Chiropractic treatment focuses on the musculoskeletal and nervous systems. As with all body systems, specific nutrients protect and increase their functional strength. Various chiropractic-recommended supplements can help in the treatment of musculoskeletal issues and help transform an individual’s health.
Chiropractic Education
Chiropractors study food-based supplements that are bio-available to cells and are easily absorbed by the body. These food-based supplements and vitamins are seen as food by the body. Supplements are used in detoxification to overcome nutritional deficiencies and enhance an individual’s diet by taking nutrients to optimum levels. Immune system health can also be strengthened by keeping the body resistant to diseases.
Functional Nutrition
Chiropractic medicine study’s all the building blocks of the body that, include:
Holistic nutrition teaches that the body heals from within, which is why healing the gut first, is essential to healing the rest of the body and maintaining health.
Recommended Chiropractic Supplements
Dietary supplements that directly impact the health of the musculoskeletal and the nervous system.
Potassium
Potassium is an important regulator of nerve impulses.
Electrochemical signals or action potentials use potassium and sodium to generate responses from cells in the nervous system.
Potassium is necessary for turning off nerve impulses and preventing the uncontrolled signaling of nerves.
Uncontrolled signaling can lead to movement disorders.
Calcium
Calcium is necessary for the regulation of the action potentials throughout the body.
Calcium helps initiate action potentials and helps the cells return to a normal state afterward.
Calcium contributes to the development of the nervous system helping guide the nerve cells.
Calcium is a major element of bone health to repair bones’ and facilitate regrowth.
The body will take the calcium from the bones if there is a calcium deficiency.
Vitamin D
One of the most important nutrients for bone health.
Vitamin D helps promote bone development and growth.
Facilitates calcium absorption helping the body process and absorb the calcium.
B12 is essential to the function of the nervous system and the body’s metabolism.
B12 breaks complex carbohydrates into more simplistic glucose for basic functions.
B12 helps maintain the nerve insulator myelin, which is necessary for nerve transmission.
B12 deficiency has been linked to the loss of myelin and can lead to serious conditions like Alzheimer’s.
B12 shots deliver the nutrient directly to the bloodstream bypassing the absorption process necessary for oral supplements.
Vitamin K
Vitamin K helps balance and facilitate calcium absorption.
Vitamin K helps strengthen bones and increase bone density.
Often recommended for individuals with osteopenia and osteoporosis to help prevent fractures.
How To Choose Supplements
References
Lee, Mi Kyung, et al. “The use of nutritional guidance within chiropractic patient management: a survey of 333 chiropractors from the ACORN practice-based research network.” Chiropractic & manual therapies vol. 26 7. 20 Feb. 2018, doi:10.1186/s12998-018-0175-1
Nguyen, Douglas L. “Guidance for supplemental enteral nutrition across patient populations.” The American journal of managed care vol. 23,12 Suppl (2017): S210-S219.
Pludowski, Pawel, et al. “Vitamin D effects on musculoskeletal health, immunity, autoimmunity, cardiovascular disease, cancer, fertility, pregnancy, dementia and mortality-a review of recent evidence.” Autoimmunity reviews vol. 12,10 (2013): 976-89. doi:10.1016/j.autrev.2013.02.004
Song, Yong-Ak, et al. “Electrochemical activation and inhibition of neuromuscular systems through modulation of ion concentrations with ion-selective membranes.” Nature materials vol. 10,12 980-6. 23 Oct. 2011, doi:10.1038/nmat3146
Nutrition is how the body utilizes consumed food. Nutrition plays a role in chronic pain; lifestyle behaviors can influence how food contributes to illness/diseases. A common cause of chronic pain is chronic systemic inflammation. Inflammation plays a role in many chronic disease conditions, including diabetes, heart disease, and cancer. Reducing inflammation can be achieved by adjusting diet to get individuals back to feeling better quickly and to aid them in maintaining and improving their overall health. Injury Medical Chiropractic and Functional Medicine Clinic offer diet and nutritional supplements guidance as part of a personalized treatment plan.
