Personalized nutrition: How blood tests can help you supplement smarter

Have you ever noticed that after taking a multivitamin, your pee sometimes turns an almost neon yellow? It may be alarming, but it’s nothing to worry about. It’s just excess vitamin B2 (or riboflavin) leaving your body. It’s a sign you’ve taken more than you need.

Harmless as it may be, the parable of the glowing pee flags up an important question: What supplements do I really need to take? Unfortunately, it’s a question without a simple answer.

Every person's nutrient, vitamin, and mineral makeup is unique. Genetics, biochemistry, sex, diet, activity levels, age - they all play a part. Working out which supplements to take without knowing your baseline levels is like sailing a ship without a compass.

To help you get to grips with your supplement needs, we’ve partnered with Sunday Natural: The Aware medical team’s go-to supplement brand. Together, we’re working to demystify supplementation with comprehensive blood tests so you can choose the products you need. More on the partnership later. First, let’s take a deep dive into why blood testing and supplementation complement each other so well.  

How can blood tests help you optimize your supplement regimen?

Understanding your unique needs

Your personal health data is an extremely powerful tool for understanding your supplement needs. With a comprehensive blood test, you can get valuable clues into your baseline nutrient, vitamin, and mineral levels. That information can help you pinpoint deficiencies or imbalances so you can choose the right supplements for you.A properly-considered supplement regimen, okayed by your doctor, can make a big difference to your health. Here are some of the most popular supplements and the benefits they can offer to people with deficiencies and imbalances:

• Vitamin B12: Important for nerve and blood cell health, and supports DNA production
• Vitamin B9 (folic acid): Supports healthy pregnancy
• Vitamin D: Strengthens bones, supports good mental health, and aids immune function
• Calcium: Promotes strong, healthy bones
• Vitamin C: Can prevent cell damage
• Omega 3: Supports heart health and mental health
• Vitamin A: Promotes good eye health
• Zinc: Helps maintain skin health, eye health, and immune function
• Magnesium: Supports muscle and bone health

Avoiding unnecessary supplementation

Many of us are taking more supplements than we need to. According to recent data from SPEZIAL 2021 consumer monitor, 57% of the German population are taking supplements. But only 16% actually have a deficiency. 

Thankfully, taking too much of a supplement is usually physically harmless. Like vitamin B2, any excess will leave the body during a routine, if a little expensive, trip to the bathroom. However, in some cases, taking too much of a supplement can cause physical harm. 

Here’s a list of common supplements that can be dangerous in some circumstances: 

• St. John’s wort: May impact how several medications work, including antidepressants
• Comfrey: Can cause liver damage
• Kava: Can cause liver damage
• Beta-carotene: May increase lung cancer risk in smokers
• Vitamin A: High doses can lead to serious illness

When it comes to proactive health management, safety is always key. Taking a test before you start your supplementation regimen can help avoid any harm to your body and your wallet. And of course, don’t forget to double check with your doctor before you begin any supplement regimen and never exceed the stated dose. 

Monitoring progress over time

Embarking on a supplement regimen without baseline data makes it hard to track your progress. How can you know how far you’ve come if you don’t know where you started?

Take vitamin D for example. In parts of the world that don’t get much sun in the autumn and winter, it’s recommended to take a vitamin D supplement daily through these months. However, for some people who are prescribed high-strength vitamin D supplements, it’s important they lower the dose once their levels return to a healthy level. That’s because, over time, excess vitamin D can lead to increased calcium extraction from urine, which can increase the risk of kidney stones.

Regular blood testing with an Aware membership allows you to monitor changes in your nutrient, vitamin, and mineral levels over time. That means you can adapt your supplement plan in line with your changing health needs. 

Aware and Sunday Natural: Simplifying supplementation together

At Aware, our goal is to empower people with the tools to take control of their health. As part of that mission, we’re partnering with Sunday Natural to help people optimize their supplementation regimen with regular, comprehensive health checks. 

Our medical team has curated a selection of high-quality Sunday Natural products to complement our test packages. If there’s an imbalance in a relevant health marker, you will now receive advice on what supplements you could benefit from, how to take them, and a convenient way to make a purchase.

To get you started, all Aware members will receive 10% off their first Sunday Natural order. Simply use the discount code provided in-app during checkout on the Sunday Natural website.

If you’re looking for a way to optimize your supplement regimen, become an Aware member today and book your first blood test. And don’t forget to consult with a healthcare professional before you change your supplement routine.