Dietitians typically have a “food-first” approach when they are working with clients to help them achieve a health goal, only looking to supplements to, well, supplement a diet. They understand that supplements are not a substitute for a balanced diet, and they are certainly not the cure-all that many marketers may lead us to believe.
However, supplements can certainly play an important part in a person’s wellness journey, especially when an individual’s unique needs are taken into account. Dietitians understand this notion so well that, among the sea of supplement choices out there, there is a handful that they actually take themselves.
If you have ever wondered which pills registered dietitians make a habit of popping to supplement their diets, keep reading to take a peek behind the curtain.
Magnesium is a mineral that supports bone health, brain health, and more. Nutritionist Sarah Garone, NDTR, of A Love Letter to Food, shared that she “finds that it helps with giving me deeper sleep and bringing down my stress levels”
Garone uses Envycure’s gummy blend, which “features eight forms of magnesium, plus ashwagandha, vitamin D, and vitamin B12. It also tastes great, which helps me be diligent about taking it every day.”
Fish is one of the best sources of DHA and EPA omega-3 fatty acids. But unfortunately, most Americans are not consuming the recommended amount of these foods regularly.
Elana Natker, RD, a nutrition communications consultant, shared that while she loves to eat fish, her family doesn’t share the same sentiment, which results in her occasionally skipping this protein source. She recognizes that she still needs “the EPA and DHA omega-3s that you get from fish, which are good for my heart, brain, and eye health, so I take a fish oil pill. I’m not picky about what I take—as long as it gives me approximately 750-1000 mg of EPA+DHA omega-3s per serving, I’m good,” she shares.
One high-quality DHA and EPA supplement choice is Life Extension Mega EPA/DHA.
“I take choline every day to help bridge the gaps between what I need and the amount that I get from food. Choline is an essential nutrient, but up to 90% of us aren’t getting enough! It’s critical for heart health, cognition, healthy liver function, and for fetal brain development, so it’s recently become a part of my routine to make sure I’m getting what I need each day,” says Jaclyn London, MS, RD, CDN, registered dietitian and author of Dressing on the Side (and Other Diet Myths Debunked): 11 Science-Based Ways to Eat More, Stress Less, and Feel Great about Your Body.
She chooses a choline supplement from Life Extension, “which is easily the brand I trust most for their quality supplement products.”
Creatine is a chemical that is naturally produced in the body. And some research shows its positive role in “balancing mood and enhancing cognition, as well as some promise in the area of bone health,” Elizabeth Shaw, MS, RDN, CPT, nutrition expert and author of the Air Fryer Cookbook For Dummies and the Instant Pot Cookbook For Dummies shared.
Shaw explained that “while more longitudinal studies are certainly needed, there’s very low risk to adding a small amount of creatine, or about 5 grams (1 teaspoon), to your smoothie to reap these potential benefits.”
She likes NOW® Sports Creatine Monohydrate Powder “because it’s third-party tested, and you can rest assured what’s on the label is in the bottle.”
Also known as the “sunshine vitamin,” vitamin D is an important nutrient that supports many aspects of our health, including our bone health.
