While it hasn’t always been fashionable, nutrition and supplementation is a trending interest that many people prioritize and constantly consider when making decisions on a daily basis.

Approximately 77% of Americans take at least one dietary supplement — a record high, according to the Council for Responsible Nutrition. The number is even higher — 81% — in adults aged 35–54 years. According to these numbers, we can assume the majority are taking a supplement daily, but what exactly are they taking and how did they determine it was the right supplement for them?

 

In a survey of nearly 9,800 people who regularly use dietary supplements (with the majority taking at least four different supplements daily), the most popular supplements in 2020 were vitamin D, magnesium, and fish oil, according to ConsumerLab.com, a company that independently tests health and nutrition products for quality approval. While I am sure you are familiar with these supplements, just as you are with other popular options such as Vitamin C or B12, that does not mean that these specific supplements are the most beneficial choice for your specific needs or concerns. Just because a multivitamin is labeled to be “for men,” a man that is 24 years old is going to have different bodily needs than a man that is 55. A supplement advertised as a “sleep support” sounds great, but what if Woman A considering the product is struggling with insomnia because she is entering menopause while Woman B can’t get sleep due to a gastrointestinal disorder. It is so easy to get distracted in today’s health and wellness environment yet hard to remember that creating an optimal routine is not a one-size-fits-all concept.

 

Dietary supplements as well as recommendations have been popping up everywhere — on commercials, online advertisements, through social media influencers, and from friends or family members.
Amidst the commotion, and a plethora of choices like gummy bears, teas, and elixirs promising to enhance your health, it can be difficult to figure out which supplement is necessary when the last vitamin you took was in the shape of Fred Flintstone. Maybe you’ve actually taken an entire cocktail of multivitamins for a fair amount of time but didn’t seem to notice a difference so ultimately abandoned the concept altogether. Let’s address a few simple but essential things to consider about supplementation.

 

Identify what you would like to achieve.
You may be addressing a vitamin deficiency, looking to lower the risk of certain diseases or trying to proactively improve your overall health. Supplementation can also be used to address or combat a variety of concerns that you have probably never even considered them capable of! Just to name a few, these could be things you have struggled with like weight gain, hair loss, anxiety and skin concerns. Using an on site inventory of over a hundred pharmaceutical grade supplements, our medical team can curate a personalized regimen targeting a singular or multipurpose enhancement for each patient around their individual needs and concerns.

 

Pharmaceutical Grade Supplements vs. Store Grade Supplements
Have you ever actually read the ingredient label on the supplements you are buying at the drugstore? In the United States, dietary supplements are not regulated by the Food and Drug Administration, otherwise known as the FDA. The responsibility is left to the manufacturers and distributors of the products themselves to evaluate that their own products are not just safe but actually effective before they enter the market and hit the shelves of your local store. Due to this loophole, countless products have been mislabeled and falsely advertised. Is it just me or does this begin to explain why I actually enjoy taking those gummy vitamins a little too much and may or may not eat an extra one as a little treat from time to time…

 

In opposition, pharmaceutical-grade products are produced to ensure maximum absorption, obtain the purest nutrients available and have 99% accuracy in the ingredients list . Plus, they will contain the highest amount of active ingredients with the least amount of fillers, or in other words, additives, that provide no nutritional value. Pharmaceutical grade supplements follow the same regulations as medications, the raw ingredients are tested before production and the final product is required to be absorbed by the body within 45 minutes. Store grade supplements do not have to meet any accuracy in the ingredient list, can contain any amount of filler, simply have to be safe for consumption and the nutrients may not even be absorbable if there are even nutrients in the product to begin with.

 

Buying pharma-grade supplements directly from a physician vs. an online retailer
Hormonify is a board-certified medical group committed to sell only pharmaceutical grade products at the most competitive rates. We offer special discounted pricing to all of our patients because we truly care that you are getting the nutrients your body needs from a reliable source. Just like any respectable product of value, you are sure to find these products available on popular websites being sold for less than the suggested retail price. More important than the label is the authenticity of the product inside of the bottle. Are you positive that the supplement you bought from a random vendor online, which arrived in seemingly legitimate packaging, is providing the correct product? Is it even worth the risk to save a few dollars? You do realize Hormonify is a medical group and by creating an account on the website you can purchase all of your pharmaceutical grade supplements, for the lowest price, directly from a physician and even receive free shipping when your order is over $100.00.

 

How do I know which supplements are best for me?
After you have identified what you would like to achieve, it is recommended to work with a medical professional to determine the best supplements that can safely provide optimal health benefits. It is very important to work with a physician so your complete medical history and current medications are considered before recommendations are made. At Hormonify, we offer a supplementation service where each patient receives a customized protocol curated around your primary health concerns and goals. The basics for optimal health and longevity are proper diet, exercise, and nutritional supplementation. This stops cellular degeneration and allows regeneration of tissue, healing and deterring the aging process. After a nutritional assessment, we put together a personally tailored nutritional protocol to address your needs.

 

What does a nutritional protocol include at Hormonify?
Your nutritional protocol consists of a personalized supplement protocol & printable schedule, dietary recommendations, suggested lifestyle modifications, and recommendations for healthy aging. You don’t only walk away with a personalized supplement plan but also always receive a 20% discount on our pharmaceutical-grade supplements that you can find at our office or on our website!

 

What supplements do we carry at Hormonify?
The brands we carry: The majority of our supplements are by Pure Encapsulations, Douglas Laboratories, and Metagenics. We also carry a handful of products by Source Naturals, Bio Nutrition, New Life Process and Smart Organics.

 

I would like to know which supplements are best for me – where do I start?
Book your supplement consultation today to have an individualized nutrition & supplement protocol created by our medical team! Simply call our office or register by creating an account on our website and we will reach out to you.

 

Medical Disclaimer: This content is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not intended to provide medical advice or take the place of such information or treatment from a personal physician. All readers/viewers of this content are advised to consult their doctors or qualified health professionals regarding specific health questions. Neither Hormonify, Inc. nor the publisher of this content takes responsibility for possible health consequences of any person or persons reading or following the information in this educational content. All viewers of this content, especially those taking prescription or over-the-counter medications, should consult their physicians before beginning any medication, nutritional supplement, diet, or health regimen.

 

References:

MDLinx.com. 2021. Top Vitamins and Supplements in 2020. [online] Available at: <https://www.mdlinx.com/> [Accessed 8 September 2021]