Good nutrition directly affects how your body functions and feels each day. The right balance of vitamins, minerals, and nutrients supports everything from energy production to immune health and hormone regulation. However, even with the best intentions, it can be difficult to consistently get the nutrients your body needs. A busy lifestyle, digestive issues, or individual differences in nutrient absorption can make dietary gaps harder to avoid. Professional guidance and medical-grade supplements can help support your body’s natural balance and promote better long-term health.
At Meliora Integrative Medicine in Evanston, IL, our dedicated approach to holistic health incorporates the thoughtful use of supplements to enhance wellness and address various health concerns. With a focus on evidence-based benefits, we utilize supplements to optimize your health outcomes, ensuring that each recommendation is tailored to meet your unique needs and health goals. Nutritional optimization and medical-grade supplements are offered to patients as part of Meliora Integrative Medicine’s Five-Point Restorative Approach.
The Importance of Nutrition
Nutrition is essential for growth and development, health, and well-being. Healthy eating contributes to preventing future illness and improving quality of life. Your nutritional status is the state of your health as determined by what you eat.
In today’s fast-paced world, ensuring adequate nutrient intake has become a significant challenge. Unfortunately, we may not be getting enough nutrients from the food we eat. Factors that can affect the absorption of nutrients include:
- Aging
- Stress
- Prescription medications
- Processed foods
- Genetic variability
- Lack of essential gut flora
- Changes in agriculture
Given these challenges, it’s important to be mindful of our dietary choices and consider supplements as a way to ensure we’re meeting our nutritional needs. We can help you navigate these complexities and develop a personalized supplementation plan to support your health and well-being.
Nutrient Absorption and Bioavailability
Some people struggle to absorb nutrients efficiently even when they follow a balanced diet. Digestive conditions like celiac disease, Crohn’s disease, and irritable bowel syndrome can interfere with how the body takes in vitamins and minerals. There can also be other factors like age, medication use, alcohol consumption, and stress, which can all affect stomach acid levels or damage your intestinal lining.
Bioavailability is how much of a nutrient your body can actually use, and it can vary widely between supplement forms. For example, magnesium citrate is generally absorbed better than magnesium oxide, and certain fat-soluble vitamins such as A, D, E, and K require dietary fat for proper uptake. Finding the right supplement takes an understanding of your body and the way it absorbs nutrients, and finding quality products that put these nutrients in a form that your body can easily use.
Medical-Grade Supplements
Integrative medicine physicians prescribe vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients to optimize your body’s biochemistry, similar to how other physicians prescribe medications, but in a safer and more natural way.
At Meliora Integrative Medicine, supplements are recommended on an individual basis using knowledge of your clinical symptoms, hormone, and nutrient levels. They are prescribed only if needed.
What Is the Difference Between a Supplement and a Nutraceutical?
A supplement provides nutrients that may be lacking in your diet, such as vitamins, minerals, or amino acids. A nutraceutical is a specific type of supplement that offers concentrated forms of natural compounds that support specific body functions or address particular health concerns. Examples include omega-3s for cardiovascular health or curcumin for inflammation. The best supplements and nutraceuticals are those formulated for high purity and bioavailability so your body can use them efficiently.
What Can Nutrient Deficiencies Lead To?
Nutrient deficiencies and a poor diet can contribute to a number of conditions including:
- Fatigue / Loss of Energy
- Weight Gain
- Memory Loss
- Anxiety/Depression
- Thyroid Dysfunction
- Obesity
- Heart Disease
- Diabetes
- Cancer
Laboratory Testing for Nutrient Deficiencies
Laboratory testing can identify nutrient deficiencies that might not be obvious through symptoms alone. Blood and urine tests measure levels of vitamins, minerals, amino acids, and antioxidants to show where support may be needed. Our testing will help determine whether your body is absorbing nutrients properly or if factors like diet, medication, or metabolism are affecting healthy levels. With this data, we can recommend supplements that address specific deficiencies.
Benefits of Supplements
Nutritional Gap Filling
Supplements serve as a bridge for dietary deficiencies, providing key nutrients like vitamins and minerals that are essential for the body’s optimal performance. This ensures a well-rounded intake of nutrients critical for health and well-being.
Immune Support
You can significantly strengthen your immune system by incorporating supplements such as vitamin C and zinc into your routine. These nutrients enhance your body’s defense mechanisms against common illnesses and infections.
Bone Health
Combining calcium and vitamin D in supplement form is vital for maintaining bone density and strength. It plays a significant role in preventing osteoporosis and minimizing the risk of fractures, especially in the elderly.
Heart Health
Omega-3 fatty acids, available as supplements, are beneficial for heart health, contributing to lower blood pressure levels, reduced triglycerides, and a decreased likelihood of heart disease. These supplements are essential for cardiovascular maintenance and prevention strategies.
Mental Clarity
Supplements enriched with omega-3 fatty acids and B vitamins are linked to enhancements in cognitive functions, including memory and mood stabilization. They support brain health, contributing to improved mental clarity and overall mental wellness.
Energy Boost
B-complex vitamins in supplements are crucial for efficiently converting dietary intake into energy. This mitigates feelings of tiredness and boosts physical stamina and performance levels.
Skin Health
The intake of antioxidant supplements, notably vitamins C and E, offers protection against oxidative stress and damage from free radicals. These supplements contribute to maintaining a youthful skin appearance and promoting skin health resilience.
