Ok, as promised I’m finally writing about nutrition today, namely supplements. Because I NEVER get any questions about them. Let’s start off with their name, supplements. They are just that. Meant to supplement a hopefully already balanced diet. They DO NOT and CANNOT replace a solid nutritional foundation. Now as many of you reading this know (wait, IS anybody reading this?) I began my career as a dietitian at Lifetime Fitness. And boy do they like their supplements, er money, no wait, supplements, yeah… supplements. Oh, fun fact! Can you guess the NUMBER 1 selling supplement at Lifetime Fitness? I’ll give you a second. It’s a product called LeanSource. A “weight loss” pill. Go-flipping-figure.
Anyways, part of my job was to educate the personal training staff and members of the gym on the supplements we had on hand. They ranged from your typical protein powders and creatines to green tea and acai berry extracts designed to “enhance your metabolism”. FYI, if you want to enhance your metabolism, go for a walk. Now I know it sounds as if my stance towards supplements is a negative one. But the truth is, I take several each day. Supplements CAN be beneficial and MAY help to improve one’s health and/or decrease the onset of certain diseases/conditions. But remember, these statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. In fact, the FDA doesnt regulate supplements at ALL. Yep, you heard right. That means that what goes into the stuff is totally up to the manufacturer. The FDA only steps in when things start to “hit the fan”. Ever hear of ephedra? Take home message on this one: TAKE AT YOUR OWN RISK.
Geez, I’m sounding pretty negative today… and on my birthday of all days. Ok, let’s put a positive spin on this subject. As I said earlier, I take several supplements a day. What are they? 1. Multivitamin 2. Fish oil 3. Glucosamine/Chondroitin Sulfate. The multi is my “insurance policy”. The fish oil is a fantastic source of essential fatty acids (essential because the body doesnt produce them and must come from the diet). I dont like fatty fish, in case you were wondering why I dont get it from a food source. And finally, the glucosamine is for my left knee that was ever-so conveniently run over by a 4-wheeler as a kid. And when my running/biking miles begin to add up, the knee acts up. Of course there are countless other supplements on the market. From herbs and oils to topical creams and various root and bark extracts. The industry is booming… no seriously. According to the Council for Responsible Nutrition, the supplement industry is a $26.9 BILLION dollar industry… and growing. And that’s just here in the United States! Evidently I got into the wrong side of this business.
Since my blogs seem ramble and then conclude with a general take home message, I’ll just go ahead an do it again:

There are countless supplements on the market today. Some of them good, some of them not so good (ie. save your money). But who’s to know which is which? Registered Dietitians. Consult one today… which reminds me. My telephone number is 317-721-3161 or you can e-mail me at alec.smith52@gmail.com. Like my little plug there at the end? Hey, how else am I gonna afford my supplements?