Americans are Taking the Wrong Supplements or the Wrong Dose

April 14th, 2014

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People want to improve their health are finally realizing that supplements can play a role in getting healthy – but American's spend $15 billion on supplements a year and don't always know what to take according to Michael A. Smith. MD, author of the newly released The Supplement Pyramid – How to Build Your Personalized Nutritional Regimen. That's what Smith told the more than 100 members of the national and regional broadcast and print media and book authors who attended the National Publicity Summit in New York City at the Hotel Pennsylvania April 3-6.
One of the most common questions said Smith, who is also radio host of Healthy Talk on RadioMD.com and senior health scientist with Life Extension hears from people is: "I eat a pretty healthy diet. Do I really need to take supplements?" His answer is always a resounding "Yes!" And there is a very good reason.
In The Supplement Pyramid, published by Basic Health Publications, Inc., with a foreword written by health advocate, author and talk show host Suzanne Somers, Smith covers the many reasons why even the healthiest diets fall short in terms of supplying the optimal amount of nutrients we need not just to survive, but also to thrive. However, with such a staggering amount of choices on the market, it's easy to become overwhelmed. That's where The Supplement Pyramid enters the picture.
Like traditional food pyramids that help us design and follow a healthy diet, The Supplement Pyramid is an educational tool that can be personalized to meet anyone's specific nutritional needs. With its three-tiered plan—foundational, personalization, and optimization levels—the Supplement Pyramid helps readers design a nutritional regimen that meets their unique needs. Step-by-step instructions and detailed medical quizzes, along with useful information about blood testing, help readers determine the most important nutritional supplements for their bodies—and this becomes an ideal personalized menu from which to choose.
"Knowing which supplements to take is only half the battle," Smith told media folks who cover health topics on their television and radio shows and in their newspapers. "Purchasing high-quality nutritional supplements is essential for success," adds Smith.
Smith covers all of the information readers need to know to be sure they are making the best investment in their health. Written in easy-to-understand language and providing a wealth of vital information, The Supplement Pyramid puts all the questions to rest so we can each move toward an optimal personalized supplement regimen.
The 323-page book hard cover edition from Basic Health Publications retailing for $24.95 is complemented by an interactive website – MySupplementPyramid.com – featuring numerous health quizzes. The website quizzes identify individual health issues and are not the typical questions found in many mainstream health, wellness and lifestyle magazines.
"The questions in each quiz ask about current symptoms and disease risk factors," says Smith. "These are the same questions your doctor would ask you during an office visit. Based on your answers, a score for each quiz is generated. Your score comes with specific, evidenced-based supplement suggestions aimed at treating, preventing and reducing risk of disease," notes Smith.
There are numerous books and blogs and videos that promote the benefits of specific nutrients, like omega-3 oils, antioxidants and herbal extracts, but after reading these resources so many people are still left asking, "Do I need to take this?" This is why Smith wrote The Supplement Pyramid.
By completing the assessments Smith developed, people can finally know which supplements are best for them and which ones they can probably do without. Additionally, the supplement pyramid prioritizes their supplements as well. The importance of the supplements to a given regimen decrease moving up the pyramid.
"My book clearly explains how all of this works," said Smith. "After reading the book and taking the quizzes, you can have a supplement regimen that's personalized and prioritized."