Customizable Solutions
One of the greatest advantages of supplements is their ability to be customized to meet individual health needs and goals. Whether you’re looking to address specific nutritional deficiencies, support a particular aspect of your health, or enhance your overall well-being, supplements can be tailored to suit your unique requirements.
Commonly Prescribed Supplements
Vitamins
Vitamins are organic compounds your body needs in small amounts to function properly. They support countless physiological processes, from energy production and metabolism to immune strength and tissue repair. When your diet or absorption patterns fall short, targeted vitamin supplements can help maintain balance and support your overall health.
- Vitamin A supports vision, skin health, and immune defense. It also contributes to normal cell growth and tissue repair.
- Vitamin B Complex refers to a group of eight distinct vitamins that each serve unique purposes. Together, these nutrients keep your nervous system, metabolism, and energy levels stable.
- Vitamin C is an antioxidant that supports immune function, collagen production, and wound healing. It also helps your body absorb iron from plant-based foods. Low intake can lead to fatigue, slower healing, and increased susceptibility to infection.
- Vitamin D3 supports bone strength, muscle health, and immune balance. The body produces it when exposed to sunlight, but low sun exposure, darker skin tones, or certain medical conditions can lead to a deficiency.
- Vitamin E protects cells from oxidative stress. It supports immune function and helps maintain healthy skin and eyes. Supplementing with vitamin E can help strengthen cellular protection, especially when oxidative damage is a concern.
- Vitamin K2 supports proper calcium utilization in the body. It helps direct calcium to the bones and teeth and may prevent buildup in arteries and soft tissues. K2 and D3 work together to promote bone density and cardiovascular health.
Minerals
Minerals are inorganic elements that your body needs to carry out essential functions such as building strong bones, maintaining fluid balance, supporting nerve signaling, and producing energy. Mineral supplements may include:
- Magnesium: This mineral supports muscle and nerve function, energy production, and heart rhythm regulation. Magnesium citrate and glycinate are highly absorbable forms, but there are many others to choose from.
- Zinc: Adequate amounts of zinc help with immune function, wound healing, and normal cell growth. It is also needed for taste, smell, and reproductive health.
- Selenium: This mineral functions as an antioxidant that protects cells from oxidative stress and supports thyroid hormone activity. Adequate selenium levels also contribute to immune health and reproductive function.
- Calcium: This element is critical for bone strength, muscle contraction, and nerve transmission. Insufficient calcium intake can lead to decreased bone density.
- Iron: Iron supports red blood cell production and oxygen transport throughout the body. Low iron levels can cause fatigue, weakness, and pale skin.
- Potassium: This electrolyte helps control fluid balance, muscle contractions, and nerve signals. Low levels can cause fatigue, muscle cramps, or irregular heartbeat, so maintaining proper intake is important for cardiovascular stability.
How Do We Choose Our Supplements?
We prescribe only medical-grade supplements and nutraceuticals that are selected carefully for the following:
Quality
Products are manufactured in facilities that are FDA registered and comply with the strictest Good Manufacturing Practices (cGMP) that ensure the highest and most rigorous quality control in the industry.
Purity
No preservatives or extra fillers are added. Contaminant testing is performed on the ingredients.
Absorbability
The supplements we select are composed of biologically natural forms, ensuring that your body can efficiently absorb and utilize them. This enhances the effectiveness of the treatment by directly aligning with your body’s natural processes.
Dosage
Our approach involves prescribing supplements in therapeutic dosages that are precisely tailored to meet the individual needs of each patient. This customization ensures that every patient receives the optimal amount necessary for their specific health objectives.
Reputability
In our commitment to providing the highest quality care, we have meticulously selected companies known for their integrity and the superior quality of their products. This careful selection guarantees the best possible treatment outcomes for our patients, ensuring their satisfaction and well-being.
Designing Your Treatment Plan
The process begins with a nutrition evaluation and discussion of your health goals. Laboratory testing is performed to assess your specific nutritional status. From there, we create a healthy and sustainable eating plan that is right for you. We then create an individualized and customized plan to restore any underlying nutrient deficiencies.
Frequently Asked Questions About Supplements
The time it takes to see the benefits of supplements can vary depending on the individual and the specific supplement. Some effects may be noticeable within a few days, while others may take weeks or months to become apparent.
The frequency of supplement intake depends on the specific supplement and your individual health needs. Some supplements are best taken daily, while others may be recommended for use on an as-needed basis.
The best way to determine which supplements are suitable for you is to consult with a healthcare professional, such as the providers at Meliora Integrative Medicine. We can recommend supplements based on your individual health needs and goals.
Embrace Optimal Health With Supplements at Meliora Integrative Medicine in Evanston, IL
We understand that you are what you eat, but you are also what you absorb. Medical-grade supplements are very safe when prescribed by a physician. It’s important to check your levels, as you may have an underlying nutrient deficiency that could be contributing to your symptoms and overall well-being.
At Meliora Integrative Medicine in Evanston, IL, we pride ourselves on our holistic approach to health and wellness. We are dedicated to providing personalized care that addresses the root causes of health concerns. We believe in the power of supplements to complement our comprehensive treatment plans, ensuring that your body receives the essential nutrients it needs for optimal functioning. If you’re ready to explore how supplements can enhance your health journey, we invite you to reach out to us. Contact us online or give us a call at (847) 440-4355 to schedule a consultation.