The supplement industry has flourished in recent years, which is great as it provides you as the consumer an array of options to choose from. However it can be overwhelming to know which to take, and do you actually need to take a supplement or can we all just eat a well balanced diet?

As always, we recommend seeing a specialist such as a Dietitian, who can help you understand what you need for your body and current biochemistry results (recent set of bloods). Generally speaking, if you are under pressure, leading a busy lifestyle, or feeling rundown, a supplement can help you to boost your current levels and as they suggest supplement your diet. However never think of them as a replacement to eating well, there is no magic pill that can remedy eating poor quality foods.

When considering a supplement, we will look at a few factors to consider if it is worth taking. Do your research and consider where the nutrient is derived from, for example with omega-3 or 6, is it derived from an algae oil or fish oil for example, and where exactly are the ingredients from? What is the amount of the nutrient in each supplement against your target daily, or even weekly amount?

Remember just because the recommendation might be daily, you may only need one every other day. Look at what the nutrient it is providing should do for you, and consider if that is what you need. The companies selling these products aren’t going to check up on you, you are self prescribing, and as such, you need to do your research.

Or, if all else fails, eat some foods rich in that nutrient to top you right up! Nothing quite beats getting it straight from the source.