The Spring Cleaning Series is brought to you by Dr LeWinn’s
Wardrobe? Tick. Linen? Tick. Fridge? Tick. If you think your spring-cleaning is done, think again. Now its time to take stock of your supplements, writes Emma Bangay.
A supplement is a product that has been manufactured to contain nutrients – or other health-promoting ingredients, such as probiotics and herbs – which are designed to complement diets that may be lacking a little.
Seasonally, diets change – sometimes for the better, but sometimes not – add to this the variations in sunlight exposure and colder climates and it makes sense that we reassess and spring clean supplements to work with the seasons.
In winter for example, Vitamin D deficiency may be a problem, when sun exposure is limited, but conversely, in spring, allergies and detoxing is a big deal, so people are swapping things like Vitamin D for things Probiotics, which aid detoxification and weight management.
“The popularity of supplements is growing as we become increasingly aware of the common nutritional deficiencies that exist within the population,” notes Nutritionist and Dietitian, Belinda Reynolds. She’s not wrong. Hillary Swank has admitted in one interview to taking up to 45 vitamins and supplements per day!
Some of the most common and widely used supplements include:
- Iron: Commonly prescribed in pregnancy and also to menstruating women.
- Folic Acid: At pre-conception and during pregnancy.
- Iodine: Particularly important during pregnancy and in childhood
- Fish Oil: Recognized for its benefit in heart health and as an anti-inflammatory
- Probiotics: Commonly recommended following antibiotic therapy
Steve Eddy, Nutritionist, Naturopath and Principal of Health Schools Australia QLD notes that many Australian’s also aim to get fitter in warmer weather, “thus you may need to increase your antioxidant levels so as you can exercise at a high intensity and keep in check the excess free radicals that are formed during intense exercise,” he advises.
Spring Cleaning Your Supplements:
Here are some of the most common areas of concern in spring, and the supplement that can help
Allergies:
“Spring is prime time for hay fever sufferers, particularly if the weather keeps changing or if you live in a heavily floral area,” says Tony. With that in mind, Olive Leaf Extract, which has a long history of use as an herbal tonic to support cardiovascular function, is a powerful antioxidant, he says. “It also has been traditionally used to enhance the functioning of the immune system and it has 400% more antioxidant power than the equivalent amount of Vitamin C!”
Quercetin is also useful bioflavonoid, which has the potential to stabilize mast cells, suppressing histamine release and reducing common allergy symptoms, says Belinda.
Weight Loss:
“If weight loss is your aim, it may be useful to first consider why you have gained weight in the first place and consider seeking the advice of a qualified healthcare practitioner,” advises Belinda. “They are trained to recognize the areas that often need to be addressed.” Herbs such as magnolia and phellodendron may then be useful in assisting stress-related eating and cortisol imbalance; chromium, alpha-lipoic acid and gymnema can support individuals with sugar cravings and blood glucose imbalances, whilst nutrients and herbs such as selenium, St Mary’s thistle, green tea, curcumin and dandelion are very useful in supporting the body’s detoxification processes.
Health and Vitality:
“Ubiquinol is the latest advance in CoQ10 supplementation,” explains Tony. “It helps powers your cells, helping your body’s cells convert energy and it is also considered to be one of the strongest antioxidants available.” Ubiquinol also has the ability to help soak up oxidative stress and free radicals, so “as most people increase their training regimes in spring, Ubiquinol may be a supplement to consider,” he adds.
Dietary Changes and Detoxification Support:
“When on the hunt for a good detox or cleansing product, ensure that you search for one with all of the good ingredients such as wholegrain brown rice and powdered plant extracts such as broccoli sprouts, cracked chlorella, Spirulina, carrot, dandelion root,” advises Tony.
Any approach to detoxing or dietary changes should be thorough, advises Belinda. “It’s is important to support both the gut and the liver to ensure the body’s detoxification processes are functioning efficiently.”
“Probiotics are a great place to start, together with curcumin and L-glutamine to help support gut integrity and health and help ensure the gut is working efficiently to excrete toxins and protect against toxin absorption.”
One-Year Older:
Aside from a better diet and more active lifestyle than the one you enjoyed last spring, there are certain vitamins that can help maintain vigor as you age. “Vitamin D3 is essential to calcium absorption and therefore the health of bones,” says Belinda. “Vitamin K2 in the ageing population is also very important as it assists in directing calcium into the bones once it enters the body and Fish oil is great for cardiovascular health, plus has many anti-inflammatory benefits that make it a useful supplement for this age bracket also.”
Perennials:
There can be a crossover with supplements throughout each season, as many immune support supplements protect against infection and play a role in immune modulation that affect allergy symptoms and immune “over-activity” explains Belinda. Some good ones to maintain year round include Vitamin D3, Vitamin C and Probiotics.
The Fine Print:
“Consumption of supplements depends on the reason for their use and vary from person to person,” cautions Tony. “Always consult your healthcare practitioner for advice on which supplement to take and remember, some may have interactions with other medications you are taking so it is important to ensure that your practitioner is aware of your healthcare regime.”
Belinda reiterates the importance to seek professional advice before considering a supplement, adding that if you do take supplements, always read the label first. If symptoms persist, see your healthcare practitioner and remember that vitamin supplements should not replace a balanced diet,” she says.
The Spring Cleaning Series is brought to you by Dr.LeWinn’s
