If you’re looking to incorporate supplements into your health plan, the most useful way to begin is by evaluating your needs based on three key factors: your health history, your current health profile, and your goals for the future. Garnering a holistic understanding of where you are in your health journey is the first step to making sure your supplement routine is optimized to help you achieve the wellness outcomes you’re looking for, and there’s no one better suited to help you do that than a concierge doctor. Working with a concierge doctor is key to not only understanding where your health is now, but to forming a comprehensive and ever-evolving plan to make the most of it in the future. Today, we’re going over what role supplements play in your overall health journey, and how a concierge physician can help you maximize their usefulness. Let’s get started.

First and foremost, what does a concierge doctor have to offer you that a traditional primary care physician can’t? Concierge medicine is all about forming a relationship-based treatment plan that allows you to have continuous access to your doctor. By offering your 24/7 physician access, uninterrupted appointments at a minimum of 30 minutes, and priority appointment scheduling, a concierge medicine plan makes sure that your physician has the most comprehensive, in-depth understanding of your health profile possible. Because you are in consistent communication, it also means that your physician is always updated on the latest goings-on when it comes to your wellness. A concierge doctor doesn’t take a cursory look at your chart every 6-12 months; they are an active participant in every step of your wellness journey.

Now that we’ve discussed the benefits of working with a concierge physician, let’s quickly examine the role that supplements can play in your overall wellness. Supplements are exactly that: a potentially beneficial add-on to your daily diet. That said, the majority of your nutrient intake must come from your diet. Supplements are by no means a replacement for a healthy, balanced diet. Maintaining a diet composed of whole foods, and well-balanced in both macronutrients (protein, carbs, and healthy fats) and micronutrients (vitamins and minerals) is the best way to fuel your body. Depending on your unique health conditions, medication regimen, activity levels, and genetic makeup, supplements can be a beneficial add-on to your daily diet. Determining the extent to which supplements are necessary or beneficial is something that can only be accurately done by your doctor.

Your concierge physician has a comprehensive and ever-evolving understanding of your health profile, which means they are the best-equipped professional to help you come up with a nutrition plan that works to optimize your health. That nutrition plan may include supplements, depending on your physical condition and goals. For example, though iron supplements may be ineffective for someone whose iron levels are in the normal range, they can be extremely beneficial to individuals with anemia. Similarly, taking calcium supplements in excess can lead to adverse effects like nausea, constipation, or even kidney stones for patients who do not have a calcium deficiency. However, patients who have osteoporosis may benefit greatly from taking calcium supplements. By evaluating your health profile in tandem with your medical history and future goals, your concierge doctor can help you find the most effective and beneficial way to incorporate supplements into your health plan.

If you’re looking to incorporate supplements into your health plan, the best way to get started is by meeting with a concierge doctor. They can help you evaluate where you are in your health journey, collaborating with you in order to get you where you need and want to be. To learn more about how concierge medicine works, feel free to schedule a consultation with us.