Up to the Eyeballs in Supplements?

“I take Vitamin D for bone density, along with Strontium and Vitamin K. Then, I use a topical yam cream to prevent menopausal side effects. Also, I take a food-base multi vitamin and Vitamin B for energy since I no longer eat bread. I use L Tryptophan to help me fall asleep and then I use a probiotic to support gut health. But, I checked all the labels and all my supplements state they are gluten-, soy-, dairy-, grain- , sugar- and yeast- free so they are Paleo, right?”

This was the opening conversation I had recently with a colleague I met who said she followed the Paleo diet.

Wow.

Where does it stop?

How many supplements are too many supplements?

To me, that list sounds rather lengthy. Not to mention rather costly.

However, not remotely uncommon. In fact, I came across a statistic recently on Whole Foods’ website that stated 44 %of their sales from supplements and only 25% from perishable foods.

What is it that’s making us buy these pills? I suppose it’s a step in the right direction compared to eating an appalling, inflammatory diet that makes us sick and combining it with prescription medications, but what are we trying to fix and what do we feel is so lacking in our diet that we need to spend so much on neatly packaged up capsules in which we don’t even really know what the contents are?

In addition, please don’t make the mistake of thinking that if it’s a ‘natural’ product you can buy at your local health food store that it’s safe. And please don’t go taking things that you’ve chosen to use as a self diagnosis for health issues you believe you have.

Using an iodine supplement to treat your own thyroid issue or yam cream to combat hot flash without being under the supervision of a trained ND or Functional Medicine doctor is not risk, or side-effect free.

If you’re a healthy person who takes a long, laundry list of supplements that you’ve chosen for yourself (as opposed to your ND having recommended something you medically need), here is a challenge for you: stop them and try going 100% Paleo for a month.

See if you feel any different, or perhaps even better.

(Incidentally, how many people who balk at the erroneous concept that Paleo has to be exorbitant are spending loads of cash on their vitamins?)

No matter how premium your vitamin is, it’s never going to be as good as what you’ll get in a balanced, fresh Paleo diet.

If you have a health concern, rather than just googling what some random forum online suggests, find a doctor who is trained in natural methods, who will listen to you and help create a plan with as little supplements and as much Paleo nutrition as you need to help you get to your optimal healthy most effectively… and without having to swallow twenty pills every day!