How Do I Choose The Right Supplements For My Family?

Heather Dessinger

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How Do I Choose The Right Supplements For My Family?

Hey ya’ll! This is part three in a series on vitamins in supplements. Check out the dirt on fake “whole food” supplements here and what I use instead here.

My Life In Traffic Camera Photos

The ultimate mecca for red light runners is just four blocks away from my house. And while that mostly worries me, it’s kind of fun to think that my life can be chronicled via the paparrazzi-style rapid flash bulbs mounted in that intersection.

Now mind you, I am not the one running the light. Odds are, though, that you can find me sporting curlers, or gumbifying my arm into the back seat so a hungry baby can suck on my pinky, or puking into my own hands in many of the photos people shlep down to the courthouse.

About that last one: Would it surprise you if I said I’d guzzled a powdered green drink and two fistfuls of supplements that morning? Yep, Katie was about the size of a lima bean back then and I was determined to do the very best for her.

Oh How My Definition of “The Very Best” Has Changed!

Back then I had no idea what fermented cod liver oil was, or that many of the “whole food” supplements I was taking were really synthetic. The uncured black olives I craved like mad that contained nothing but salt and water? Oh yes, BPA-laden cans. I nearly cried when I found that out.

Most of us come to the real food movement with tons of misinformation to sort out. Is salt unhealthy? What about bacon? Is it really safe to leave milk on the counter for three days and then drink it? If you have regrets about the choices you made with bad info you’re not alone. I think we all do. But hey! Let’s be kind to ourselves and not beat ourselves up over what we didn’t know back then, okay? Deal?

Deal.

Alrighty then, let’s tackle the last question in this series: Do we need to compensate for the nutrient-poor state of most farming soil?

Ah, there’s the rub! The truth is we really do need extra nutrients in our diet thanks to industrial farming practices. Our approach at the potamus house is to use targeted supplementation – meaning that we take the time to find out what nutrients we’re deficient in and then find high quality sources to supply it – with techniques for increasing the potency of our food.

How exactly do we do this? Good question…

How To Get More From Your Produce: Freshly Pressed Juices & Ferments

Our foods are complete packages with everything we need to “unpack” their nutrients – vitamins, minerals, enzymes, phytonutrients and a bunch of other things we haven’t discovered yet. To boost these properties we can do one of two things: concentrate them and/or make them more absorbable.

Juicing

Freshly-pressed juices are a yummy way to get a “supershot” of many essential vitamins plus magnesium, selenium, zinc, other minerals and amino acids. According to Dr. Campbell-McBride, “Juices provide all the goodness from fruits and vegetables in a concentrated form . . . For example, to make a glass of carrot juice you need a pound of carrots. Nobody can eat a pound of carrots at once, but you can get all the nutrition from them by drinking the juice. On top of that juicing removes the fibre, which impairs absorption . . . The digestive system has virtually no work to do in digesting juices, they get absorbed in 20-25 minutes, providing the body with a concentrated amount of nutrients.”

To use juicing therapeutically, create a 50/50 blend of fruits and vegetables (beets should never be more than 5% of the total mixture) and make sure it is always freshly pressed. “Juices in [grocery stores] have been processed and pasteurized, which destroys all the enzymes and most vitamins and phytonutrients. ” says Dr. Campbell-McBride. “They are a source of processed sugar, which will feed abnormal bacteria and fungi in the gut. In freshly extracted juice the natural sugars are balanced with enzymes, minerals, and other nutrients, which turn them into energy for the body.”

Getting Started: Prices for juicers are all over the map. The problem with cheap brands is, but not everyone (including us) wants to invest in a thousand dollar model. Considering how much used to spend on vitamin powders and such every month I knew I would save money in the long run but this was a purchase I debated over. In the end I did my research and settled on the Greenstar, but I’ve heard this Omega is pretty good, too.

Fermented Foods

Fermenting is a great way to boost both the vitamin levels and the bioavailability (absorption rate) of nutrients in food. And depending on which recipe you choose, it can be REALLY EASY!

“Vegetables, fruits, legumes and grains subjected to lactic acid fermentation also see increases in both their macro- and micronutrient profiles. The bioavailability of amino acids, particularly lysine with its antiviral effects and methionine – increases with lactic acid fermentation. [2. Evaluation of lysine and methionine production in some Lactobacilli and yeasts. International Journal of Food Microbiology. Odunfa et al.]For grains, sprouting prior to souring can increase the availability of protein even further. Vegetables that have undergone lactic acid fermentation as in the case of sauerkraut and kimchi, often see an increase in the activity of vitamin C and vitamin A.

Fermented Food: Benefits of Lactic Acid Fermentation (emphasis mine)

Getting Started: Some of my fave recipes are carrot dilly sticks from Cara at Health Home & Happiness and fizzy water kefir, but really you can ferment anything! Here are some more recipes to get you started.

Magical Minerals

Although not a supplement, I want to talk about bone broths for a sec. They are a fabulous source of highly absorbable minerals AND as a bonus they help reduce wrinkles and cellulite! The Weston A. Price foundation has fabulous instructions for creating delicious broths here.

