How to Create a Supplement Routine

Run a quick Google search on the best supplements to take for endometriosis and you end up with roughly 13,500,000 results. Apparently, there’s a lot to say when it comes to endometriosis and supplements.

Many tout the benefits of omega-3 fish oil for its potential to reduce the inflammatory symptoms of endometriosis. This is one that I’ve personally taken for years, mainly because it seems to be on the beneficial list for about every health challenge I have – endometriosis, migraines, even arthritic joint pain. So, this is a regular in my diet.

Then there’s turmeric, which of course is most commonly known for its yellow hue in Indian cuisine. That too is known to be a powerhouse of anti-inflammatory benefits. Turmeric quickly that becomes very appealing to add to the supplement routine too.

Keep scrolling through the Google search results and you’ll see vitamin D, B vitamins, vitex and N-Acetyl Cysteine (NAC). Let’s be honest, you simply don't know what will work. What will help to minimize the pain? What will best help to keep inflammation at bay? And what will help to increase your chances of getting pregnant if that’s part of your future dreams? I wish I had the definitive answer for us.

What I personally find with supplements is that it’s tempting to make a purchase based on a quick online search, but you can quickly find yourself having an expensive collection of bottles at your breakfast table and not exactly sure which if any are working.

If this sounds familiar, I want to share with you some ways in which I create my supplement routine.

First the search

I do start with an online supplement search, just to familiarize myself with those common across the articles. But I don’t make a purchase just through this information. This just helps me to be a more educated patient.

Then the doctor’s input

I want to check in with my doctor for his/her knowledge and opinion of the supplements. Not all doctors are firm believers in supplements, but many are willing to share what they know and what their other patients are having success with.

Next stop: Pharmacist

Supplements are concentrated forms of nutrients and herbs, so it’s important to be cautious of interactions with existing medication. For example, fish oil has served me well over the years, but it wasn’t a good mix when I had to take a blood thinner after surgery. So, I put the supplement on temporary hold until I got off that medication.

So how do you know if one of your supplements has an interaction with one of your medications? Pharmacists are great resources for this. They had a broad knowledge of medications and supplements. They also have an in-depth database they can search for any topics or supplements they’re not as familiar with. This is an easy call or stop by your local pharmacist. Of course, many pharmacies that deliver to your home, have a pharmacist that you can call into with such questions.

Educate and inform

The point is to be an educated consumer of supplements, and not just taking them randomly based on Dr. Google’s recommendations. And whatever you decide upon, be sure to update your doctor during your next visit, so they have it on file for their records too.