The Power of Personalized Nutrition: Moving Beyond Generic Recommendations

For years, nutritional guidelines have been based on broad population data, offering standardized recommendations for nutrients based on age and gender. Government agencies establish Dietary Reference Intakes (DRIs) to prevent deficiencies, but these general guidelines don’t necessarily reflect an individual's optimal nutritional needs. They provide a foundation but are not designed to determine what’s best for you.

With advancements in functional health, we are now entering an era of personalized nutrition—where data-driven insights can help fine-tune your health strategy based on your unique body, lifestyle, and goals. The more detailed the information, the more precise the recommendations. Meology™ by Shaklee is at the forefront of this movement, utilizing a powerful assessment algorithm to generate science-backed supplement recommendations tailored to your needs.

Why Gender Matters in Nutritional Needs

Nutrient requirements vary between men and women, even beyond caloric differences. Women, for example, often require higher amounts of calcium, iron, folate, and iodine, particularly at different life stages.

To illustrate how personalized nutrition works, let’s compare two 42-year-old women—Joan and Mary.

• Calcium Needs

  • The DRI for calcium is 1,300 mg per day.

  • Joan consumes three servings of dairy daily, providing around 900 mg of calcium naturally, meaning her multivitamin would supply any remaining needs.

  • Mary, who avoids dairy and has a family history of osteoporosis, would need a more robust calcium supplementation plan, such as Shaklee’s Vita-Lea® (450 mg calcium) and OsteoMatrix® (1,000 mg calcium).

• Iron Needs

  • The DRI for iron is 18 mg per day for menstruating women and increases to 27 mg during pregnancy.

  • Joan, currently pregnant, would require additional iron through Vita-Lea® Women (18 mg iron) and should consult her OB-GYN about Iron Plus C Complex.

  • Mary, post-hysterectomy, has no increased iron needs, making Vita-Lea Gold® (iron-free) the right choice.

Both Joan and Mary reported wanting more energy. However, their ideal solutions differ:

• Joan’s pregnancy makes B-Complex the best fit for supporting energy and fetal development.

• Mary, prioritizing fitness, would benefit from Energy Chews and Advanced Physique® 100% Grass-Fed Whey Protein to support muscle recovery.

This example showcases how even people of the same age and gender can have drastically different supplement recommendations. In fact, the Meology assessment can generate over 110 million unique supplement combinations!

Nutritional Needs Change with Age

As we age, our caloric needs may decline, but vitamin and mineral requirements often remain the same—or even increase. The body's ability to absorb nutrients also declines, making supplementation increasingly important.

One critical nutrient for aging adults is Vitamin B12, essential for energy production and nerve health. After age 50, many people experience reduced intrinsic factor production, making it harder to absorb B12 from food. This is why Vita-Lea Gold® contains four times the amount of B12 compared to standard multivitamins.

Additionally, protein intake becomes crucial with age to combat sarcopenia, the natural decline in muscle mass that can lead to weakness and increased risk of falls. While the general protein recommendation for adults is 0.8 g per kg of body weight, research suggests that older adults may need closer to 1.2 g per kg to maintain muscle mass.

For example, a 140-pound woman would typically need around 50 grams of protein per day, but at 70 years old, she may need up to 76 grams daily to prevent muscle loss. An easy and effective way to meet these needs is with Shaklee’s Life Shake™, providing over 20 grams of high-quality plant protein per serving.

Bringing Functional Health Into Your Nutrition Plan

At Nourish Integrative Health, we focus on functional health, which means looking at the root causes of health concerns rather than just managing symptoms. Whether you're struggling with fatigue, gut imbalances, or inflammation, optimizing your nutrition plays a huge role in overall wellness.

Personalized nutrition is more than just taking a multivitamin—it's about understanding your body's specific needs and supporting long-term vitality. Whether you're fine-tuning your daily routine, addressing age-related concerns, or optimizing performance, the right supplementation can make all the difference.

💡 Want to build a supplement routine designed just for you? Take the Meology assessment today and start creating a nutrition plan that works for your body.

Medical Disclaimer

The statements in this article are for informational purposes only and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before making changes to your diet, supplement routine, or lifestyle. Some links in this article may be affiliate links, meaning we may earn a commission if you purchase through them, at no additional cost to you.