Inflammation
The purpose of the inflammatory response includes:
Isolate the dangerous bacteria, viruses, or damaged cells.
Flush out the dead cells and other damaging substances.
Reductions of comorbidities like obesity and cardiovascular disease.
Reducing healthcare costs.
Vitamin and Mineral Supplements
Diet and nutritional supplements provide added essential nutrients to a damaged, inflamed, or injured body. Dietary supplements improve overall health and wellness.
Vitamin D and calcium tablets help maintain optimal bone health, as low vitamin D levels can lead to back pain.
Vitamins E and C, combined with copper, help with blood production, tissue repair, and brain and skin health.
Folic acidcan help with joint pain and myofascial pain.
B Vitamins can help with pain and prevent liver dysfunction.
Nutritional supplements support the body until the body and/or organs have correctly healed. Recovery from an injury could cause body stress that can interfere with the healing process. Diet and nutritional supplements expedite the healing and recovery process by:
Helping overcome dietary deficiencies.
Improving immune system function.
Detoxifying toxins.
Contain antioxidants that help the body stay toxin-free.
Chiropractic restores and realigns the body by incorporating supplements to nourish the body tissues and recover optimally from injury.
InBody Nutrition
References
Dragan, Simona, et al. “Dietary Patterns and Interventions to Alleviate Chronic Pain.” Nutrients vol. 12,9 2510. 19 Aug. 2020, doi:10.3390/nu12092510
Lee, Mi Kyung, et al. “The use of nutritional guidance within chiropractic patient management: a survey of 333 chiropractors from the ACORN practice-based research network.” Chiropractic & manual therapies vol. 26 7. 20 Feb. 2018, doi:10.1186/s12998-018-0175-1
Li, Chuan, et al. “Macrophage polarization and meta-inflammation.” Translational research: the journal of laboratory and clinical medicine vol. 191 (2018): 29-44. doi:10.1016/j.trsl.2017.10.004
Nutrition and Chronic Pain https://www.iasp-pain.org/resources/fact-sheets/nutrition-and-chronic-pain/
Pahwa R, Goyal A, Jialal I. Chronic Inflammation. [Updated 2021 Sep 28]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2022 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK493173/
Natural medicine for dealing with stress and taking initial steps can also help prevent and alleviate stress pain. With age, the body becomes more vulnerable to emotional and physical stress. The spine endures the effects of stress and can lead to back and/or neck pain. Chronic stress can also lead to chemical imbalances in the brain and overreaction/s. This produces a Hyperarousal or anxious state of mind. If frequent bouts of anxiety or stress are occurring the body is signaling that balance needs to be restored.
Steps to Control Stress
Take frequent physical and mental breaks
Throughout a day, there can be several and various stressful situations. Not letting the stress build-up is a skill that needs to be practiced. Every 50 minutes of work, take a 10-minute break to reduce any stress. This will increase productivity. In the middle or last break, practice deep breathing.
Inhale slowly until the air reaches the bottom of the stomach.
Exhale slowly like a balloon slowly releasing the air.
To achieve the full potential of deep breathing, every exhalation should last twice as long as each inhalation.
Caffeine reduction
Caffeine can be medicinal in small doses. It increases bile flow. This stimulates the gall bladder and reduces cholesterol. However, too much can interfere with the body’s systems that are responsible for stress response. Try to limit to one to two caffeinated drinks a week.
Regular physical activity
Physical activity is what helps remove waste products, specifically lactic and uric acids, from the muscles and nervous system. An excess of these acids makes the body edgy. Moderate activity prevents and reduces anxiety. Try to get in at least 10 to 15 minutes of activity in the morning and afternoon. A quick walk combined with deep breathing is perfect.
Plenty of sleep
Hard work and playing hard help the body to sleep to the fullest. An irregular sleep pattern or poor-quality sleep confuses the body. The body reacts abnormally. Examples like confusion, tension, an adrenaline rush kicks in when it is not needed. Chronic poor sleep makes the body more vulnerable to disease and chronic conditions.
