🌿 Do You Really Need Supplements?

OlaKrawczyk
Nov 4
2 min read

Walk into any pharmacy or health store and you’ll see shelves packed with vitamins, powders, and pills — all promising better health. But do we really need supplements?

The truth is, supplements can play an important role in supporting the body — but they’re not meant to replace a balanced diet or lifestyle.

💊 What Are Supplements?

Nutritional supplements are concentrated forms of nutrients such as vitamins, minerals, amino acids, fatty acids, or plant extracts.

They’re designed to fill gaps in your diet or provide extra support when your body is under stress, recovering, or struggling to absorb certain nutrients.

In my practice, I see many clients who genuinely benefit from the right supplements — particularly when dealing with gut imbalances, thyroid issues, or nutrient deficiencies.

However, supplements work best when the foundations — food, hydration, sleep, and lifestyle — are already in place.

As I always say:

“Food first. Supplements after.”

Whole foods provide not just vitamins and minerals, but also fibre, antioxidants, enzymes, and phytonutrients that work synergistically — something no capsule can fully replicate.

🌿 When Supplements Can Help

There are times when targeted supplementation can make a real difference, such as:

When the gut is inflamed or struggling to absorb nutrients
After illness, surgery, or high stress
When dietary intake is limited (e.g. due to allergies or food restrictions)
In cases of diagnosed deficiencies (e.g. low iron, zinc, vitamin D, or B12)

In these cases, supplements act as therapeutic support to help the body restore balance more effectively.

💚 My Favourite Gut-Supportive Supplements

Here are a few I often use in practice to help strengthen gut health and repair the intestinal lining:

Glutamine – a key amino acid that supports the gut lining, reduces inflammation, and promotes tissue repair.
Zinc – essential for digestive enzyme production, immune support, and tissue healing.
PHGG (Partially Hydrolysed Guar Gum) – a gentle prebiotic fibre that nourishes beneficial bacteria and supports regularity without bloating.

These can be powerful tools when used appropriately — but always as part of a bigger nutrition strategy.

🔍 Choosing the Right Supplement

Not all supplements are created equal.

Many over-the-counter products contain fillers, artificial colours, or poor-quality ingredients that reduce absorption or trigger unwanted reactions.

👉 Always check the excipients (the inactive ingredients) on the label, and choose products made by practitioner-only brands, which are tested for purity, potency, and bioavailability.

🧠 The Bottom Line

Supplements can be incredibly helpful when your body needs extra support — but they should never replace real food or a healthy lifestyle.

Think of them as a bridge: they help you get from depletion to balance, but the foundation always remains nourishment from whole foods.

If you’re unsure which supplements are right for you, it’s always best to seek personalised advice.

💌 If you have any questions or want to explore which nutrients your body may need, please reach out — I’d love to guide you.

👉 Contact me here https://www.clinicalnutritionbyola.com.au/services