6 scientists reveal the nutritional supplements they use every day by Simon Bishop, Graeme Close, Haleh Moravej, Justin Roberts, Neil Williams, and Tim Spector on Jan 16, 2018, 1:19 PM Advertisement
 Supplements are a multi-billion dollar industry. But, unlike pharmaceutical companies, manufacturers of these products don’t have to prove that their products are effective, only that they are safe — and that’s for new supplements only. We wanted to know which supplements are worth our attention (and money) so we asked six scientists — experts in everything from public health to exercise physiology — to name a supplement they take each day and why they take it. Here is what they said. SEE ALSO: France was the first country to ban supermarkets from throwing away unused food — and the world is taking notice Turmeric  Simon Bishop, lecturer in public health and primary care, Bangor University: Turmeric is more familiar as an ingredient in South Asian cooking, adding an earthy warmth and fragrance to curried dishes, but, in recent years, it has also garnered attention for its potential health benefits. I have been taking ground turmeric root as a dietary supplement for around two years, but I have been interested in its use in Ayurvedic medicine for far longer. Turmeric is used as a traditional remedy in many parts of Asia to reduce inflammation and help wounds heal. Now, mounting evidence suggests that curcumin, a substance in turmeric, may also help to protect against a range of diseases, including rheumatoid arthritis, cardiovascular disease, dementia and some cancers. The evidence underpinning these claims of health-giving properties is not conclusive, but it is compelling enough for me to continue to take turmeric each morning, along with my first cup of coffee — another habit that may help me live a bit longer.
Vitamin D Graeme Close, professor of human physiology, Liverpool John Moores University: Vitamin D is a peculiar vitamin in that it is synthesized in our bodies with the aid of sunlight, so people who live in cold countries, or who spend a lot of time indoors, are at risk of a deficiency. People with darker skin tone are also more at risk of vitamin D deficiency as melanin slows down skin production of vitamin D. It is estimated that about a billion peopleare deficient in the vitamin. Most people are aware that we need enough vitamin D to maintain healthy bones, but, over the past few years, scientists have become increasingly aware of other important roles of vitamin D. We now believe vitamin D deficiencies can result in a less efficient immune system, impaired muscle function and regeneration, and even depression. Vitamin D is one of the cheapest supplements and is a really simple deficiency to correct. I used to test myself for deficiencies, but now — because I live in the UK where sunlight is scarce between October and April, and it doesn’t contain enough UVB radiation during these cold months — I supplement with a dose of 50 micrograms, daily, throughout the winter. I also advise the elite athletes that I provide nutrition support to, to do the same.
Probiotic  Justin Roberts, senior lecturer in sport and exercise nutrition, Anglia Ruskin University: Having diverse beneficial gut bacteria is important for your physical and mental health. However, the balance of bacterial species can be disrupted by poor diet, being physically inactive and being under constant stress. One way to support the health of the gut is to consume dietary probiotics (live bacteria and yeasts), such as yogurt, kefir and kombucha. I first came across probiotics after years of triathlon training, often experiencing gastrointestinal symptoms — such as nausea and stomach cramps — after training and races. I was also more susceptible to colds. After researching the area, I was surprised at how many people experience similar gastrointestinal problems after exercise. Now I have found that taking a probiotic regularly lessens my symptoms after training and benefits my general health. A recent study we conducted showed that taking a probiotic in the evening with food, over 12 weeks of exercise training, reduced gastrointestinal problems in novice triathletes. There is also a wealth of research supporting the use of probiotics for general health benefits, including improving intestinal health, enhancing the immune response and reducing serum cholesterol.
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