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What is a Nutrition or Dietary Supplement?

Definition of a Supplement

A supplement is something that completes or enhances something else when added to it.

A supplement is something added to complete a thing, to make up for a deficiency, or extend or strengthen the whole.

Nutrition or Dietary Supplements can help “complete,” “enhance,” or “strengthen” your diet and support your health and well-being.

Nutrition supplements are often a complementary adjunct or option to traditional medicine therapies.

Many people take nutrition supplements while concurrently working toward improving their diet, lifestyle and quality of life.

Nutrition supplements added to the diet may:

  • support your body’s own healing process during illness and disease
  • reduce inflammation and pain
  • support body systems such as digestion and elimination
  • provide immune system support
  • enhance nutritional content of your diet and add “building blocks” for repair
  • boost overall health and energy
  • help reduce the risks of illness and age-related conditions

Nutrition supplements include herbs and botanicals, enzymes, probiotics, essential fatty acids, vitamins and minerals, and other natural products.

Education and My Supplement Store

As a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist who is trained in Integrative and Functional Nutrition, I am providing information on this website for educational purposes. You’ll find articles about food, nutrition, and health and how dietary supplements can enhance a healthy diet and lifestyle.

My “Store” offers select professional grade Nutrition Supplements for Everyday Living with which I have researched and had positive experiences. I hope they will be of interest and helpful to you as well. I devote a lot of time staying up-to-date about new supplements and the data behind them.

The supplements are geared toward supporting basic body systems, such as digestion and elimination, histamine clearance, immune responses, respiration, and the circulatory system. There are also supplements that support heart health, balanced gut microbiome, sleep, help manage pain, and address joint and soft tissue health, inflammation and stress.

Important Notes

Nutrition supplements are not substitutes for healthy food and diet.

Dietary supplements cannot replace the basics of taking care of yourself including healthy lifestyle and exercise.

For optimal health, we all need to have access to and incorporate a diet of nutritious unprocessed whole foods, regular exercise, good body posture, deep breathing, relaxation and stress therapies, good sleep hygiene, a healthy environment (clean air, clean water, clean soil, healthy relationships), and healthy habits like not smoking and moderating alcohol consumption.

Each individual is an active participant in his or her own health. However, before taking any new supplements, it is always best to consult with your personal physician.