Health Briefs
By Kacie Schumann, Health Promotion Coordinator, kacie.schumann@cityofames.org and Bailey Dingfield, Health Promotion Intern, bailey.dingfield@cityofames.org
Supplements Part 1: The Big Picture
Walk down any store aisle and you’ll see shelves full of supplements promising better sleep, more energy, and improved health. From multivitamins to herbal remedies, these products are widely used, but not always well understood. Before adding something new to your routine, it’s important to understand what supplements are, how they work, and what to watch out for.
What Are They?
Dietary supplements are products used to add to your diet. Some people take supplements to help ensure they get enough of a particular nutrient each day, while others use them to relieve symptoms, prevent health problems, or support overall health.
While supplements can be helpful in certain situations, most health experts recommend getting nutrients from food first. Whole foods provide a combination of vitamins, minerals, fiber, and other beneficial compounds that supplements can’t fully replicate. Supplements can help fill in gaps, but they shouldn’t replace a balanced, healthy diet.
Supplement types:
- Multivitamins – A mix of several vitamins and minerals in the recommended amounts. Often taken once daily for general health.
- Individual vitamins – One vitamin, such as C or D, that may be used to manage a specific deficiency.
- Herbal – Herbs and botanical compounds, such as ginger, often used for health benefits or prevention.
Do They Actually Work?
Research on dietary supplements is mixed. Some supplements have strong evidence supporting their effectiveness — especially when used to treat specific nutrient deficiencies or health conditions. Others show limited or inconsistent results, and some may not work as advertised at all.
One reason for this variation is how supplements are regulated. The FDA oversees dietary supplements, but not as strictly as prescription medications. Manufacturers are not required to prove that their products are safe or effective before they are sold. This means that health claims on labels may not always be backed by strong scientific evidence.
Because of this, it’s important to do your own research and talk with a healthcare provider before starting a new supplement.
Quick Tips
- Be cautious of bold claims - If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
- Look for third party testing - Choose products tested by organizations like USP or NSF for quality and accuracy.
- Check the label before you buy – Review ingredients and dosage to make sure it fits your needs.
- When in doubt, ask - A healthcare provider can help you decide what’s right for you.
Safe Supplement Use
If you are taking a supplement or thinking about starting one, follow these steps to use it safely.
- Talk to a doctor and let them know any other supplements and medications you’re taking.
- Take supplements exactly as directed on the product label.
- If you experience any side effects, stop taking immediately and seek medical help.
- Contact a doctor before starting supplements if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.
- If you are scheduled for surgery, let a doctor know about supplements you’re taking. Some can interfere with the effectiveness of anesthesia.
Up next, we’ll take a closer look at herbal supplements—what people use them for, what the research says, and what to watch out for.
Visit these websites below to learn more!
Supplements: Purpose, Types, Benefits, Risks
Dietary Supplements: What You Need to Know - Consumer
Healthy Recipe: Chicken Pasta Salad
Ingredients
- 1 16–ounce box fusilli (gluten-free if desired)
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- 1/2 cup best quality extra-virgin olive oil
- 1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- 1 teaspoon dried Italian Seasoning
- 1 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon pepper
- 1 14–ounce can quartered artichoke hearts, drained
- 1 12–ounce jar roasted red peppers, drained and chopped
- 1 cup chopped scallions
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, red and/or yellow, halved
- 1/2 cup black olives, pitted and chopped
- 1/2 cup chopped fresh basil
Instructions
- Cook pasta according to package instructions until al dente, about 12 minutes.
- While pasta cooks, whisk garlic, oil, vinegar, mustard, Italian Seasoning, salt and pepper in a large bowl.
- Drain pasta, and immediately add it to the dressing. Toss to coat. Let cool, tossing once or twice, at least 20 minutes. To make ahead, cover and refrigerate up to 12 hours.
- Stir artichoke hearts, roasted peppers, scallions, tomatoes, olives and basil into the pasta. Serve immediately or chill.
Read more about the recipe at the link below!
Healthy Italian Pasta Salad Recipe - Healthy Seasonal Recipes
Upcoming Health Promotion Dates & Events
Coming Soon: A New Challenge!
Spending time outside is one of the easiest ways to feel better and move more. Fresh air and sunshine can boost your mood, lower stress, and give you more energy. That’s why we’re excited to launch the Park Passport Challenge — a 10-week challenge focused on outdoor movement, exploring our community, and staying active!
The goal is to visit anywhere between 10 to 37 local parks over a period of 10 weeks. You’ll earn grand prize drawing entries at 10, 20, 30, and 37 parks. At each park, you’ll complete some type of physical activity. This could be walking a trail, playing on the playground with your kids, shooting hoops, stretching, or just exploring a new space. It doesn’t have to be intense — just get moving!
This challenge is about building healthy habits and enjoying the outdoor spaces in our community. You’ll receive a park map, a list of park features, and a “passport” tracker to record your visits.
More details are coming soon. Start thinking about which park you want to visit first!
Test Your Grip Strength!
We’re excited to share that we now have a hand grip dynamometer available for employees to assess their grip strength. Grip strength is a quick and simple way to measure overall muscle strength. Research has shown that grip strength can be a helpful indicator of general health and functional fitness.
Testing only takes a few seconds and can give you a snapshot of your current strength level. It’s a great way to track progress over time, especially if you are working on improving your fitness. Testing can be completed in conjunction with InBody scans, or can be done on it’s own.
Contact Kacie, Health Promotion Coordinator, to schedule an assessment!
kacie.schumann@cityofames.org
Congrats to our winners!
Team winners for the Fit City Challenge included:
Beginners – Minimum Standards, Maximum Gains
Intermediate – Good Team Name
Advanced – Nooners
Below are the Nooners, enjoying their prize – a team lunch!