Supplements

Green foods are nutrient-dense and rich in key vitamins and amino acids. They can come either from water, in the form of algae and microalgae, or land, in the form of cereal grasses. They are often blended to produce ‘super food’ supplements.

Garlic has been used by traditional healers for thousands of years, and recent scientific research backs its potent health properties. Most research has examined allicin, a sulfur compound in garlic shown to have anti-microbial, antioxidant, anti-fungal, cholesterol-lowing and blood-thinning properties.

A botanical is any plant valued for its medicinal or therapeutic properties. Botanical medicines can be derived from either the roots or the aerial parts, such as flowers, bark, seeds and leaves. All herbal supplements and phytomedicines are botanical products. For much of human history, botanicals were the only medicines available. There are well-developed botanical healing traditions in many parts of the world; these include Ayurveda, TCM, Native American healing traditions, and many others. The efficacy of these herbal approaches is underscored by the many pharmaceuticals that are derived from traditional medicinal plants.

Historically, herbal remedies consisted of whole plants or parts of plants, often blended for synergistic effect. However, contemporary research and methods have led to the creation of standardized extracts, which are herbal extracts processed in such a way that the active healing compounds appear at a defined level in the finished botanical product. Botanical supplements are marketed in a variety of forms, including tinctures, extracts, capsules and tablets.

Ayurvedic medicine is the traditional medicinal system of the Indian subcontinent, comparable to TCM in China. This five-thousand-year-old system, thought to be the oldest in the world, holistically combines yoga, meditation, diet and herbal remedies. Spices are of particular importance, and their use is both culinary and medicinal.

Protein is one of the critical macronutrients required by the body for proper functioning. There are many reasons to augment dietary sources of protein with protein supplements. Vegetarians or those with allergies to milk products or soy may require additional protein. Protein supplements are also used for increasing muscle mass and as an aid to dieting.

Dietary supplements for fitness and sports performance can be used to increase energy and stamina, build muscle mass or aid in muscle recovery following athletic activity.

Essential nutrients for women include a multivitamin, calcium, vitamin D, and folic acid.

When life gives you lemons, you make … Orgain—at least if you’re Andrew Abraham. After being diagnosed with muscle cancer 10 years ago (he’s now in remission), this family physician who practices in Irvine, Calif., looked for a meal-replacement drink to meet his daily nutritional needs. After finding a lot of synthetic, overly processed ingredients in these products, Abraham and his wife created their own drink, and since there was an obvious hole in the category, decided to make their product available to everyone.

Your secret weapon to weight loss could simply be upping your intake of two important
supplements, calcium and vitamin D, according to a new study
published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.