Supplements: How to tell if they really Work?

We take supplements out of habit, but how can you tell if they’re actually being used by your body? Everyone needs a range of nutrients to function effectively, particularly if you’re an athletic person who burns a lot of energy each day. Of course, in an ideal world, we would get this from our diet. This isn’t always possible though, which is where supplements come into play. Flavour equals freshness when it comes to your food, which means more nutrition which is something to look out for where your diet is concerned, but what do you need to look for in a supplement?

Unless you use pharmaceutical grade supplements, you can’t always be absolutely sure that the capsules that you’re taking are dissolving fast enough to be processed by your body. The easiest way to know whether your supplements are dissolving correctly on its journey through your body is to test is where you can see the effect. This means dropping it into a glass of warm water. After 15 minutes, gently poke the supplement with your finger and test whether it collapses into a cloud of powder. If it’s even slightly in pill form by this stage, it will most likely still be dissolving within your body. There are tests to show the effects within your body too though. With vitamin B capsules, if they are turning your urine a bright yellow colour, this shows that part of the supplement hasn’t metabolised correctly – it is literally going to waste.

You can use the symptom diagnoses to gauge how much of a nutrient has been metabolised in your body – for example, vitamin A helps to improve the condition of your skin and scalp. If you’re lacking in vitamin A, your skin will be dry and flaky. Likewise, your scalp will be dry as it won’t be able to create the oils needed to make your hair healthy. While you may think you already know what each vitamin and mineral is used for, it can always be helpful to refresh your memory and help you diagnose what your body is lacking. It will also help you to notice if the supplements you are taking are having any effect on your body’s health.