This week, it's all about supplements. Those wondrous pills full of the stuff that helps our minds work efficiently and ensures our bodies have what they need. But according to United Family Corporate Dietician Brenda Garcia, they're not the be-all, end-all of healthy living.

It turns out you can't just eat unhealthy food nonstop, take a couple pills and magically be healthy -- as great as that would actually be. No, you have to maintain a healthy diet and lifestyle for supplements to actually work.

"I know that they're very popular right now, as everyone works to keep themselves in a healthy state. I've said it several times before, but I'll reiterate: you cannot out-supplement a bad diet," Garcia said.

"First and foremost, you still have to eat a good and balanced diet," she explained. "You can't just eats lots of treats -- cake, candy, chips -- and supplement and think you're going to be in good shape."

Garcia said that certain supplements actually require other vitamins and minerals to be effective. For example, Vitamin A and K help with absorption, so you need those to get the most bang for your buck. Vitamin D supplements are particularly popular and easier than popping a cod liver oil pill, but fortified milk and salmon will also get you that much-needed nutrition, Garcia said.

It's all about pairing the right supplements with the right diet. Luckily, that's exactly what Garcia and the team at United Supermarkets are good at. For more healthy living tips and to learn about supplements, speak to a dietician at your local United store, or visit their Happy and Nourished blog for more details.

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