This recent study regarding the safety of vitamin supplements is important because it supports the notion that vitamin supplements are helpful, not harmful.

This is a controversial topic, and I have concluded the answer really is dependent upon the specific circumstances involved with whomever I'm considering recommending them to.

However, I most certainly do not support using supplements as a way to justify poor food choices. I firmly believe that whatever supplements you choose to take, there is simply no substitute for healthy eating.

I am also a firm believer in the concept that it's not necessarily the amount of nutrients you ingest that is important. Rather, it's the form of the nutrients, and how much is bio-available, that counts the most.

When discussing supplements, whether or not they are safe, when and how much of them you should take, most people often forget about something that I feel is more important than any single supplement or food you can eat.

I am talking about DIGESTION.

I would be willing to bet that more than half the people out there taking supplements are actually gaining little to no benefit from the nutrients supplied by them.

The reason for this is simple. If your digestive system is not working properly, you aren't absorbing your food and nutrients well.

Unfortunately, most of us have digestive systems that could be working better. Consider the following questions:

• Do you feel bloated after meals?
• Do you get heartburn or reflux?
• Do you experience gas, loose stools or constipation on a fairly regular basis?
• Do you often notice undigested food particles in your stools?
• Do you have less than two to three well-formed bowel movements everyday?

If you answered yes to any of the questions above, it is extremely likely that your digestive system is not working like it should be.

If that is the case, then whenever you take a supplement, especially one that is not food-based, you are wasting your money.

Seven Tips for Optimizing Your Digestion

1. Eat appropriate quantities. This may seem obvious, but some people just don't realize that they are overeating on a regular basis. I usually recommend that people take a slightly smaller portion than they normally would and wait for 10 minutes after finishing it before going back for seconds. Usually they find they don't need them.

2. Chew your food. Another seemingly obvious one that is very commonly overlooked. At your next meal, try chewing each bite 20-30 times (an optimal amount for good digestion). You will quickly realize how little you chewed before.

3. Avoid eating on the run or if you are emotionally upset in any way. The effects that stress has on your digestive system cannot be overstated. In fact, for a majority of young and middle-aged people, this is often the number one cause of poor digestion.

4. Ensure adequate secretion of your digestive juices. Eating regular meals containing protein, chewing your food well, and eating bitter tasting foods at the beginning of your meal will help stimulate the secretion of hydrochloric acid and pancreatic enzymes, both of which are necessary for good digestion. You may also want to consider drinking a glass of water with a little lemon juice or apple cider vinegar in it five to 10 minutes before you eat.

5. Eat your veggies. Vegetables can provide you with all the fiber you need to help improve bowel function. Another excellent choice for increasing your fiber intake is freshly ground flax seeds. Usually, two to three tablespoons mixed in a smoothie or sprinkled on your food will suffice. Eat your vegetables raw or very lightly steamed to maximize the enzymes that help you digest them properly.

6. Make sure you eat your bugs. Regular consumption of beneficial bacteria is one of the most important things you can do for your health. The best way to do so is by consuming fermented foods or drinks on a daily basis.

7. Exercise, exercise, exercise. Daily movement is essential for proper bowel function and also helps relieve the stress that can wreak havoc on your digestion.

Combining the tips above with the Total Health Program and metabolic typing will ensure that you get all the nutrients you ever need.

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