I hate wasting money. (My CPA hubby might argue with this :)...

I also hate THINKING I'm doing something, when in actually I'm not doing it at all.

Supplements are one of those "some-things in my life."

Did you know that some of the medications and supplements you take aren't even getting dissolved in your body? They basically exit the body in the same form they went in.

Many sources quote nurses who find vitamin pills in the bedpans of their patients. "Bed Pan Bullets" (from the 'clink' heard as the undissolved tablet hits the old fashioned metal bed pan.) I know, TMI.

The same is true of the poor souls who have to clean out the port-a-pottys. The screen in the bottom of the port-a-potty tells it all. There are intact pills with some of the inscribed names
still visible on the pill! I'll have to take their word on it!

Ever wonder how your meds and supplements would hold up under a dissolvability test?

Well, wonder no longer because here's a simple "acid test" you can try at home to find out if your multi—or any other pill!—dissolves properly:

1. Place approximately one cup of white vinegar in a small bowl and warm it to 98 degrees or so by placing it inside a larger bowl of water that you "top up" several times with warm water from the tap. (The goal
is to keep the vinegar reasonably close to 98 degrees for half an hour.)

2. Drop your multi-vitamin (or other pill) into the vinegar, and jostle it about every five minutes or so by gently shaking or swirling the cup. While you can also stir the mix with a wooden stick or
toothpick, be careful not to touch the tablet itself.

3. The tablet should dissolve within 30 minutes. (This is the USP standard for all pharmaceutical tablets.) If it doesn't dissolve, it's not doing you any good. Get another brand.

The nutritional supplement industry is an unregulated industry. No one is checking to make sure that what is listed on the label really is in there, unless they volunteer to submit themselves to outside 3rd
party pharmaceutical testing. There are very few companies out there willing to do this.

Participation in USP's Dietary Supplement Ingredient Verification is voluntary and open to manufacturers of ingredients marketed for use in the dietary supplement industry worldwide. USP awards use of the USP
Verified Dietary Supplement Ingredient Mark and issues a verification
certificate for ingredients that meet its rigorous program requirements.

So look for the letters USP on your supplement label, it means that your supplement has been checked to make sure that the nutritional content is in there and that it is able to be distributed to the body
in a manner it can use.

Supplements and OTC meds are not cheap. Steer clear of any supplement that does not pass the USP test. Be sure you get what you're paying for.

I recommend to all of my clients that they take a liquid form of their supplements on an empty stomach to ensure rapid and complete delivery of the product.

I also insist that the supplements be made of whole foods, free of preservatives and coloring. This is hard to find.

I am often asked, "So, what do I need to be taking?"

I am a minimalist when it comes to supplements. I think they should SUPPLEMENT a clean, nutrient dense eating style.

There are two non-optionals for everyone, child to adult.

1. Whole Foods liquid Multi-vitamin (with or without iron)

2. A Whole foods Antioxidant.

Even if your diet is 100% clean, (which I know no one whose is), because of the soil and growing issues we have in our hyper-industrialized nation and the stressors in our environment, we all need at the least these two supplements. And I recommend an omega source to all as well.

The brand I recommend here is the next best to receiving IV therapy of the same nutrients. It far exceeds governmental standards and even goes so far as to test each batch that is produced for consistency and purity. VERY impressive.

Stop wondering if your supplements are working.

If you miss a day of your Multi-Vitamin, does your body feel it?

If not, try a better product.

Don't add any more undissolved pills to the environment!

Supplement wisely! Take good care of your body!

It DOES make a difference.