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Nutritional Supplementation and the Use of Vitamins, Minerals, and Herbs

With the increasing popularity of vitamin, mineral, and herbal supplementation over the last decade, there are several points I consider deserve more attention, giving the consumer a more informed decision on the products they are purchasing.

Bioavailability

The first issue I would like to address is Bioavailability. This is a term used to describe the actual amount of the supplement that is absorbed into the bloodstream. For many supplements in pill or capsule form, this can be as low as 10%. When purchasing supplements in this form, the consumer would be advised to look for "time-released products" which allow a greater absorption rate. Powders and juices have a higher absorption rate but this is still on average only around 50%. This is an important point to consider if someone is supplementing for a specific deficiency as opposed to someone taking a multivitamin to maintain general health. There are now gel-based supplements becoming available with far greater absorption rates.

Form of vitamins and minerals

Another point to consider is that some vitamins and minerals are most effective when absorbed directly into the bloodstream. Vitamin B12 is one example, which is often administered intravenously by Physicians. While others, typically minerals, provide maximum benefit by being slowly released throughout the day. Again the consumer if using pill-based products should consider a "time-released product". There are some products coming on the market which allow the release of nutrients as they are required. For example, a properly balanced nutritional supplement of this type, when taken with food will release the required nutrients that assist the body in its natural process of digestion, while suspending and slowly releasing the nutrients which require longer-term absorption. These are generally the Gel based products.

Plants and herbs are more effective

Medical research has also shown that the active medicinal compounds identified in many plants and herbs work more effectively synergistically, meaning that when they are combined with the active compounds in the plants and herbs from which they are derived, they are many times more effective. There is much debate about why this is the case but it is now widely acknowledged as fact. It is therefore in the consumer's interest to check that a product does not only contain the active ingredient of a plant or herb they are purchasing but also an extract of all the other components.

Take Your Right Dose

My final point is that as the great debate rages on about the effectiveness of supplementation over a healthy balanced diet, the fact is that nutritional supplementation is now a daily part of many people's lives and more research and education are needed on the subject. This is of particular importance as it is now accepted that taking Mega doses of some vitamins can actually be detrimental to your health. Also, the properties of certain herbal supplements can be as powerful as their pharmaceutical counterparts and the same caution should be applied when using them. You should always consult your Physician if you are on any kind of medication or are suffering from a medical condition before taking any supplements. In conclusion, it is my opinion that in today's environment of poor diet, pollution, and an increasingly stressful lifestyle, nutritional supplementation can have an important role in maintaining health and could prove to be a valuable resource in the treatment and prevention of many pre-existing medical conditions.