How to Tell If You Still Have a Nutrient Gap, Even if You’re a Supplement Queen

But how can you tell? First of all, always talk to your doctor if you feel strongly you have a deficiency (you can get a blood test just for this)—but if you're looking for some daily support with a personalized spin, nurish by Nature Made® has you covered.

Step one: Take the quiz (it's fun, we promise) to get your routine. Step two: Get personalized supplement packets delivered straight to your door. That's it.

To find out if a custom approach might be right for you, we asked a go-to RD for three common scenarios. Bonnie Taub-Dix, RDN, author of Read It Before You Eat It - Taking You from Label to Table who also shells out expert-level advice on Instagram, broke down the three nutrient deficiencies she sees the most: iron, calcium, and folic acid.

"It’s not always easy to meet your nutritional needs every single day by diet alone," says Taub-Dix on why figuring out what supplements to take can be an important part of your overall wellness equation. "Vitamin and mineral supplements are kind of like insurance—they supplement your diet by helping to ensure that you meet your body’s demands."

“Vitamin and mineral supplements are kind of like insurance—they supplement your diet by helping to ensure that you meet your body’s demands.”

Feeling sluggish and generally low on energy? This could point to an iron deficiency. "Iron is an essential mineral that is needed to make hemoglobin, a protein found in blood," Taub-Dix says. "Iron deficiency is common among women especially because they lose iron monthly when they menstruate."

Weak and brittle bones can also be the culprit behind a lack of calcium. "A deficiency in calcium could lead to osteoporosis, a disease often see in older women, but this problem could begin at earlier ages," she says. So beyond cultivating your love of fancy cheese plates, a calcium supplement could be a valuable addition to your line-up.

Lastly, there's folic acid, a form of folate (a B vitamin) prevalent in dark leafy greens and nuts. If you're trying to get pregnant or currently are, you'll want to make sure it's on your list. Here's why: "Folic acid is particularly important for women of child-bearing age," says Taub-Dix. "[It] can help prevent neural tube defects in pregnancy."

If none of those sound like you, no worries—that's exactly why the nurish by Nature Made® personalized quiz exists. It's kind of like getting an RD on speed dial, if that RD could also ship your specific supplement routine to your doorstep.

Want to get started on your personalized supplement journey? We snagged you a discount. Use code LIVEWELL30 for 30 percent off your first order.

Sponsored by nurish by Nature Made®

Top photo: Getty Images/FreshSplash

This information is only for educational purposes and is not medical advice or intended as a recommendation of any specific products. Consult your health-care provider for more information.