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Natural Awakenings Sarasota / Manatee / Charlotte

Flu Season Is Here. Get Your Immune System Ready... Q&A with Professional Supplement Center

Community Spotlight

by Mary-Elizabeth Schurrer 

 

If you are anything like me, then chances are, you are staring in the face of yet another inevitable flu season—coupled with a new COVID-19 variant (hello there, Omicron)—and wondering how to maintain healthy immune function in the midst of it all.   

The wellness market is saturated with a veritable smorgasbord of nutritional supplements, each one claiming to optimize immune resilience for whatever ails you. But which products actually deliver on those claims, and how can you be sure whose “expert advice” is worth trusting? Fortunately, here in Sarasota, we don’t have to remain in the dark because Professional Supplement Center has our health concerns covered.   

In this month’s edition of The Community Spotlight, I reached out to Debbie Truitt, who opened Professional Supplement Center back in 2002, along with her sister and business partner Sheri Davis. Both women were raised in their family’s independent compounding pharmacy, a unique and formative experience which taught them firsthand the importance of creating more access to the highest quality vitamins and supplements in their community.   

Two decades years later, Professional Supplement Center is still on a mission to provide this for the residents of Southwest Florida. With an extensive selection of high-quality natural health products, a skilled team of passionate staff members, and an unwavering commitment to each customer’s satisfaction, this local store’s longevity speaks for itself. So on that note, I will turn it over to Debbie Truitt in the Q&A discussion below.   


Natural Awakenings: Sarasota has a thriving holistic and natural wellness community—what specific qualities set the Professional Supplement Center apart from some of the other local health and nutritional businesses in this area?    

Debbie Truitt: Our staff is extremely knowledgeable and friendly. Everyone is committed to making sure our customers receive what is best for them. Professional Supplement Center offers over 1,800 stocked products available at our Sarasota store. We have 20,000 additional items available through our website as well, which can be shipped directly to customers or brought in for local pick-up. Licensed healthcare practitioners are also available to guide our customers in making educated choices.  

NA: What kind of experience will customers have when they walk through the doors of the Professional Supplement Center?    

Truitt: Each of customers is greeted upon entry and offered one-on-one assistance. They can expect to find the widest variety of professional-grade supplements in the area. Professional Supplement Center also offers in-store coupons, discounts and a rewards program.   

NA: Are there any preferred nutritional supplement brands that you use on a regular basis and would therefore recommend to customers?    

Truitt: Our inventory includes the top professional brands such as Pure Encapsulations, Neuroscience, Orthomolecular, Wiley’s Finest Fish Oil, Designs for Health, Integrative Therapeutics, Standard Process, Apex Energetics and Xymogen, to name a few. In addition to vitamins and supplements, we also offer micronutrient testing, which identifies any deficiencies related to diet and supplementation.    

NA: As we enter the height of flu season, as well as continue to face the effects of new COVID-19 variants, how can a nutritional supplement regimen be used to help boost immune function and strengthen overall wellness?   

Truitt: Nutritional supplements such as vitamins A, C, D, magnesium, quercetin and zinc are vital to strengthen immune function in case of exposure to COVID and other viruses.  When nutritional needs are met, the body is better equipped to identify and fight these infections by preventing or reducing both the severity and duration of symptoms. In addition, natural compounds such as antioxidants, green tea, beta glucans and NAC can support lifelong wellness. Substantial evidence also points to the crucial role of probiotics in maintaining immune health and resilience.  

NA: Is there anything else you want our readers to know about the Professional Supplement Center and its commitment to serving this community?   

Truitt: Professional Supplement Center has been in business for almost 20 years. It began in the back of Family Pharmacy, then continued to expand as the public demand for vitamins and supplements grew. All these years later, customers are still drawn to Professional Supplement Center because we provide top-quality products, along with expert guidance. Our customers describe their shopping experience as both informative and enjoyable.   

 

Professional Supplement Center is located at 5525 Palmer Crossing Circle, Sarasota. The in-store hours of operation are Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. You can also place an order online and receive free same-day shipping at ProfessionalSupplementCenter.com. For more information, call 888-245-5000.  

Check with a healthcare professional regarding the appropriate use of any treatment.

Mary-Elizabeth Schurrer is the Managing Editor of Natural Awakenings Sarasota–Manatee. She also works as a freelance writer, blogger and social media marketer. Her personal blog HealthBeAHippie.Wordpress.com features tips for embracing an active, nutritious, balanced and empowered lifestyle.  

 

 









Check with a healthcare professional regarding the appropriate use of any treatment.
March 2024 Digital Edition

 


 


 

 


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
 
 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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