Nutritional Supplementation NY - Dr. Louis Granirer Holistic Chiropractor

Vitamins have been part of my life for as long as I can remember. As a kid, I started every morning with breakfast, a Flintstones chewable, and a 250 mg vitamin C — courtesy of my mom. I vividly recall playing "vitamin roulette," wondering which character I'd get: Fred? Barney? Wilma? Even back then, her belief that vitamins were essential just made sense to me and that intuition has only deepened with time and science.

Our world has undergone rapid changes since the 1970s, but since the 1950s, the nutrient density of our soil, and consequently, our food, has been in steep decline. Back in 1950, your average plate of food had far more iron, zinc, magnesium, B vitamins, vitamin A, calcium, phosphorus, copper, manganese, and fiber than it does today. There is a direct connection between modern agricultural practices and the depletion of micronutrients in our food. A landmark study by the University of Texas (Donald Davis et al., 2004) analyzed 43 garden crops from 1950 to 1999 and found significant declines in essential nutrients. Fast forward to 2025, and those losses have only gotten worse.

So, even if you think you're eating well, your body might be telling a different story through low energy, chronic conditions, digestive issues, hormonal imbalances, allergies, or inflammation. If you have chronic inflammation, it's not that your body is deficient in Advil (spoiler alert: nobody is!). You're likely dealing with a deeper imbalance, such as nutrient deficiencies, microbiome disruption, hidden toxicity, food sensitivities, or dysfunction of organs and glands. Here's the thing with nutritional supplementation.

Supplementing only works if you're taking the right supplement, in the right amount, at the right time, and in the right sequence.

Please read that last statement again.

Personalized Nutritional Supplementation

This is the true key to effective supplementation. One-size-fits-all advice just doesn't cut it. What balances one person's microbiome or lowers one's cholesterol might do nothing for someone else. We're all biochemically unique, and our genetics play a huge role in what our bodies need. Genes can either be turned on or off by nutrients. Our genes are not necessarily our destiny because their expression is determined by nutritional supplementation, lifestyle choices, stress levels, emotions, and environmental factors.

Let's discuss blood work for a moment. It can be helpful in identifying certain deficiencies, but it only shows what's in the blood, not what's getting absorbed at the cellular level. For example, vitamin D: the standard lab range for 25-OH D3 is 30–100 ng/ml. Just because you're in that range doesn't mean your levels are optimal for you. Maybe your body is optimized by having a level of 50, 60, 70, or 80. Vitamin D is optimally absorbed and activated by medium-chain triglycerides, vitamin K, apricot oil, black seed oil, etc. If your bloodwork shows low Vitamin D and you begin supplementation without identifying the form that works best for your body, your blood levels may rise, but the Vitamin D receptors and pathways may not be optimally activated. 

Your Body's Changing Nutritional Needs

Another important factor to consider in supplementing. Your needs change over time. Stress, sleep, lifestyle, seasons — all of these can shift what your body requires. That's why regular check-ins and retesting are vital. I might say, "Come back in 7 weeks for a retest," but sometimes your body tells you before then. Trust that.

If you're taking medication, supplementation can be essential but nuanced because of drug interactions. Sometimes, drugs can block detox pathways. Certain drugs deplete nutrients, block your detox pathways, or inhibit lymphatic drainage, making it difficult for certain people to detoxify properly. For example:

• Statins (cholesterol-lowering medications) can deplete your body of CoQ10, which is essential for heart health, cellular energy, and antioxidant defense.

• Metformin (for diabetes) depletes B12, and depending on your genetics, you may need methylcobalamin, adenosylcobalamin, or another form altogether.

Why is smart supplementation so important? Let's break it down:

1. Our soils are depleted. Modern diets aren't cutting it when it comes to micronutrient intake. You would need to eat an enormous amount of food every day to come close to getting an optimized nutrient requirement. I'm not talking about the Recommended Dietary Allowance, which doesn't take into account individual variability, health conditions, or therapeutic uses of nutrients.

2. We're genetically unique. Polymorphisms and imbalances, such as poor methylation, require targeted support, including methylated B vitamins, magnesium, SAMe, and zinc. We all have genes that can be optimized through nutritional supplementation.

3. We're constantly exposed to toxins. Microplastics, mold, heavy metals, air pollution, synthetic chemicals, you name it. Supplements can support the detoxification pathways of the lymphatic system, liver, and kidneys, helping your body stay resilient. We are detoxifying every minute of every day.

4. Microbiome support is non-negotiable and essential for overall health. Scientific research is very clear on the gut-brain connection. A healthy gut equals a healthier, more balanced body.

Bottom line: Find a trusted healthcare practitioner who can test your body, whether through muscle testing or another advanced, individualized form of testing , and tailor a plan that works for you. 

Contact Dr. Louis Granirer for a Nutritional Supplementation Consultation

If you have questions about your own supplementation needs, don't hesitate to reach out. Let's review what you're doing now and see if it is the best fit for your body's needs. Your health journey is personal, and I'm here to help guide the way.

Contact Dr. Louis Granirer today.

Additional References

• Should Everyone Take A Probiotic? - Dr. Louis Granirer