Supplementary benefits

I’ve just returned from a wonderful weekend in Guernsey where (along with 9 other health writers) I was a guest of Healthspan, the mail order supplements company that is based there. 

What a treat! It was hot and sunny and we stayed in the wonderful Fermain Valley Hotel... It felt just like being on holiday – except for a few hours’ work, getting to know Healthspan and its products a little bit better.

It was a worthwhile exercise for Healthspan, which has long been on my radar – but no more than that. Amazingly, despite selling more supplements than Boots, the company has a low profile in the press – only tending to appear in the advertising pages, and not in editorial, so this was a long overdue chance for the press to meet the people behind the pills, and to discover how very passionate they are about their product.

I know a lot of people are cynical about supplements – but Healthspan’s aim (the clue is in the name) is to optimise the span of your healthy life. We are all living so much longer these days – but that could feel like a life sentence if you don’t have good health. Supplements may not be able to solve problems that have already set in, but Healthspan’s hope is that they can at least prevent our health from getting any worse.

Most nutritionists seem to think that we should start with a good multivitamin  and an omega-3, because, despite our greatest efforts, it is not as easy as many would have us believe to get everything we need from diet alone.  Once we have that basic foundation, we can add according to our needs and priorities.

One of my priorities is joint health – my knees already being a bit creaky in certain yoga postures. So I take Litozin  – which contains a unique rosehip extract (GOPO) proven to help joints. Turmeric is also good for joint (and digestive) health, so I take that too. At the moment I’m taking one made by Schwabe and marketed for digestion, but I also like Power Health’s turmeric (a capsule packed full of turmeric powder), and now I am going to try Healthspan’s product . The third thing I take for my joints is a nightly dose of Cherry Active, made from Montmorrency Cherry Juice and created after the company owner used it to get over gout and then found it also helped uncurl his elderly mum’s arthritic fingers. According to Patrick Holford it also contains the equivalent in ORAC (Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity) of 23 regular portions of fruit and vegetables. In fact it’s best known and promoted for its benefits for sleep – as it contains a natural form of melatonin, but for me that’s just an added bonus as I generally sleep very well.

Here are a few supplement ideas for other health priorities you may have:

BRAIN

The magic ingredient for a sharper brain is omega-3 essential fatty acid, found in salmon, walnuts and flaxseeds, according to researchers at UCLA’s Brain Research Institute. The brain is 60% fat and it needs omega 3 boosters for better memory, mood and concentration, and some patients have come off their antidepressants after embarking on omega-3 supplements. A supplement will give you a bigger dose than you’ll normally get from food alone. Look for one containing about 500mg of combined EPA and DHA. 

HORMONES

Healthy hormones need B vitamins (and B6 in particular), which strengthen the pituitary gland, which regulates hormone production. Evening Primrose Oil  is also helpful as it dampens down hormonal pain caused by inflammation - eg breast pain.

THYROID

The thyroid controls metabolism, which if it slows down can affect all body functions. Common symptoms include difficulty losing weight, feeling cold and tired, and hair loss. Many people understand the need for iodine in the diet (from kelp and fish), but to convert this form of thyroxine (T4) into the type our body can use (T3), we also need selenium and zinc. 

IMMUNE SYSTEM

Several studies have shown that extracts of black elderberry activate the immune system by increasing inflammatory cytokine production, and in test tube studies it was 99% effective in killing the bird flu virus.

HEART AND BLOOD PRESSURE

Researchers at the Mayo Clinic say there’s some evidence that the naturally occurring enzyme CoQ10 helps lower blood pressure and strengthen the heart. Natural levels decrease with age – so supplements can help as we get older. If you’re taking statins to lower your blood pressure, these will also deplete your CoQ10 – another reason to supplement. 

BLOOD

If you’re prone to anaemia or get very tired after your period, iron supplements can help. Choose a liquid form, which makes it easier to absorb, and with added vitamin C to further aid absorption. Take it for a week before and after your period. 

Buy wisely

Are you a one-a-day person?

If you’re likely to forget your supplement, make it as simple as possible with a multivitamin and mineral. Aim for 100% RDA and you won’t be getting too much or too little of the nutrients you need.