Recently I accompanied my dad to a well-known drug store and as I was waiting, I went to the supplement aisle to see what they carry.

Although I was glad to see the increasing variety in available supplements, I was surprised at the number of supplements that were available in gummy form.

Sure, they have always carried the typical vitamin C, D, calcium, fiber, magnesium and multivitamin gummies. Now the list has extended to zinc, biotin, iron and even herbs such as ashwagandha.

And what really surprised me were CoQ10 and fish oil gummies for adults. These are anti-oxidant nutrients that protect healthy cells from damage by free radicals. And the sugar in the gummies does the exact opposite. They cause damage of healthy cells. It is like having a sleep supplement with melatonin and caffeine as ingredients.

I understand that gummy form of supplements may be necessary for some kids who are picky eaters.

But for the rest of us, I certainly would not recommend it. Gummies are tasty for sure, but they come with added sugar, artificial colors and additives.

The filler gelling agents in gummies occupy so much space that if you need to take a higher amount of a particular nutrient say EPA in fish oil, you will have to take a lot more gummies. There is also the issue of uneven distribution of active ingredient in each gummy due to the manufacturing process, making dosage unreliable.

If the reason for you to take supplements in gummy form is due to swallowing difficulty of capsules or tablets, you can always open the capsules or powder the tablets and mix it with apple sauce or mashed banana or nut/seed butter. Of course, talk to your health care provider to check if a particular supplement can be taken in this form.

​In this Newsletter, you will find

How Mold toxin exposure can affect your health? … and ways to reduce exposure.

Pan roasted sunchokes Recipe: Think Hashbrown but a healthy alternative.

Struggling with chronic fatigue and other unexplained symptoms? Mycotoxin exposure could be a possible cause …

Mold can grow anywhere from damp walls to food grains. It is well known that exposure to mold spores can cause allergy symptoms. But did you know that exposure to toxins produced by mold can cause a wide range of health issues?

You can read about the signs and symptoms of mold toxin exposure, testing and natural ways to get rid of these mycotoxins, on my blog …

​https://jcnaturopathicwellness.com/mold-illness-symptoms-mycotoxin-testing/​

Pan roasted Sunchokes Recipe

This root vegetable is also called Jerusalem artichoke and you can find them in the local farm stand or health food store. They look like ginger and taste like potato but with a nutty flavor. Sunchokes are packed with vitamins, potassium, and “prebiotic” fiber. You can slice and roast them but I prefer to cook them like a hash brown.

Ingredients:

• Sunchokes, small about 8-10
• Olive oil
• Fresh or dried thyme leaves
• Sea salt and black pepper

Instructions:

1. Salt the water and cook the sunchokes in boing water for 10 minutes or until the consistency becomes soft but not mushy when pierced with a knife. I cooked them with skin on as the ones I bought were small and picked fresh.
2. Remove them from the boiled water and press them with an iron pan or a heavy utensil, one at a time until they flatten but still in one piece.
3. Heat olive oil in the cast iron pan.
4. Add the sunchokes in a single layer and roast them without moving for about 2-3 minutes until slightly browned.
5. Flip them and roast for 3 more minutes after sprinkling dried or fresh thyme leaves and black pepper.

"Your mental health is everything - prioritize it. Make the time like your life depends on it, because it does." - Mel Robbins

So let me end this note by asking you what have you done today, this week or even this month for your mental health? If the answer is "no" or "not sure" for this question, then it is time to change that today.

Sincerely

Dr.JC