Discovering YOU Magazine March 2019 Issue | Page 20

needed nutrients is through food, but, people don't always have eating habits that provide them with all the nutrition they need. Others have deficiencies that diet alone can't resolve. Supplements can fill the gap, but people are more likely to take their supplements regularly if they taste good and they're convenient. Pills require a liquid to take them with, they're not tasty and sometimes leave an unpleasant aftertaste! Gummies can be a good option, and clinical tests show that their absorption is equivalent or better than traditional vitamin pills. vitafusion offers more than 30 types of gummy vitamins, with no artificial flavors, high fructose corn syrup, gluten or dairy.

Nicole Avena, Ph.D., is a research neuroscientist and pioneer in the field of food and nutrition. She is also the author of What to Eat When You're Pregnant.

3. Algae oil trumps fish oil and olive oil. Algae oil is vegetarian and a source of omega-3s and DHA (good fats to support brain health). Algae oil is safe to use in pregnancy (when eating too much fish can be harmful because of mercury) and is heart healthy (studies show it lowers cholesterol and triglycerides). It also has more monounsaturated fat than olive oil.

4. Cow's milk is healthier than almond milk. Despite its popularity, almond milk often has less than 2 percent actual almonds in it, has a lot of added sugar, and is not necessarily better for the environment because it takes five liters of water to grow one almond.

5. 1000 mcg's of Folate with vitamin D and calcium is essential in a prenatal vitamin. The nutrients in your prenatal vitamins are crucial pre- and postpartum, especially if you are breastfeeding.

6. Gummy vitamins are just as effective as pills and chewables. The best way to get

HEALTH MATTERS

"Supplements can fill the gap, but people are more likely to take their supplements regularly if they taste good and they're convenient. Pills require a liquid to take them with, they're not tasty and sometimes leave an unpleasant aftertaste! "