Natural Medicine Supplements
Natural medicine supplements have been shown to reduce mild to moderate stress and anxiety.
Before trying any vitamins, minerals, or herbal therapies check with a doctor. This is to ensure safety with any medical conditions like pregnancy, that could prevent an individual from taking certain supplements.
Also, make sure if taking any medications that could cause natural medicine supplements ineffective or create a dangerous situation.
The reason for this is if an individual takes several supplements and develops side effects, it becomes a challenge to figure out which is responsible.
Quality herbs and supplements can be purchased from a licensed naturopath physician, nutritionist, health coach, or from a health store.
Herbal supplements listed below can be taken for three months and then a two-week break should be implemented. This minimizes the potential for negative effects.
Vitamin B
The B vitamins, especially B6 and B12 help regulate the body’s response to stress and keeps the nervous system healthy.
Vitamin B complex formula that has at least 25 mg of B6 and also 1 mg of B12 can be taken twice a day.
These vitamins are optimized when used in combination with other nutrients like a multivitamin-mineral supplement also twice a day.
This is herbal supplement helps with anxiety and insomnia. It can help relieve acute and chronic anxiety without causing drowsiness or brain fog. Kava is effective for settling anxiety with no dependence potential. Kava should be avoided if there is regular alcohol consumption or if taking Valium, Xanax, sleeping pills, like Seconal or Halcion, or anti-depressants, like Prozac or Zoloft.
Valerian
This is a natural sedative. It is used for relieving anxiety because it helps with sleep. The ingredients are similar to Valium. It is not addictive and does not cause grogginess the next day like sleeping pills. Recommended intake is one 150mg capsule twice a day. However, low doses can cause drowsiness. Therefore it is best used for sleep, one 300mg capsule one hour before sleeping is recommended. Do not use if taking sedatives, like phenobarbital or benzodiazepines.
The Body’s Composition
Stress Can Throw Off Diet and Sleep
Achieving healthy body composition is more than just building muscle and losing fat. Proper diet and getting enough sleep are necessary to make meaningful progress. With chronic stress or poor sleep, this cannot be achieved. Depressive symptoms can be associated with obesity, and anxiety and depression can trigger emotional eating and weight gain. Proper stress management means making sure there are positive strategies, techniques that can be turned to in time of need. Without a plan, stress will cause health problems and will be a significant barrier when trying to achieve fitness and health goals.
Dr. Alex Jimenez’s Blog Post Disclaimer
The scope of our information is limited to chiropractic, musculoskeletal, physical medicines, wellness, and sensitive health issues and/or functional medicine articles, topics, and discussions. We use functional health & wellness protocols to treat and support care for injuries or disorders of the musculoskeletal system. Our posts, topics, subjects, and insights cover clinical matters, issues, and topics that relate and support directly or indirectly our clinical scope of practice.*
Our office has made a reasonable attempt to provide supportive citations and has identified the relevant research study or studies supporting our posts. We also make copies of supporting research studies available to the board and or the public upon request. We understand that we cover matters that require an additional explanation as to how it may assist in a particular care plan or treatment protocol; therefore, to further discuss the subject matter above, please feel free to ask Dr. Alex Jimenez or contact us at 915-850-0900. The provider(s) Licensed in Texas& New Mexico*
References
Boyle, Neil Bernard et al. The Effects of Magnesium Supplementation on Subjective Anxiety and Stress-A Systematic Review.Nutrients vol. 9,5 429. 26 Apr. 2017, doi:10.3390/nu9050429
Folate is a B vitamin naturally found in a variety of foods. The body can’t produce folate, that’s why it’s important to get it from folate-rich foods. Folate is naturally found in various plant and animal foods, including citrus fruits, avocado, spinach, kale, broccoli, eggs, and beef liver. Folate is also added to foods, such as bread, flours, and cereals, in the form of folic acid or the synthetic, water-soluble version of folate. Folate and folic acid have different effects on the body.
