Most supplement mistakes happen when we forget to ask the simplest questions: Why this? Why now? And for how long?

In this episode, Tracy Harrison breaks down why even the most well-intentioned supplement plans can miss the mark. She explains the three core reasons to use supplements (relief, reversal, and maintenance), and how overlooking these distinctions can lead patients to stay on products long after they’ve served their purpose.

Tracy also unpacks the hidden consequences of common medications, like how statins and beta blockers drain CoQ10 or how birth control pills deplete vitamin B6, creating new issues that are often misunderstood or missed entirely. Are your patients feeling better because of what you recommended or despite it?

This episode is a call to slow down, think critically, and move beyond protocol checklists. Tracy shares practical ways to educate patients so they feel like partners, not bystanders, in their own care. If you’ve ever wondered how to improve outcomes without overcomplicating your practice, Tracy offers a smart, grounded place to start.

Episode Breakdown:

00:00 Introduction to Supplement Use

01:16 Three Reasons to Use Supplements

02:11 The Power of Rapid Relief

05:24 Interventions to Reverse Disease

07:00 Educating Patients for Long-Term Success

09:06 Nutrient Depletions from Medications

12:09 Rethinking Maintenance Supplements

25:25 Beyond Protocols: The Devil in the Detail

27:01 Nutrient Interactions and Overlooked Risks

34:04 Post-COVID Supplement Challenges

42:09 Quercetin, Stress, and Individualized Care

47:02 5-HTP and SSRI Contraindications

50:47 Methylation and Common Misconceptions

Links

Take SAFM's 10 CME course - the Essential Gut Deep Dive: https://schoolafm.com/gut-course

Get weekly Clinical Tips in your inbox: https://schoolafm.com/clinical-tips 

Learn more about SAFM's practitioner training: https://schoolafm.com/our-program

Subscribe to our Youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@safmchannel

Access daily quick tips on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/AppliedFunctionalMedicine/ 

Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm