a bunch of kale.

An Omlette: Make it veggie based.

Lasagne: Add a mushroom and spinach layer. Find sneaky ways to add key nutrients to your diet.

Eat a Well Rounded Diet: Think green leafy veggies, complex carbs and lean protein.

Read on for more on the great supplement debate from Baptist Health South Florida. For now, my prenatal daily vitamin is staying in rotation, but dense nutrient rich foods will be at the forefront everyday life.