Our body utilizes folate for a variety of essential functions, including cell division, development of red blood cells, conversion of homocysteine to methionine, an amino acid used for protein synthesis, production of SAMe, and DNA methylation. Folic acid is also important for various metabolic processes. Folate deficiency has ultimately been associated with a variety of health issues, such as the increased risk of heart disease, birth defects, megaloblastic anemia, and cancer.
Daily Intake of Folate and Folic Acid
Our body stores between 10 to 30 mg of folate, most of which is stored in your liver while the remaining amount is stored in your blood and tissues. Normal blood folate levels range from 5 to 15 ng/mL. The main form of folate in the bloodstream is known as 5-methyltetrahydrofolate. Daily intake of this essential nutrient is different for people of different ages. The recommended daily allowance of folate for infants, children, teens, adults, and pregnant women are as follows:
0 to 6 months: 65 mcg
7 to 12 months: 80 mcg
1 to 3 years: 150 mcg
4 to 8 years: 200 mcg
9 to 13 years: 300 mcg
over 14 years: 400 mcg
during pregnancy: 600 mcg
during lactation: 500 mcg
Folic acid supplements play an important role in making sure that people who are in greater need of folate are getting enough of their daily intake. Increasing the daily intake of folate-rich foods is also important because these foods generally offer plenty of other nutrients that all act together to support overall health. Recommended folate daily intake increases during pregnancy and breastfeeding to promote rapid growth and help prevent neural tube defects in the fetus.
Folic acid is available in dietary supplements and fortified foods, including bread, flours, cereals, and several types of grains. It is also added to B-complex vitamins. Folate is also naturally found in a variety of foods, including:
oranges
orange juice
grapefruit
bananas
cantaloupe
papaya
canned tomato juice
avocado
boiled spinach
mustard greens
lettuce
asparagus
Brussels sprouts
broccoli
green peas
black-eyed peas
dry-roasted peanuts
kidney beans
eggs
Dungeness crab
beef liver
Uses of Folate and Folic Acid
Both folate and folic acid are frequently utilized for a variety of reasons. Although folate and folic acid supplements are generally used to treat similar health issues, they do offer different effects in the body and, therefore, it may affect our overall health in different ways. Moreover, getting the proper daily intake of folate and folic acid can improve overall health. The following are several of the most common uses of folate and folic acid supplements, including:
folate deficiency
inflammation
diabetes
brain health
heart disease
kidney disease
mental health issues
fertility problems
birth defects and pregnancy complications
For information regarding the importance of folate and folic acid, please review the following article:
Folate is a B vitamin that is naturally found in many different types of food. Because we can’t produce folate, it’s important to get it from foods that are high in folate. Various folate-rich foods include citrus fruits, avocado, spinach, kale, broccoli, eggs, and beef liver. Folate is also added to foods like bread, flours, and cereals, in the form of folic acid, the synthetic version of this essential nutrient. Folate and folic acid have different effects on the body. Our body uses folate for many important functions, including cell division, development of red blood cells, conversion of homocysteine to methionine, an amino acid used for protein synthesis, production of SAMe, and DNA methylation. Folic acid is also essential for many metabolic processes. Folate deficiency has ultimately been associated with a variety of health issues, such as heart disease, birth defects, megaloblastic anemia, and even cancer. Daily intake of this essential nutrient is different for people of different ages. Furthermore, folate is also naturally found in a variety of foods, such as bananas, avocado, boiled spinach, and eggs. Both folate and folic acid supplements have a variety of uses and they can help improve various health issues, including inflammation, diabetes, heart disease, birth defects, and pregnancy complications. Adding healthy foods to a smoothie is a fast and easy way to get your daily intake of folate. – Dr. Alex Jimenez D.C., C.C.S.T. Insight
Ginger Greens Juice
Servings: 1 Cook time: 5-10 minutes
� 1 cup pineapple cubes
� 1 apples, sliced
� 1-inch knob of ginger, rinsed, peeled, and chopped
� 3 cups kale, rinsed, and roughly chopped or ripped
� 5 cups Swiss chard, rinsed, and roughly chopped or ripped
Juice all ingredients in a high-quality juicer. Best served immediately.
