Over 50 percent of people nationwide take some kind of dietary supplement, according to the National Institute of Health.
Influencers and ads popping up online and on our phones - it makes it difficult to know what will work best for individuals.
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Misha Porembski, a 57-year-old mom, told Channel 2’s Jorge Estevez she started her supplement journey six months ago.
“I was dealing with some injuries, a heel spur, some frozen shoulder and I was frustrated because it kind of limited my mobility, and I just felt stuck,” she told Estevez she also felt overwhelmed.
“There is so many online influencers or television ads, and you wonder, ‘How do I put this together for me?’” she said.
After suffering from supplement burnout with no real results, Porembski joined Lifetime Fitness in North Druid Hills to work with a team who could help her find the best path.
Ruben Bowlby is a trainer and certified nutrition counselor at Lifetime Fitness. He told Estevez nutrition and exercise are all part of making sure your supplements are successful.
“Anytime we’re looking at the set of things that get us healthy, we want to make sure that we first do no harm,” he said.
He added that many people he sees take supplements without measuring them first.
Dr. Diego Remolina specializes in geriatrics at Emory. He said consulting with your physician before you take a supplement is critical to your health.
“Overdose is very common, because it’s difficult to control the specific quantity in this specific supplement,” he said.
Remolina told Channel 2 he took care of a patient in liver failure due to turmeric.
He said identifying your goals and understanding possible adverse side effects of supplements is key.
He pointed to specific examples, including:
Too much vitamin C could cause kidney stones.
Garlic could be harmful to people prone to bleeding or on blood thinners.
Ashawanda, an herb promoted for hormonal balance, can cause liver damage and thyroid issues.
And Biotin, the popular supplement for hair and nails, could result in a false positive for thyroid issues if you have blood work done.
“Then the doctor is going to say, ‘What is going on with this patient’s thyroid?’” Remolina said.
He said because supplements are not required to have FDA approval, look for products that are USP verified.
“It’s an individual third party that verified the components and verified that everything in the label is correct,” Remolina said.
Bowbly told Estevez everything at Lifetime Fitness is third-party verified.
“If it’s in there, it’s the right amount and it’s to correct the dose,” he said.
Misha says getting the right supplements and the right nutrition team has been a game changer.
“I want to be strong and be able to hike as far as my daughters want to hike,” she said.
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