You’ve seen these names on store shelves and online. You’ve received recommendations from friends and read articles about them. Aged garlic extract and K2 can help prevent calcification in coronary arteries. The B vitamins (B6, B12, folate) trimethylglycine (TMG) and N-acetyl cysteine (NAC) treat elevated homocysteine – an inflammatory marker linked to vascular disease. Many anti-inflammatory supplements exist, such as turmeric, boswellia, tulsi and bromelain, just to name a few. Many supplements can be as valuable as prescription medications, but not everybody needs the same things. Remember, sometimes too much of a good thing is not always best.
I believe that supplements are only an adjunct to a healthy life-style and diet. The natural products business is a $23 billion industry, and it is a controversial subject. I frequently recommend supplements to enhance the effect of food, physical activity and mind-body therapies such as meditation. I believe that vitamins, minerals, herbs and other supplements can be very valuable when used correctly.
Please consult with a health care provider who is both knowledgeable of and agreeable to natural products –and one who is trained in evidence-based supplement use. To locate a practitioner, you can contact the Academy of Integrative Health and Medicine (www.AIHM.org) or The Institute for Functional Medicine (www.functionalmedicine.org). Naturopathic doctors have extensive training in natural medicine. You can locate a naturopathic doctor at www.naturopathic.org. These tests may be part of your comprehensive wellness assessment at my clinic, Guarneri Integrative Health, Inc. at Pacific Pearl La Jolla in La Jolla, California (858-459-6919, www.pacificpearllajolla.com).
A good place to start is measuring your nutrient and hormone levels. You can be tested to measure levels of most nutrients like antioxidants, omega-3, CoQ10, and vitamin D. These enable your health care provider to make an informed decision.
I typically recommend these basic tests:
Remember supplement safety. Check the FDA website to ensure a supplement has not been recalled. Look for USP or NSF International seal on the supplement bottle. Know where the supplement was made. Each label should have a list of ingredients and the contact information for the manufacturer.
An Evidence-Based Guide for Coronary Calcium Scoring in Asymptomatic Patients without Coronary Heart Disease– https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3384065
Vitamin D Deficiency in Adults –https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2912737/
The Importance of the Ratio of Omega-6/Omega-3 Essential Fatty Acids – https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12442909
Cardiovascular Non-Invasive Testing Package at Pacific Pearl La Jolla –https://pacificpearllajolla.com/cardiovascular-imaging-package-at-pacific-pearl/