Eating cholesterol-rich foods doesn�t increase your cholesterol
According to research studies, eating foods with HDL cholesterol or “good” cholesterol doesn’t increase your overall blood cholesterol levels. When you eat healthy cholesterol-rich foods, such as prawns and eggs, your blood cholesterol levels decrease, so your blood cholesterol levels stay balanced, or they’re only raised minimally. It’s actually saturated fats that you have to look out for when it comes to high blood cholesterol levels. Simply choose healthier food options.
The scope of our information is limited to chiropractic, musculoskeletal, physical medicines, wellness, and sensitive health issues and/or functional medicine articles, topics, and discussions. We use functional health & wellness protocols to treat and support care for injuries or disorders of the musculoskeletal system. Our posts, topics, subjects, and insights cover clinical matters, issues, and topics that relate and support directly or indirectly our clinical scope of practice.* Our office has made a reasonable attempt to provide supportive citations and has identified the relevant research study or studies supporting our posts. We also make copies of supporting research studies available to the board and or the public upon request. We understand that we cover matters that require an additional explanation as to how it may assist in a particular care plan or treatment protocol; therefore, to further discuss the subject matter above, please feel free to ask Dr. Alex Jimenez or contact us at 915-850-0900. The provider(s) Licensed in Texas*& New Mexico*�
Curated by Dr. Alex Jimenez D.C., C.C.S.T.
References:
Kubala, Jillian. �Folic Acid: Everything You Need to Know.� Healthline, Healthline Media, 18 May 2020, www.healthline.com/nutrition/folic-acid#What-is-folic-acid?
Ware, Megan. �Folate: Health Benefits and Recommended Intake.� Medical News Today, MediLexicon International, 26 June 2018, www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/287677#recommended-intake.
Felman, Adam. �Folic Acid: Importance, Deficiencies, and Side Effects.� Medical News Today, MediLexicon International, 11 Mar. 2020, www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/219853#natural-sources.
Berg, M J. �The Importance of Folic Acid.� The Journal of Gender-Specific Medicine: JGSM: the Official Journal of the Partnership for Women’s Health at Columbia, U.S. National Library of Medicine, June 1999, pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11252849/.
Dowden, Angela. �Coffee Is a Fruit and Other Unbelievably True Food Facts.� MSN Lifestyle, 4 June 2020, www.msn.com/en-us/foodanddrink/did-you-know/coffee-is-a-fruit-and-other-unbelievably-true-food-facts/ss-BB152Q5q?li=BBnb7Kz&ocid=mailsignout#image=23.
Be sure to talk with your provider before taking or combining dietary and herbal supplements with prescription meds or over the counter medications. Individuals with chronic back/neck pain but want to get away from medication/s, and pain relievers, dietary and herbal supplements could be an option. There are dietary supplements as well as, herbal supplements that although used in nutrition, also have added benefits for pain and inflammation relief.
Individuals have found herbs and supplements to be helpful in reducing and alleviating their pain. It is important to understand that these are not a cure-all that will take the pain away or the depression that accompanies chronic spine-related conditions. These are made to help to manage back pain symptoms.
Nutrition and Dietary
A healthy diet includes plenty of fruit, vegetables, and whole grains which keeps the body in top form. Antioxidant foods like green leafy vegetables and berries help in fighting inflammation. Dietary and herbal supplements that research has found helpful in reducing inflammation and pain are listed. However, we must point out that several of these supplements can increase the risk of bleeding. Therefore have a discussion with your health care provider before taking any type of supplement.
Supplements
Omega-3 fatty acids
Flaxseed and Fish Oils
Omega-3 fatty acids can increase the risk of bleeding and conflict with blood-thinning medications like warfarin coumadin and aspirin.
Glucosamine/Chondroitin
Studies show these supplements can help relieve arthritis pain but have not been studied as a treatment for back pain.
Glucosamine and chondroitin can interfere with blood-thinning medications like warfarin coumadin and aspirin.
