Q: Do I have to take supplements on this program?
Anyone can follow the basic diet and detoxification protocols to their benefit. In fact, these alone can be very powerful in helping the body to heal. But as a general rule, some supplements are required to achieve the best results. Most people today have severe nutrient deficiencies that cannot be addressed with diet alone (this is amplified by the fact that our food is very nutrient-deficient today). Also, the supplements we use are very specific in doses and combinations of nutrients which is difficult to achieve using food. We have a great deal of experience working with individuals who are sensitive to supplements, so if you have had or are having problems with supplements, be sure to mention it so that she can work with you on your supplement program.
Q: How can I tell which is the best multivitamin for me?
The problem with most multivitamins is that they do not take into account individual body chemistry. They assume that everyone needs the same nutrients. This is very far from true. The human body is a very complicated biological machine, and everyone is unique. Some nutrients are exactly what one person needs, but will make another person worse. Therefore, a multivitamin that is good for one person may be harmful to another. This is why we perform a hair mineral analysis to determine your individual nutritional needs to design a program specifically for you, which includes several individual vitamin and mineral supplements in the proper proportions for your body chemistry. There are three different multivitamins we may use depending on the person’s metabolism, and in some cases, the person’s body chemistry is such that we do not recommend a multivitamin at that time (such as in a Four Lows Pattern). Also, in addition to the multivitamin, to balance body chemistry we combine various other specific nutrients based on individual needs to supply larger doses of specific minerals and vitamins than are provided in the multiple. So it is nearly impossible to randomly find a multivitamin that covers all of your individual needs. Most multivitamins not only have incorrect ingredients for the person but have improper proportions of minerals and vitamins, which can make imbalances in one’s body even worse. And to complicate the situation further, some vitamins can make you feel better for a brief time while actually further damaging your body! This can sometimes be the case with stimulating nutrients, such as B Vitamins, iron, copper and others. If taken when not needed at that time, such stimulants cause the adrenal and/or thyroid glands to work harder, giving one a temporary boost of energy. The problem is that the adrenal and thyroid glands of the vast majority of people are already fatigued and over-worked. Without a proper balance of nutrients, such a stimulating effect can further weaken these glands resulting in more fatigue and a worsening of symptoms later on. All of these factors combined are why we prefer not to recommend a multivitamin until we perform a hair mineral analysis to ascertain which vitamins and minerals and in what quantities you need. That said, if one cannot do a hair analysis and wants to start a basic program, the multivitamin Megapan is one of the safest choices and can be obtained by contacting our office.
Q: Will my supplement program change when I have my next hair analysis done?
Your supplements may change depending on your test results. There is no way to predict this. Some tests you may see little change in your supplement program and others you may see a lot of change. The retest is always good to do so that you know for sure you are on the right program, and it is nice to see the progress being made.
Q: Am I supposed to take my supplements on an empty stomach? Or with food?
Almost every supplement we give you is best taken with food, either during the meal or immediately after. Ideally you would spread them out throughout the meal versus taking them all at one time. If there is a supplement that we want you to take on an empty stomach, we will give you clear instructions on that. There are times when people want to take extra of their supplements between meals or before bedtime, or they forgot during their meal. In this case, these are some supplements that can be taken on an empty stomach for most people: Paramin, MCHC, Magnesium, Endo-Veggies, Taurine, Thyro Complex, Endo-Dren, Endo-AC, Kelp, EPA-DHA, Vit D, Selenium, and Renamide.
Q: Can I take my supplements with just a small amount of food or do I need a big meal?
You do not need a big meal. A few bites of food is fine. Some people are sensitive to zinc and find it gives them an upset stomach unless they take it with a larger amount of food. If this is the case, you may have to take less of your zinc if you are only having a small snack with your supplements. You may also take the supplements spread out over more than 3 meals – this can help with the zinc, for example.
Q: I know I’m supposed to take my vitamins with food, but won’t drinking water during meals dilute stomach acid?
If one were to drink a lot of water during meals, this could interfere with digestion. A small amount of water used to take one’s supplements does not have a negative effect on digestion.
Q: I have trouble sleeping. Should I take melatonin, serotonin or Valerian root? What can I do?
This is a very common question. In fact, it is so common that we have included a whole article on the subject entitled Sleep Remedies. So you may try any of the recommendations in that article. If you need further assistance, contact us for additional recommendations. Remember that if you are on a Nutritional Balancing Program, it is a good idea to ask us before you take any additional supplements or stop taking any supplements we have recommended for you.
Q: What are digestive enzymes? Are they the same as systemic enzymes?
Enzymes are any of various types of energized protein molecules that produce or speed up certain chemical changes in organic substances. There are about 3000 different kinds of enzymes in the body, and they are involved in nearly all biochemical reactions that occur. The enzymes made by the body fall into two categories: digestive enzymes and metabolic enzymes. In the case of digestive enzymes, the primary purpose is to break down food into a form that can be absorbed and used by the body for fuel. There are many types of digestive enzymes the body produces to break down the various types of food substances. Metabolic enzymes are made in each and every cell and perform many metabolic functions such as preventing inflammation, breaking down scar tissue and fibrosis, eating cellular “garbage”, converting nutrients in the liver, processing toxins, and more. Systemic enzymes are the general name given to particular supplemental (in a pill or capsule) metabolic enzymes. On a Nutritional Balancing program, we do not need to use systemic enzymes because we support the body’s ability to make its own metabolic enzymes. We do, however, often recommend certain digestive enzymes to help the body extract more nutrition from the healthy foods eaten. This is needed because most people are not producing enough digestive enzymes due to bio-chemical imbalances. Over time, these imbalances are corrected and fewer supplemental digestive enzymes are needed as the body is able to make more of its own.
Q: Should I take enzymes?
Because most people have very compromised digestive systems, and because of the importance of proper digestion to receive the healing nutrients we need, we do recommend various digestive aids which include one or more digestive enzymes. The primary digestive aid that we recommend is GB-3, which is a combination of bile (which assists the function of various pancreatic enzymes, fat digestion and liver detoxification), Pancreatin (a combination of digestive enzymes produced by the pancreas), and Black Radish Root (which aids liver function, detoxification and much more). The other enzyme-based digestive aid we sometimes recommend is Enzaid, which contains various enzymes and other helpful substances. We do not recommend systemic enzymes, as these are not needed and can create imbalances in the body. The exact ingredients of many of the products we recommend can be found here: Endo-met Supplement Ingredients
Q: Do I need to keep all my unopened supplement bottles in the fridge? Will they go bad if I leave the bottles out or in a cupboard?
You may leave supplements out or in a cupboard, and they will last about 3 years. If you want them to last longer, you can store them in the fridge. The only supplement you should not keep in the fridge is colloidal silver which will react to the electrical field of the refrigerator.
Q: Where can I find the ingredients of the supplements?
You can find the ingredients to Endo-met supplements on their website here: https://www.endomet.com/product-catalog/