It’s a choice to be healthy and active, but how do you do it?  The supplements market is can be confusing and overly promotional.  Kirsten explains a little on how to navigate that. 

Many supplements on the market come in a range of combinations 

lots of different vitamins and minerals and sometimes herbs as well, all in one capsule. What do all these things do? Are they right to go together? How do I make a choice?We all know that vitamins and minerals are essential for normal function of our bodies. But some combinations can affect their absorption in the body, either impairing or enhancing it. Also, sometimes they can impact another medication, interfering with its efficacy or making side effects worse.

Mineral combinations

Some minerals should not be taken together because they can affect each others absorption. Exactly why is difficult to explain, but essentially, it goes back to the periodic table. Think redox reactions
and stealing electrons. In a nutshell this can impact on their absorption as they compete with each other. For example, it’s known that calcium and magnesium prior to surgery improve outcomes, but the combination of the two can be detrimental if they are not in the right ratios. Too much calcium can prevent magnesium being absorbed. Also, a ratio above2:1 can increase inflammation – exactly the opposite of what you want pre surgery. Combining vitamins and minerals can help their absorption. For example iron and vitamin C. The vitamin C increases the absorption of iron and also keeps it in its active form. Liver metabolism pathways.  The liver is the main detoxification organ in the body. It breaks down nutrients and metabolises them in preparation for the rest of the body to use them. It also stores some vitamins and minerals. However, some substances can interfere with detoxification pathways. An example of this is StJohns Wort – often used for improving mood, can interfere with the oral contraceptive pill interfering with its efficacy.

Vitamin absorption

There are two types of vitamins, fat soluble and water soluble. In general, water soluble vitamins (mainly all the Bs and C), can be taken together. However it is useful to know that taking too much of water soluble vitamins just leads to them being excreted from the body. So why waste money taking excessive amounts of a water soluble vitamin if the body is just going to get rid of it? They key therefore is to ensure you are taking the amount you need – how do you do that? You consult an expert! Fat soluble vitamins (A, D, E, K) aren’t flushed out of the body. They are absorbed along with fats from the diet and can be stored by the body. So its important to not take too much of any of them. How do you know if you are taking too much? Again, consult an expert! Herbs Herbal medicine is something that fascinates me and something I am constantly learning more and more about. Herbs from a medical herbalist are specific combinations they have determined to be specific to you. They are very personalised. However, with the increased popularity of herbs, many supplement companies are now adding them into their suite of products. However, often these are thrown together in a generic way, and many of those combinations effectively annuls the actions of the herbs. There are many many different actions in herbs, and combinations can bring out different results. However, if you are specifically using say Ashwagandha to help with relaxing, and you mix it with something like Rhodiola which is a stimulant, then neither of them are going to give you what you are after. There are other actions that both these herbs have, but combining them may give you an effect greatly different from what you anticipated.

Summary

So, everything including the kitchen sink in a supplement is like taking a sledgehammer to smash a walnut. While to be fair, you might get something out of it, there is also the probability of a lot of wastage and a bit of collateral damage too. So the upshot is when making a choice – keep it simple. What is it you are wanting to achieve? Don’t go beyond this, don’t try and solve world poverty. The most focussed supplements and extracts are the ones that will achieve the best result. Less is more! And most of all, find a brand you can trust – the ones that specialise in a specific field and have the research to back it up.

9th June.  Meet Kirsten

I am a BANT and CNHC registered Nutritional Therapist.  Just for good measure I am continuing the studying journey currently undertaking an MSc – the world of science never stops, and neither does the learning.

Get in touch and sign up to our monthly newsletters to be part of that learning process.

I am also a former elite level swimmer and I still swim a LOT – I have experienced my fair share of injuries and of course fatigue, burnout and chronic illness.  And with this background I am working with Eos Active to create a range of vitamins and mineral extracts in key synergistic combinations to work with your body as its recovering from injury, surgery, or simply facing the changes we all go through as we age – hormonal or otherwise.  Aligned to a healthy all rounded lifestyle, high quality supplements and mineral extracts can play an important role in freeing you to keep doing what you love. 

It’s important to select the right supplements at the right time for where you are at and let’s be honest, buying supplements at any time is painful.  The number of brands is huge, their range of products enormous and any one ingredient is involved in 10 different combinations.  What works?  What do I need?  Do I need 16 different supplements? Is a two for one a good idea? Isn’t the supermarket a fine place to buy? So when you are in a specific point with a acute issue like injury or surgery, it becomes even more critical to get things right.

We aim to take that pain away – we do the thinking for you, and we keep it simple and keep it real.   We don’t promise you a trip to the moon, or a two for one deal.  Just simple honest targeted extracts. Its what we are about.

We don’t rush and take a considered approach, ensuring we do things right and to the highest standards.  Any old mix of ingredients isn’t what we are about.  As the evidence bases continue to grow and we in turn learn alongside then deeper science, new extracts and combinations will be researched.   As these are found to be effective, our range will develop.

• Prehab and rehab surgery and injury.
• Repair and regenerate, what does the body need for optimum recovery.
• Long term and ongoing wellness support, ensuring the key areas are consistently being managed.
• Probiotics are extremely important against the backdrop of high refined and processed food.  You can never go wrong with keeping your gut heathy.
• Ageing for every day life, as our body changes so does it’s needs.
• Aging athletes.  Busy lives, busy career, still competing?  Avoid injury and keep performing at your best.  

These are just some of the topics we will continue to research, develop and build upon.  Please do interact with us.  Tell us what your needs are!