We live in times when security and finances need to align better.  Inflation is a concern as our dollars don't stretch like they used to, and it's disturbing in the area of groceries.  This article will give you ideas on how to get the most bang for your buck while trying to maintain and improve your overall health. 

Like most of you, I like to get a good deal when I buy something, but in the same breath, the person I am purchasing from also must make a profit, or they won't be around to take care of me.  Here are some ways that you can save money when it comes to buying dietary supplements:

The easiest way to save money is to have your provider send supplement prescriptions.  Suppose you are giving your provider an accurate medication history.  In that case, all of your prescriptions and supplements will be in your medical record, and they can easily send a prescription for them to the pharmacy.  The benefit to having them as a prescription is twofold; prescriptions are not taxed, so you will not pay the 6 ½ percent sales tax that you do if purchased as an OTC product. 

Secondly, all prescriptions can be purchased with a health saving plan (HAS) or flexible spending (FSA).  Both utilize pre-tax dollars set aside for healthcare purchases.  Some health savings and flex plans don't require a prescription to buy supplements, but many do.  The cost saving is whatever your tax bracket would be.  If you pay 20% in taxes, combining these two ideas would save you 26 ½%, which is not a bad discount.

We have two companies that we work with that have online platforms.  One of the platforms is set up to give a 10% discount for online purchases, which is a 10% savings from the in-store retail price.  The supplements get mailed directly from the company with free shipping on orders over $50.  Purchasing this is a saving off the regular price, and the free shipping is another significant savings and benefit.    You can ask my staff about how to get set up.

Now I want to transition to some good deals in dietary supplements.  The first is vitamin D3; as most of you know, vitamin D is formed when your skin is exposed to the sun, and believe me, it's going to be another month or two before you are going to comfortably be able to sit in the sun and have it potent enough to make Vitamin D in your body.  We only have about five months, May thru September, that is good for being outside and producing Vitamin D in our bodies.

Vitamin D is affordable and does so much in our bodies concerning immune support, bones, mood, and cancer prevention, and everyone should be on this supplement.  The least expensive way to buy this is to get it in a liquid drop form.  The adult dose that I recommend is four drops or 4800IU per day, and at that dose, a 30ml bottle will last 187 days or ½ year, and the cost per day is $0.11 per day.  That's a lot of benefits for eleven cents per day!  Vitamin D is a no-brainer as it is inexpensive, and the benefits could save you money by staying healthy.

Fish oil is part of our core four nutrients.  The best sources of omega-3 fatty acids are wild-caught fish, including salmon, sardines, mackerel, and cod.  Purchasing these at the meat counter can be an expensive undertaking.  You can buy Omega 3 fish oil for a fraction of the cost of wild-caught salmon.

Protein seems to be the most expensive food, and proteins include chicken, beef, seafood, pork, or turkey.  The cost increases even more if you buy grass-fed, organic, or wild-caught products.  Beans and lentils are excellent protein sources; you can buy them in bulk.  Each year, one of my New Year's resolutions is to incorporate more of these in my diet and learn how to cook with them better.

Buying a whole, half, or quarter of a cow, pig, goat, or sheep from a local rancher can save money.  If you don't feel like you and your family could eat a whole or half animal, you may want to find another family to go in on one. 

Dirty Dozen and Clean Fifteen are two food lists for buying fresh and frozen produce.  The Dirty Dozen are the fruits and vegetables with the highest pesticides and herbicides, and the Clean Fifteen contains the least amount.  We buy organic fruits and vegetables to limit chemical exposure.  If you are in the same mindset, you can use these lists to help guide your purchasing.  If organic doesn't fit your budget, you can soak your fruits and vegetables in a baking soda and vinegar solution to help clean and neutralize some toxins.

When you look outside, it may not look like spring is just around the corner, but it is.  I have already purchased my garden seeds and am so excited to get my hands in the dirt and plant my garden.  They are so much fun.  One of my favorite things to do in the summer is to pick produce, clean it up and put it on the table.  It is so fresh and tastes so good.  It's also fun to share the fruits of your labors with friends and family while saving money.

These suggestions have given you some ideas on how to save money while continuing to strive to become the optimal you. 

For more information on ways to save money on supplements, call the pharmacy @ 701-483-4858 or stop in to schedule a consultation.  Please visit my website at www.irsfeldpharmacy.com to find this and other archived articles in the blog section.  Until next time, be vigilant about your health!!!