How to Choose a Supplement ©Dr. Kevin Passero 2005

What is the Goal of Your Supplement To assist the body in its ability to function optimally To assist the body in its ability to function optimally Primary health should be maintained through healthy living practices and good lifestyle hygiene. Primary health should be maintained through healthy living practices and good lifestyle hygiene.

Lifestyle Hygiene Eating a healthful diet plentiful in fresh vegetables, fruits and high quality meats. Eating a healthful diet plentiful in fresh vegetables, fruits and high quality meats. Avoiding highly processed foods that contain hydrogenated fats, preservatives and artificial colors and flavors. Avoiding highly processed foods that contain hydrogenated fats, preservatives and artificial colors and flavors. Drink ample amounts of filtered water. Drink ample amounts of filtered water. Exercise regularly Exercise regularly Maintain good sleep habits Maintain good sleep habits

Looking at your Health One of the most important things to do when considering what supplement you should take is sitting down and evaluating what aspects of your health need the most support. One of the most important things to do when considering what supplement you should take is sitting down and evaluating what aspects of your health need the most support.

Family History Family History can be one of the most important markers for what health challenges you may face in the future. Family History can be one of the most important markers for what health challenges you may face in the future. Start by making a list of all the health problems primary family members suffer from. Start by making a list of all the health problems primary family members suffer from.

Influencing Factors Next take into consideration lifestyle habits that may have contributed to these problems. Next take into consideration lifestyle habits that may have contributed to these problems. For instance if you Father was a smoker and had heart disease your risk may not be as high if you don’t smoke. For instance if you Father was a smoker and had heart disease your risk may not be as high if you don’t smoke.

Red Flags If a certain trend is very consistent throughout a family history pay very close attention to it. If a certain trend is very consistent throughout a family history pay very close attention to it. For example colon or breast cancer can often be very common between parents, siblings, aunts and uncles. For example colon or breast cancer can often be very common between parents, siblings, aunts and uncles.

Red Flags If one or more of your family members was afflicted with a condition (like heart disease) at a younger than average age, you should be extra cautious about your risk factors. If one or more of your family members was afflicted with a condition (like heart disease) at a younger than average age, you should be extra cautious about your risk factors.

Family History If your family history shows a strong trend towards a chronic disease, you will want to choose supplements that have been studied to support the body’s resistance to that particular disease process. If your family history shows a strong trend towards a chronic disease, you will want to choose supplements that have been studied to support the body’s resistance to that particular disease process.

Other Pertinent Health Conditions Supplements are often chosen on a basis of supporting the body through already existing conditions. Supplements are often chosen on a basis of supporting the body through already existing conditions. Always consult with a qualified healthcare practitioner to determine which supplements are best suited to safely support your body. Always consult with a qualified healthcare practitioner to determine which supplements are best suited to safely support your body.

Other Pertinent Health Conditions It is important to consider health conditions you may currently have and how that may affect your body’s ability to utilize, absorb or process a supplement. It is important to consider health conditions you may currently have and how that may affect your body’s ability to utilize, absorb or process a supplement. It is also very important to consider what types of pharmaceutical medication you are on and how these can interact with supplements. It is also very important to consider what types of pharmaceutical medication you are on and how these can interact with supplements.

Choosing the Type of Supplement Powders Powders Liquids Liquids Capsules Capsules Tablets Tablets

Powder and Liquids Powders and Liquids are often the most highly absorbed forms of supplements. Powders and Liquids are often the most highly absorbed forms of supplements. This makes them well suited for individuals with a decreased ability to digest and absorb nutrients and for those who cannot swallow pills. This makes them well suited for individuals with a decreased ability to digest and absorb nutrients and for those who cannot swallow pills.

Powders and Liquids Because Elderly individuals often have compromised digestion, powders and liquids are the preferred form of supplementation. Because Elderly individuals often have compromised digestion, powders and liquids are the preferred form of supplementation. People with conditions that affect the digestive tract, like chron’s disease, ulcerative colitis, celiac spure, and IBS are also good candidates for liquid and powder forms of vitamins. People with conditions that affect the digestive tract, like chron’s disease, ulcerative colitis, celiac spure, and IBS are also good candidates for liquid and powder forms of vitamins.

Liquids and Powders Children are also good candidates for these forms of supplementation because many do not yet know how to swallow pills. Children are also good candidates for these forms of supplementation because many do not yet know how to swallow pills.

