What's really in our supplements??

I get asked this question all the time. In fact, it comes up more often than just about anything else. Questions like "Should I be taking vitamins?" " What sorts of vitamins should I be taking?" "What are the best vitamins on the market?"
So, how does one go about finding the best supplement? And, the bigger question is, do you actually NEED supplements?
I personally don't take a lot of supplements. I take some essentials, but for the most part not really. The reason is, I eat pretty well. Not a ton of sugar and virtually no processed foods, and I eat a ton of fruits and veggies. But if you are feeling like you need something more and are feeling run down, the first thing I would tell you instead of popping a supplement, is clean up your diet. Really look at what you're eating on a daily and weekly basis. What I ask my clients to do when we first meet is make a food journal. Start with a week first. Write own everything that goes into your mouth, including drinks, and be honest with yourself. This is for you, and if you're really serious about getting healthy, then this is the best place to start.
When you get down to the nitty gritty of your diet and be truthful with yourself, then you can assess if you really need vitamins and supplements. Vitamins add to your diet, and quite frankly most vitamins don't do a lot. Most sit in your stomach undigested, sometimes for weeks. Yes, you heard me, weeks. Whereas good foods get digested right away and absorbed right away.
If you are in the market for a good vitamin, I highly suggest doing your research instead of going to the grocery store and picking up any ol' vitamin. Chances are pretty good that that vitamin didn't have to pass a lot of tests to get on the shelf and there aren't a lot of restrictions with some supplements. That's why most won't benefit you really at all. One website I think is the best for really cutting out the middle man and telling it like it is, is Labdoor. They do a ton of research on vitamins and supplements and so far I have found them to be the best. The will rate them based on quality, ingredients, and purity. You need something that will absorb in your system everyday and release quality ingredients with a quick delivery.   
So, based on that, when and if you decide you want to go that route, when you just don't feel like you're getting enough, do extensive research first. Look into what you really need and go quality over price. You do get what you pay for in this case and you want to only put the best into your system.
Good luck and cheers!

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