Other Considerations

  • Sometimes high-quality multi-vitamins ARE the best approach. This is especially true in the case of severe foods allergies when a lot of foods are off limits. Everyone is different, so do what works for you and your family. When needed I supplement my family with high-quality, non-synthetic multis that contain a balanced range of nutrients/micronutrients (You can buy quality multi-vitamins here)
  • According to Dr. Campbell-McBride, supplements in liquid form are better than powders, capsules or tablets. Especially those that can be absorbed through the skin.
  • “Choose supplements with a high absorption rate,” says Dr. Campbell-McBride, “for example, vitamin and mineral supplements with added fulvic acid. Fulvic acid (not to be confused with folic acid) is produced by bacteria in soil. It can ensure a very high absorption rate for a supplement the natural way. It also has good chelating properties for heavy metals. Soil bacteria in your probiotic will provide your gut with this acid.” (Gut & Psychology Syndrome p. 297)
  • Cellulose – I don’t think cellulose capsules have the same absorption problems as stearates. I’m still researching, though, and will post as soon as I have a definitive answer.
  • Soil degradation and the way we filter our water is making it very difficult to get adequate magnesium. If you find that you are deficient in this mineral I recommend skipping the pill – you’ll get better results by taking epsom salt baths or spraying magnesium oil on your skin. Here are some simple instructions for making magnesium oil.
  • Modern day people are often deficient in B vitamins and K2, both vital for health. If the bacteria in our digestive tract is healthy it should be making some of these nutrients for us, but we need food sources as well. Liver and red meat are great sources of B vitamins. K2 is found in pastured dairy such as eggs, butter, and cheese as well as fermented foods like sauerkraut and natto. In addition to these foods our family takes High Vitamin Butter Oil from Green Pastures, which is a butter extract rich in Vitamins K2, A & D. I’ve also begun supplementing with Jarrow mk-7 version of fermented natto for K2.
  • If you don’t have a good source for pastured organ meats (or have a family member that refuses to eat it!), dried liver supplements might be beneficial. This is what we started with while I worked up the nerve to buy and prepare it.

So there you have it! My two  – or four! or six! – cents on vitamins and supplements. If you sent a question about a specific product that I didn’t cover, I’m sorry. I seriously considered running up to the health food store and trying to label sleuth some of the brands you mentioned but uh, my kids really like to rearrange supplement shelves.

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About HEATHER

Heather is a holistic health educator, herbalist, DIYer, Lyme and mold warrior. Since founding Mommypotamus.com in 2009, Heather has been taking complicated health research and making it easy to understand. She shares tested natural recipes and herbal remedies with millions of naturally minded mamas around the world. 

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32 thoughts on “How Do I Choose The Right Supplements For My Family?”

  1. Heather, I began juicing a few months ago and do it on a daily basis. I love it and what a great way to”pack it all in” for sure. One thing that I would like to add for any readers looking at the comments is that a masticating juicer is a MUST. It takes time and money to juice organic veggies and while a masticating juicer takes a little more time, It’s undoubtedly worth it. With centrifugal juicers, essential enzymes are killed in the process. The masticating juicers replicate the chewing process therefore keeping nutrients enact. I have the Omega and I do love it. Quiet and easy to clean!
    One more thing to note, and I believe this comes from Eastern beliefs, fruits and veggies (for the exception of apples) are not compatible in the digestive tract and should not be consumed at the same time. Not to mention, concentrated fruit is loaded with sugar. While this sugar is probably fine for the kiddos, it’s not usually for the adults.
    Just some food for thought!

    Reply
    • Ah, thank you for that tip, Shane! The second one I listed is a masticating juicer, but I’m not sure about the first. Regarding the sugar from fruits – I’d always thought that, too! But according to Dr. Campbell-McBride veggies build up and nourish while fruits break down and detoxify so it’s important to have both. I can’t say I have a definitive opinion on that yet . . . there’s a lot to learn.

      Reply
  2. Thanks Heather! I’ve been really enjoying this series! Do you (or anyone) have a reccomendation for a B12 supplement? I’m a recovering lacto-ovo vegetarian. I haven’t actually eaten meat yet direcly but I’ve been sneaking bone broth into rices, soups… where I can. But I have a strong gag reflex to meat since I haven’t eaten it in 20 years 🙁 I did some testing I found I’m deficient in B12 and low in other B vitamins as well, so I’d like to supplement to bring it back up.

    Reply
  3. This is my new favorite series! Thank you so much for posting this. I am slowly working through all my questions about supplements so this was great information. This also gives me motivation to start learning how to ferment food. I can always use extra motivation!
    How do you feel about protein drinks and whey powders? I’m guessing from the begining of this post they aren’t good for you? My fiance, who is an endurance athlete and a quadreplegic has several powder/protein drinks that he likes to help him with recovery and to ease muscle tension.

