Complementary Prescriptions
Building A Supplement Program That's Right For You
by Ward Dean, M.D.,
Medical Director, Complementary Prescriptions
With all the possible choices of
vitamins and supplements available today - a wide range of formulas and
products from countless companies - selecting the most apropriate formula for
your needs may appear overwhelming.
This uncertainty is commmon not only
for those who are new to supplements, but among informed consumers as well. For
example, when evaluating the nutritional programs of my patients, I ask them to
bring in their current supplements. What I usually find is a
"mish-mash" of bottles from several different companies.
The trouble with this approach is that
it is costly and not necessarily in the best interest of one's health. These
combinations of formulas characteristically contain large amounts of certain
therapeutic nutrients, plus miscellaneous redundant co-factors.
Consequently, the various supplements
often conflict with one another, and may have wastefully excesive, imbalanced
or even detrimental doses of some nutrients while offering only subtherapeutic
(ineffective) amounts of others.
However, formulas in each level of the
Complementary PrescriptionsTM anti-aging pyramid (shown here) are designed to
work together in a complementary fashion. We call this synergistic approach our
Modular concept.
This modular approach helps ensure
against unneecessary, overlapping and sometimes counterproductive ingredients.
Using CP's unique modular concept,
let's look at how to build an effective supplement program that's right for
you, one step at a time.
As shown below, when designing a
nutritional supplement program, there are some basic requirements common to all
of us.
Multinutrients
We believe that the foundation of any supplement program, whether therapeutic
or preventive, is a broad-spectrum multinutrient formula. Complementary
PrescriptionsTM multinutrient formulas range from Extend One to Extend
Ultra. In choosing a multinutrient formula, you'll want to consider several
factors: cost; daily "pill capacity"; personal dietary and
therapeutic needs (based on age, sex, health condition, family history and
personal goals); gastrointestinal tolerance (some people find high-potency
forumlas upsetting to their stomachs); qualtiy of diet; and exercise habits.
Minerals
Next I recommend adding a multimineral formula, such as Essential Minerals
or Advanced Essential Minerals. This step is important, as it is
generally not possible to provide adequeate amounts of the
"macrominerals" (especially calcium and magnesium) in a multinutrient
formula because of the "capsule space" they require.
Phytonutrients
Third, because even the most conscientious of us often do not consume adequate
phytonutrients, I recommend that everyone include one or more broad-spectrum phyonutrient
supplement formulas in their daily "nutrition-insurance" program.
Examples of such formulas include NanoGreens10 and/or Extension
Phytonutrient.
Condition-Specific
Formulas
Having established the nutritional foundation, consider choosing formulas for
specific condition support; i.e. bone and joint, cardiovascular or other
problem areas.
Antioxidants,
Hormone Suppport and Other Anti-Aging Nutrients
To complete the supplemnt program and tailor it to individual needs, you can
then add antioxidants, hormones, receptor sensitizers and bioenergizers.
By following these
simple steps based on the Complementary PrescriptionsTM modular concept, you can
be confident that your individual nutritional requirements are being met, while
minimizing unwanted and unnecessary ingredients.