Capsules Capsules are the best absorbed pill form of supplements. Capsules are the best absorbed pill form of supplements. The gelatin capsule is very easy for the body to breakdown. The gelatin capsule is very easy for the body to breakdown. Capsules production requires no binders or coatings. Capsules production requires no binders or coatings.

Tablets Out of all forms, tablets are the most poorly absorbed. Out of all forms, tablets are the most poorly absorbed. Tables require the use of binders and coatings for the production process. Tables require the use of binders and coatings for the production process. For healthy people with strong digestion, it is usually not an issue. For healthy people with strong digestion, it is usually not an issue.

Additives All of the supplement forms can have additives in them that negatively affect people with certain sensitivities. All of the supplement forms can have additives in them that negatively affect people with certain sensitivities. Soy, corn, wheat, diary and other substances may be present in some supplements. Soy, corn, wheat, diary and other substances may be present in some supplements. This can cause various negative side effects for sensitive individuals. Always check with the manufacturer to see if your supplement contains any of these additives. This can cause various negative side effects for sensitive individuals. Always check with the manufacturer to see if your supplement contains any of these additives.

Purity Many times the raw materials used in supplements were produced in ways that create impurities. Many times the raw materials used in supplements were produced in ways that create impurities. For example, many B-vitamins contain dairy by- products as a result of poor manufacturing. For example, many B-vitamins contain dairy by- products as a result of poor manufacturing. For sensitive individuals this can be a problem. For sensitive individuals this can be a problem.

Purity Artificial preservatives like BHA and BHT are also commonly added to raw ingredients. Artificial preservatives like BHA and BHT are also commonly added to raw ingredients. These preservatives have been implicated in certain types of tumor growth. These preservatives have been implicated in certain types of tumor growth.

Nutrient Forms For certain types of nutrients (specifically the B family) co-enzyme forms of nutrients can be used. For certain types of nutrients (specifically the B family) co-enzyme forms of nutrients can be used. Co-enzyme forms are in a state that the body can easily utilize. Co-enzyme forms are in a state that the body can easily utilize.

Bio-Availability Many nutrients are available in a variety of forms. Many nutrients are available in a variety of forms. Certain forms allow the body to more easily utilize that nutrient. Certain forms allow the body to more easily utilize that nutrient. Kreb cycle bio-nutrients like citrates, alpha ketoglutarates and succinates are very bio- available for use by the body. Kreb cycle bio-nutrients like citrates, alpha ketoglutarates and succinates are very bio- available for use by the body.

Bio-Availability Always check what forms nutrients are in when selecting a supplement. Always check what forms nutrients are in when selecting a supplement.

Review Goals Goals Looking at your health Looking at your health Family History Family History Current Health Conditions Current Health Conditions Powder/Liquid/Tablet/Capsule Powder/Liquid/Tablet/Capsule Additives Additives Bio-Availability Bio-Availability

Botanicals Standardization Standardization Liquid Liquid Dry Herb Dry Herb Cultivation Cultivation

Standardization Most studies conducted on botanical products are done on standardized preparations. Most studies conducted on botanical products are done on standardized preparations. This means that a certain constituent of the plant has been selected for and is concentrated to a set amount. This means that a certain constituent of the plant has been selected for and is concentrated to a set amount. Advantages/Disadvantages Advantages/Disadvantages

Liquids Usually in the form of tincture in a base of either alcohol or glycerin Usually in the form of tincture in a base of either alcohol or glycerin Able to be more highly concentrated than raw plant material. Able to be more highly concentrated than raw plant material. Freshness guaranteed for long periods of time. Freshness guaranteed for long periods of time. Reduced compliance due to taste Reduced compliance due to taste

Dry Herb Freshness a big issue. Many plants loose some of their medicinal properties during the drying and packaging stages. Further, the longer they sit on a self the more medicinal properties they loose. Freshness a big issue. Many plants loose some of their medicinal properties during the drying and packaging stages. Further, the longer they sit on a self the more medicinal properties they loose. Not as concentrated. Not as concentrated. Freeze dried usually the best form. Freeze dried usually the best form.

Cultivation Wildcrafted- Plant was hand picked from a natural habitat. Wildcrafted- Plant was hand picked from a natural habitat. Organic- Plant was cultivated using organic farming techniques. Organic- Plant was cultivated using organic farming techniques. Conventional- Plant was cultivated with the use of pesticides and herbicides. Conventional- Plant was cultivated with the use of pesticides and herbicides.