Supplements can contribute to good health by allowing access to nutrients that may not be available in the diet. It is often recommended by manufacturers to take a certain number of tablet or capsules per day to achieve the desired intake, but is this necessary or even the best strategy? Generally, water soluble vitamins such as vitamin C and the B vitamins need to be taken regularly as the are quickly eliminated from the body. However, fat soluble vitamins, such as vitamin K, vitamin D, vitamin E and vitamin A can be taken less frequently because they are stored in tissues, particularly adipose tissue. Therefore 400 iu of vitamin D per day may therefore be equivalent to 800 iu taken every other day. Also some vitamins, such as vitamin K can be synthesised in the gut and so a daily intake may not be necessary. Therefore it is not always necessary to take supplements everyday, but this needs to be judged on an individual basis. Although multivitamins are designed so that a daily intake is required, other supplements may not necessitate such a frequent consumption.
There may be an argument to take adaptogenic herbs such as gotu kola (pictured) during times if stress but not at other times. Some adaptogenic herbs may also produce better effects when taken interspersed with rest days. This punctuated schedule may allow a more favourable hormonal effect as the active ingredients are not able to elicit negative feedback as easily if rest days of no supplement are included in any protocol.
Eat Well, Stay Healthy, Protect Yourself
RdB
