These days, it seems like everyone is Take a supplement— to look better, think better, sleep better, relax better, defecate better, or exercise better. And you’re not imagining things: Half of adults and a third of children in the United States take nutritional supplements regularly, according to Office of dietary supplements.
Supplements may be everywhere, but many experts have them Serious reservations About their rise. First, most doctors recommend getting nutrients directly from food rather than from pills or capsules. Second, dietary supplements are not reviewed for safety and effectiveness by the Food and Drug Administration before they hit shelves. Because of all the concerns surrounding nutritional supplements, Jeffrey Linder, MD, MPHa general internist and professor of medicine at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, takes a dim view of the category overall: In fact, “the vast majority of supplements are probably worthless,” he tells SELF.
However, there are exceptions to every rule, and supplements are no different. Many experts, it turns out, take some type of supplement, but they choose whichever one they choose. Read on to learn more about the six they actually use.
Vitamin D
How it works: Vitamin D It plays key roles in bone health and immune function. In fact, low vitamin D is linked to a wide range of medical conditions, according to Dr. Linder, including cancer, autoimmune diseases, infectious diseases, and cardiovascular problems (most commonly: Seasonal affective disorderor sad).
Why some docs love it: Vitamin D deficiency It is widespread, especially among people who live in northern latitudes that do not see much sun during the winter, and people with dark skin. What’s more, few foods contain significant amounts of vitamin D, so it’s difficult to get enough vitamin D from your diet. Lawrence Green, MDa dermatologist and clinical professor at George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences, tells SELF that these two factors make vitamin D a rare nutrient. “We He does Need to take nutritional supplements. Nearly every one of the eight doctors SELF spoke with for this article said they take vitamin D supplements, especially in the winter, though frequency and dosage vary.
What to consider: Most doctors recommend vitamin D3 (also known as cholecalciferol) rather than vitamin D2 (also known as ergocalciferol), as studies have shown that D3 is more effective in raising vitamin D levels in the blood. Whichever option you decide, try to take it with food, specifically food that contains fat. Because vitamin D is a fat-soluble nutrient, it is “better absorbed this way.” Sarah Velayati, MDsays Montefiore Einstein, an obesity medicine specialist and assistant professor at Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York City. For this reason, Dr. Green makes sure to take nutritional supplements with breakfast or dinner. “The creamier and thicker the meal, the better,” he says.
