Everyone seems to be these days taking supplements– to look better, think better, sleep better, rest better, poop better or train better. And you’re not imagining things: half of adults and a third of children in the United States regularly take dietary supplements. Dietary Supplements Office.
Supplements may be ubiquitous, but there are many experts serious reservations about their rise. First, most doctors recommend that you get your nutrients directly from food, not from a pill or capsule. Second, the FDA does not review dietary supplements for safety and efficacy before they hit the shelves. For all your concerns about dietary supplements, Jeffrey Linder, MD, MPHgeneral internist and professor of medicine at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine takes a dim view of the category as a whole: In fact, “the vast majority of supplements are probably worthless,” she tells SELF.
That said, there are exceptions to every rule—and supplements are no different. Many experts, it turns out, take certain types of supplements, but are picky about which ones they choose. Read on to learn about six that are actually used.
Vitamin D
How it works: Vitamin D plays a key role in bone health and immune system function. According to Dr. Linder, low vitamin D levels are actually linked to a number of health conditions—including cancer, autoimmune disease, infectious disease, and cardiovascular problems (and famously, seasonal affective disorderor SAD).
Why I like some docs: Vitamin D deficiency it is widespread, especially among those living in northern latitudes who do not see as much sun in winter, as well as among those with darker skin. What’s more, few foods contain significant amounts of vitamin D, so it’s difficult to get enough 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. do it you should take supplements.” Of the eight doctors SELF spoke with for this article, nearly all said they take a vitamin D supplement, especially in the winter, though the frequency and dosage varied.
Things to keep in mind: Most doctors recommend vitamin D3 (also known as cholecalciferol) over vitamin D2 (also known as ergocalciferol) because studies have shown that D3 is more effective at increasing vitamin D levels in the blood. Whichever option you choose, try to eat it with food – especially a food that contains fat. Since vitamin D is a fat-soluble nutrient, it is “better absorbed” Sara Velayati, MDantiobesity pharmacist at Montefiore Einstein and assistant professor at Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York, tells SELF. For this reason, Dr. Green makes it a point to take your supplements with breakfast or dinner. “The fattier and denser the food,” the better, he says.