    Reply
  4. omg. i am so overwhelmed! i want to start the gaps after the holidays, but am trying to research as much about it right now. any ideas on how to help me better understand all this diet entails? how long to i have to follow the intro diet? what signs should i look for to know if i can start adding more foods?

    Reply
    • Hi Kirsten! Have you read Gut & Psychology Syndrome by Dr. Natasha Campbell-McBride? That’s the best place to start. Also, we started the full GAPS diet as a way of easing into things and then when back and did the introduction diet. If you haven’t found her yet Cara at Health Home & Happiness (www.healthhomehappy.com) is a GREAT resource. She has a meal plan for full-GAPS that is fabulous and also a really helpful guide to the introduction diet.

      Reply
  5. How do you test yourself to know what nutrients you are lacking in? I tried going to a nautropath for help, but I ended up with a bag full of supplements that ended up just making me sick when I took them all. Your posts shed some light on that! I do not want a repeat of that experience. Thank you for all of your time you put into this series!

    Reply
  6. Heather, What do you know about Garden of Life products, specifically their Vitamin Code children’s multivitamin? That’s what I’ve been giving my kids (3 and 6), on the recommendation of my holistic/integrative MD. My understanding was that these vitamins are based on whole foods, but now you’ve got me wondering…

    Also, my husband and I take Green Pastures FCLO/Butter Oil blend. But the kids take Carlson’s fish oil, because I was under the impression they couldn’t have the FCLO yet. Do I understand that you give young children the same FCLO you take?

    Thanks! Your tips are so helpful.

    Reply
    • It’s been awhile since I’ve researched Garden of Life products so I can’t speak to that, but I can say that I definitely give my kids FCLO. According to the Weston A. Price Foundation it’s safe for babies as young as 4 months. I personally didn’t give it to mine until 6 months and I rubbed it on their bum because Vitamins A&D are easily absorbed through skin, but that’s just me 🙂

      Reply
  7. I am still getting my feet wet with real food and I want to make sure my family is getting the nutrients they need. How do I know if we’re lacking in a certain mineral, etc?

    Reply
  8. Hi Heather,

    Are you still supplementing with Jarrow’s MK7? I discovered there’s caramel in the capsules, and someone told me it’s carcinogenic. Do you know more about that? I read many good things about MK7, but I’m doubting about the added caramel..

    Reply
  9. Hi Heater, do you know if I can give to my two years old the vitamins you recommend: Doc’s Best Ultra-Pure Naturals Multi-Plus Optimal Vitamins-Minerals-Antioxidants 180 Cap. I want to give her some good ones, but not about this.

    Reply
  10. Heather,
    I am looking for an excellent way to put together a type of “supplement station”. I asked Katie over at Wellness Mama and she said maybe you had put something like that together. I searched through your post and found the post on supplements but nothing on how to organize them 🙂
    We have 7 children (one is only 3 months old and not taking supplements) and with 8 of us taking something or other it is a rare day that I get everything down everyone! I wanted to put together some kind of chart for the family and maybe a place to keep all the supplements in one spot (except the ones that go in the fridge) – have you put anything like this together? I dont want to reinvent the wheel if someone else has already done something like this.

    Reply
  11. Thank you! Starting your article out with not beating myself up. Last night I about fell over in ughness when I read about Calcium supplimemts being a no no. Today I decided to look into Multivitamins…I’ve read a few articles…this will be my last for today….little overwhelming…my kids have been taking Animal Parade and I’ve been taking a multivitamin and calcium for nursing…I need to re-read everything and swallow the info on vitamins…lots to take in when compared to what we are taught. I stopped my calcium supp today. Glad for the wealth of info you’ve shared…so much to learn as well as not dwell on the i-thought-were-good-for-my-family-choices

    Reply
  12. Hey Heather, I’m wondering how you know (without a doctors help) if a vit. k supplement might be needed. I’m tweaking our diet and supplements right now and wondering if this is something we might need… Thanks for all your hard work and willingness to share!

    Reply
  13. Hey there, your articles have been very insightful. I wanted to clarify however. Children do NOT need multi? Fclo, probiotics and minerals only? Adults? When do you use multi? I have been approached by a juice plus rep and after reading your posts I am very sceptical
    Thank you for your time.

    Reply
  14. Hi, I was reading about FCLO and would like to start giving to my kids 7 and 9 years old. How is the best way to introduce them to this new flavor? Is better start with the gel or capsules? The FCLO will have the same benefit or more of taking multivitamins?

    Reply
  15. Heather,

    What’s your feeling now on FCLO? We do the raw virgin kind now but I feel very burned on the FCLO. Also I know kids need omegas so I was going to get one of the approved fish oils. From the gaps diet And possibly those garden of life ones to get added vitamins – they use no synthetics!

    Reply
  16. If you had to choose between having aloe or fulvic acid as an ingredient for absorption, would you have a preference? Just comparing some supplements.

    Reply
  17. A wise friend of mine who is widely consulted as a “doc” with a specialty in vitamins…says that the powdered organ meats etc. are denatured and can be harmful. He says that they oxidize and that this causes issues.

    Reply