Supplements can be a great way to fill nutrition gaps in your diet. But with all the nutrients a supplement can offer, how do you know if those nutrients are actually being used? This is where bioavailability comes in. So, let’s talk about what it is and why it’s important for your nutrition routine.
What Is Bioavailability?
When food, drinks, or supplements enter your digestive system, they are broken down and processed and their nutrients are absorbed into your bloodstream. Once those nutrients are in your bloodstream, they are either used, stored, or excreted (unused and going to waste). Bioavailability is the measure of how much of a substance that you ingest is absorbed versus how much goes to waste. So, if a substance has a lot of its nutrients absorbed, it’s considered highly bioavailable.
The Bioavailability of Supplements
Not all supplements are created equal when it comes to their bioavailability. The bioavailability of a supplement is affected by a number of factors: the supplement formulation, delivery method (e.g., capsule vs. tablet), whether they’re taken with a meal, interaction with other substances in your system, etc. But choosing a supplement that is highly bioavailable increases the chances of your body absorbing the nutrients from that supplement.
S.M.A.R.T.™ Technology
Our supplement strips Vitalizer™ and Life-Strip® are formulated with Shaklee Micronutrient Advanced Release Technology™, our unique, patented delivery system designed to optimize absorption of key nutrients in the body. The multivitamin in both strips, Vita-Lea® is designed to dissolve in less than 30 minutes in the stomach and to enhance absorption of folic acid from the patented microcoating. And our B+C Complex in both strips provides up to 198% greater absorption of B vitamins over 12 hours, as shown in a clinical study, through sustained-release delivery to the small intestine.
The next time you’re looking for supplements to add to your nutrition routine, make sure that they’re highly bioavailable so you’ll know they can be absorbed by your body.
