OP-ED

All you need to know about nutritional supplements with Vinita Contractor

nutritional supplements

Holistic Nutrition and Lifestyle Coach Vinita Contractor answers your questions on nutritional supplements.

“Whether you contract the virus or not is not in your hands, but you need to take supplements and strengthen your immunity”, advised a friend out of concern that I was quarantining alone.

You have probably heard advice on the same lines.

Nutritional supplements are the new rage after COVID-19 with people sputtering a long list of supplements like reading items off a menu card!

Nutrition like other branches of medicine is a science and requires adequate testing and diagnosis before medication.

This week, Health Analytics Asia interviewed reputed Holistic Nutrition and Lifestyle Coach Vinita Contractor to help those considering taking supplements.

There is an increasing trend of people taking nutritional supplements for general wellness, without getting blood work done or consulting a nutritionist. What are the risks associated with this trend?

Yes, people are getting into this practice of taking supplements sometimes on their own which I don’t think is a healthy practice because it is not a one-size fits all approach. Anyone above a certain age doesn’t necessarily need the same supplements as a younger person.

There is a risk of under supplementing especially with multivitamin tablets which contain low doses of nutrients, so you might not be taking enough of a nutrient you are deficient in.

There is also a risk of over supplementing which could lead to toxicity for example, with Vitamin D3, and then there is a risk of placing an overload on the liver. Many supplements if not chosen properly tend to result in a lot of excess toxin build-up because if the nutrient is not water soluble, and it goes under utilized, it remains in the body.

How has COVID changed people’s outlook towards supplements?

Since the pandemic, people have gotten a bit aware but also a bit more paranoid. It is not that supplementation is not important but instead of focusing on eating better and eating more healthy real foods through which the nutrition can come in, people are focusing on taking supplements.

It’s a good thing that people have realised the importance of supplements. They should just go about it by taking the advice of their doctor or nutritionist and not do it on their own.

What are some telltale signs that someone needs a nutritional supplement?

To know if someone needs a nutritional supplement, the most important thing to watch out for are symptoms like falling hair, fatigue, tiredness, giddiness, head fogginess, lack of clarity of thought, and not getting enough restful sleep. Watch out for these telltale signs.

Unfortunately, with the current lifestyle that we all lead, all of these can happen even without a nutritional deficiency. So it is important to first watch out for these signs and then try and rectify your sleep, exercise and diet. If symptoms still persist, then a good way to know if you have a deficiency is to do a blood test and then consult a nutritionist or doctor to identify where you need supplementation.

What are some checks you can do before buying supplements online?

Firstly, I would say that instead of buying the usual pharmaceutical supplements, one should try and go in for nutraceutical supplements. The difference is that the pharmaceutical ones are completely chemical-based while the nutraceutical ones are derived from natural sources and have less fillers. You must avoid supplements that have unnecessary artificial flavouring, colors and fillers.

Go with trusted brands.

Even for protein supplements, there isn’t a need for everyone to take a protein supplement but for those who decide to go for it, it is important to check that artificial sweeteners are minimal or absent.

Are there any general nutrients that people can supplement without consulting a nutritionist?

 It is hard to prescribe supplements without knowing the person’s history but B12 and D3 are nutrients that are lacking across the board. A low maintenance dose of B12 and D3 is okay. B12 is water soluble so you can’t overdose, but you must note that D3 is fat soluble so it will stick around in the body if one overdoses. Moreover, if you are deficient, taking a low dosage will not suffice so for best results, it is recommended that you get a blood test and consult a nutritionist.

Vinita Contractor is a Holistic Nutrition and Lifestyle coach based in Mumbai, India. Follow her on Instagram at www.instagram.com/vinitacontractor.

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