It can increase the risk of bleeding, so do not take this without consulting a health care provider
It can interact/interfere with antibiotic meds
Do not take if have a peptic ulcer
Herbal Supplements
Herbal supplements have been used by many cultures for health and dietary benefits for a very long time. These supplements are literally made from herbs/plants valued for their flavor, scent, and medicinal qualities. Examples of herbal supplements for pain include:
Cayenne reduces pain signal intensity
Devil’s claw relieves inflammation
Eucalyptus clears chest congestion
Benefits of Herbs
People prefer dietary and herbal supplements instead of standard/traditional drugs and medications for a variety of reasons.
Some because they provide pain relief without the side effects associated with medications. An example is white willow bark, that has been used for years for its anti-inflammatory benefits. And it doesn’t upset the stomach the way medications the way aspirin does.
Some prefer herbal supplements because they are natural.
Herbs come in pill, capsule, tablets, teas, and liquid extracts.
Turmeric
Reduces inflammation and pain
Turmeric can increase the risk of bleeding, especially for those taking blood-thinning medication
Devil’s claw
Reduces pain
Can increase the risk of bleeding and interact with diabetes meds
Can affect the heart and can cause issues for those with gallstones
Willow bark
Relieves pain
Do not take if taking aspirin or blood-thinning meds
Do not take if are allergic to aspirin or salicylates
Do not give to children under eighteen
Capsaicin cream
Reduces pain and inflammation
It is one of the main components in chili peppers
Things to Remember
Dietary and herbal supplements do not have to be approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration before they are sold.
Herbs can have medication-like effects on the body
Products sold as dietary supplements and promoted as a treatment, prevention, and/or cure for a disease or condition is considered an unapproved and illegal drug
While dietary supplements and herbal supplements are primarily used to help nutritional needs, these supplements can serve medicinal purposes. Explore alternatives from conventional medications with herbal supplements, as this could be an option. Check with your health care provider before taking supplements if you are pregnant, nursing a baby, or have a chronic medical condition like diabetes, hypertension, or heart disease.
Keeping hormones in balance can be a tough challenge. There are many individuals with hormonal imbalances and they don’t even know it. Despite�tests for abnormal thyroid function, they don’t always acknowledge a thyroid that isn�t functioning properly. The same can be said for the adrenals. When they are overtaxed, the imbalance that follows can be quite challenging. There are top-quality natural remedies for hormonal imbalance.
How to tell
Under-producing glands will have some symptoms that are different from glands that are over-producing. But there are some symptoms that are shared across the board.
If you notice that you experience several of these symptoms, it could point to a hormonal imbalance:
Weight loss or gain without doing anything new/different
A chiropractor, naturopath, or specialist can help you determine if you have a hormonal imbalance. Medical doctors often prescribe medications, but in most cases, the imbalance can be corrected with a natural treatment. These treatments are highly beneficial in treating hormonal imbalances. They can be done separately or combined.
Herbs & Oils
There are several herbs and essential oils that work wonders when it comes to balancing hormones. Ashwagandha is at the top of the list for treating overactive or sluggish thyroid as well as overtaxed adrenals. It’s available as a tablet, capsule, in powder form, or as a liquid. Mixing � to � teaspoons of powder into some milk with honey and drinking it just before bed can help sleep, calm stress and balance the hormones. Various oils like clary sage, lavender, and sandalwood help reduce stress and promote wellbeing. Hormonal balance comes as a natural result. Put 3 to 5 drops in a diffuser and breathe in.
Nutritional Balance
Hormonal imbalance can often be the result of stress, whether emotional stress from everyday life or physical stress from poor habits like not getting the proper amount of sleep and not maintaining a proper diet. Omega 3 and 6 fatty acids are vital for heart health, vibrant skin and hormonal balance.
Other nutrients include vitamin D, B complex, and magnesium. If not getting enough in the foods you eat, then consider supplements. Give the body a great boost by taking probiotics and reaping the healing properties of bone broth. Bone broth is available in powder or liquid or you can make your own. There is intense nutrition in broth so incorporating it into your diet is a very wise decision.
