The Gift of Supplements: Do’s and Don’ts

Health is a very personal thing. When it comes to taking care of ourselves, we all have different ways of doing it. Just because one person chooses to take a multivitamin, drink a green smoothie, and go to a 6 a.m. yoga class every day, doesn’t mean that their neighbor wants to.

So, with the gift giving season upon us, it begs the question: are supplements — or health products in general — an appropriate gift?

It depends on the product. I think we can all appreciate wanting to give the gift of health to those around us. Products like Vitamin D, Flaxseed Oil, Probiotics, and Curcumin can make great gifts, because just about anyone can benefit from them.

With less sun exposure in the winter, adding a Vitamin D3 supplement is a great way to make sure your body is getting the amount of Vitamin D it needs to keep your bones strong and healthy. Flaxseed Oil is a fabulous and easy way to get more heart-healthy omega-3s in your diet. Probiotics are great for digestive health and regularity, something many people struggle with. Curcumin has anti-inflammatory properties, and is also a powerful antioxidant, helping to neutralize toxins in the body that can come from our exposure to chemicals and pesticides.

When it comes to weight-loss supplements, you need to be a bit more careful. We don’t know about you, but we’d find a stocking full of weight-loss products to be a little insulting if we hadn’t asked for it. So use your best judgement. Has your friend ever talked about a certain product they want to try? Have they expressed interest or asked for help in losing weight?

All in all, wanting to help your loved ones to be healthy is a wonderful thing. But you can’t force it.