I have worked in the healthcare industry as a nurse and in the wellness industry as a health coach. While these two different industries have very similar goals, their philosophies and approaches can be quite different. I have found few healthcare professionals are able to combine the best of both worlds for a holistic approach to their practice. And there are several reasons for that lack of crossover.

1.  Education and training. Out of eight years of medical school a physician receives, an hour and a half of that is nutrition education. On the other hand, pharmaceutical companies often provide them with free lunches to discuss information about the latest drugs.

2.  Patients expect a prescription. When a commercial spot runs on the television, drug sales increase. There is an expectation that when a person visits a physician, they walk out with a prescription that will take care of the problem.

3.  Unbalanced regulations. The pharmaceutical industry is more highly regulated than the supplement industry, even though both are monitored by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Before a drug is put on the market, extensive research is performed on animals and later on humans. Possible side effects are identified as well as the safety and efficacy of the medication. If the FDA approves it, the drug company may sell the medication to the public.

In the supplement industry, a new company may form and place a product on the market to sell to consumers and later shut down by the FDA for faulty claims. A supplement company may make millions of dollars in the meantime because the FDA is unable to keep up with the vast range of companies and products coming out on the market each year.

Do I take supplements? The answer is yes, but I’m very picky about which company I purchase them from. Check out my article “Not all supplements are created equal,” which I will post tomorrow for additional information.