Natural Balance
Chiropractic is a powerful treatment for hormonal imbalance. It focuses on the heart of factors that cause the body to go out of balance and treats the problem at the root. It can relieve stress in the body and reduce and eliminate pain, which can contribute to hormonal imbalances. It is considered one of the best natural treatments for hormonal imbalance because it brings the body back into balance.
The whole-body approach that chiropractic offers means that you get recommendations on:
Healthy diet
Exercise
Lifestyle changes
All of these work together to balance your body and balance hormones for a healthier, happier you.
Smart supplementation along with proper nutrition is one of the biggest factors and plays a large role in an individual’s health. You are what you eat is true. Feeding the body with vital vitamins and minerals promotes growth and healing. Filling up on processed, fatty foods does the opposite. The bones in the spine and throughout the body need nutrients to continue to rebuild and maintain strength throughout life.
A balanced diet rich in:
�Calcium
Vitamin D
Magnesium
This is the best way to nourish the body’s bones and ward off spinal problems, like spinal fractures, and osteoporosis. Inadequate diets or medical issues can create nutritional gaps. This is where vitamins or mineral supplements come in. Supplements are not a cure-all, but they can create a safetyhealth net when taken properly.
Supplement Smart
These supplements for bone health, fill in nutritional gaps. They are not necessary if the key nutrients the body needs from a proper diet are already there. However, individuals use supplements as a replacement for certain foods, this is not how they should be used. Actual food supplies multiple nutrients, along with minerals, and vitamins that are beneficial for health and are not found in supplements.
Taking a Supplement to Strengthen the Spine
The body’s dietary needs change throughout life, so adding supplements as you age or during pregnancy can help maintain health. Calcium and vitamin D requirements vary based on age and sex.When it comes to protecting spine bone health, certain individuals may need supplements to ensure their bodies are processing calcium and vitamin D properly.
This includes:
Individuals who had intestinal bypass procedure
Those with food absorption conditions, like Celiac or Crohn�s disease
People who eat few or no dairy products, like vegans or those that are lactose intolerant
Is a calcium supplement right for you?
The only way to definitively know is by having a conversation with your doctor. Then you can supplement smart.
Supplement Safety
Because nutritional supplements can be purchased over the counter, individuals assume�incorrectly�that they are completely safe. Dietary supplements can interfere with absorption, other supplements, medications, and can be toxic if taken in high doses.
For example:
Calcium and iron supplements can prevent each other from being fully absorbed when taken together. This is true of many minerals, including magnesium, because they get into�absorption�competition with each other and so are best taken separately.
Supplements taken together can cause too much of either one to be absorbed. This is the case with high-dose vitamin D supplements, which can cause too much calcium absorption.
Too much calcium can increase raise the risk of having a heart attack or stroke. Taking more than 1,000-1,200 mg of calcium per day is pointless because the body cannot process that much calcium at once.
Are your supplements helping or hurting you? The best way to know is to talk to your doctor whenever you change medication or a supplement program, even when just adding a new vitamin to the mix. An underused resource for supplement advice is a pharmacist. They will know whether the mix of supplements and medicines being taken pose any risk of negative interaction. And a pharmacist can help recommend a trustworthy product.
Supplement Success
Here are a few tips to get the most benefits if you and your doctor think a calcium supplement can help support spinal bone health.
Buy supplements with the USP symbol. This indicates that the supplement has been independently evaluated and certified.
Take your supplement as directed, ideally with a meal.
Take doses no higher than 500-600 mg, no more than 2-3 times a day, for a maximum of 1,000-1,200 mg.
Drink plenty of water as some supplements can cause constipation.
Do not take calcium supplements with a high-fiber meal or laxative. This can interfere with calcium absorption.
Supplements Support Spine Health
Remember that supplements are exactly that supplements. Eating foods rich in calcium, vitamin D, and magnesium is the best way to build/maintain strong healthy spinal bones and prevent debilitating health problems. If you are concerned about your diet, talk with your doctor or a health coach about a smart supplementation regimen to meet your nutritional needs.
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