Health is Synergy: Why Isolated Supplements Aren’t the Whole Story

"A GAPS & Functional Nutrition Perspective"

Writer: Julie Smullen | Functional Nutrition Consultant, Certified GAPS Practitioner, Certified GAPS Coach & SmartDNA Practitioner.

This article is for educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice

We live in a world that often breaks things down into isolated pieces, one symptom, one pill, one vitamin. But the human body doesn’t work like that. It’s a symphony of interactions, rhythms, and relationships. And when it comes to nutrients, this couldn’t be more true.

Let me explain what I mean.

You might have heard that magnesium is important. Yes, it is. But magnesium is needed to activate vitamin D. And vitamin D? That helps your body absorb calcium. Then we have vitamin K2, which tells the body where to put that calcium, into your bones, not into soft tissues where it doesn’t belong.

If we’re low in magnesium, we might struggle to activate our vitamin D. If we have enough calcium but not enough K2, it may start depositing in joints, arteries, or kidneys. And if we’re not digesting fats well, we might not absorb D or K at all.

Then there’s iron. Did you know that calcium can inhibit iron absorption? Or that vitamin C enhances iron uptake?

The body is wise. It doesn’t use nutrients in isolation, it uses them in synergy. Like best friends who only work well together. When one is missing, the others can’t perform their job properly. And this is especially important if you’re healing your gut, dealing with fatigue, mood swings, hormonal issues, or chronic inflammation.

As a GAPS Practitioner and Functional Nutrition Consultant, I see this often. People come to me with cupboards full of supplements, wondering why they still feel tired, bloated, or anxious. The truth? It’s not just about what you take. It’s about how you absorb it, whether your body can use it, and what it’s being paired with.

Bioavailability matters. You can take the most expensive supplement in the world, but if your gut isn’t absorbing well, or your liver is congested, or it’s in a form your body can’t recognise… it may not do a thing. This is why I focus so much on food-first approaches, digestion support, and real synergy.

This is also where SmartDNA comes in. SmartDNA testing gives us a window into your unique genetic blueprint, your body’s “instruction manual.” Some people genetically don’t convert vitamin D efficiently, or they struggle to absorb or recycle B vitamins, or need more support breaking down fats, methylating properly, or clearing histamine.

These things deeply affect whether you actually utilise what you're taking in.

When we combine this knowledge with what we know from gut health, GAPS nutrition, and functional testing, it becomes a powerful toolkit. One that allows us to stop guessing and start supporting your body in the way it actually needs.

We go slow. We rebuild. We can look at the whole picture. From your genes to your microbiome, to your mineral balance, to your stress load and sleep patterns.

Healing isn’t about throwing supplements at the wall and hoping something sticks. It’s about nurturing the terrain so your body can receive what it needs.

This is the beauty of a functional, holistic approach, combining the wisdom of your own DNA with the time-tested principles of GAPS to support healing that’s truly personalised.

So, before you reach for another random vitamin bottle, ask yourself:

• Is this in a form my body can use?

• Is it supporting the bigger picture?

• Am I nourishing synergy, not just symptoms?

  
  

Because health isn’t one thing. It’s everything working together.

And that’s where true healing begins.

-Julie Smullen

Certified GAPS™ Practitioner & Coach | Functional Nutrition Consultant | SmartDNA & Gut Health Specialist

www.nourishedwithlove.nz

Disclaimer: This information is for educational purposes only and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. It is not a substitute for personalised medical advice. Please consult your qualified healthcare provider before beginning any new supplement or nutritional protocol

References

1. Dean, C. (2017). The Magnesium Miracle (Revised and Updated Edition). Ballantine Books.– Explores magnesium's crucial role in over 300 enzymatic functions, including vitamin D activation.

2. Plum, L. A., & DeLuca, H. F. (2010). Vitamin D, disease and therapeutic opportunities. Nature Reviews Drug Discovery, 9(12), 941–955.– Discusses the relationship between vitamin D and calcium metabolism.

3. Theuwissen, E., Smit, E., & Vermeer, C. (2012). The role of vitamin K in soft-tissue calcification. Advances in Nutrition, 3(2), 166–173.– Details how vitamin K2 helps guide calcium into bones and away from arteries.

4. Hurrell, R. F., & Egli, I. (2010). Iron bioavailability and dietary reference values. The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 91(5), 1461S–1467S.– Covers how calcium inhibits and vitamin C enhances iron absorption.

5. GAPS™ – Gut and Psychology Syndrome by Dr. Natasha Campbell-McBride (2020).– Foundational text on how the gut influences mental, immune, and systemic health, particularly through nutrient absorption and bioavailability.

6. SmartDNA Pty Ltd – https://www.smartdna.com.au/– Provider of DNA-based health assessments used to personalise nutrition and lifestyle recommendations, including genes involved in methylation, detoxification, and nutrient processing.

7. Lynch, B. (2018). Dirty Genes: A Breakthrough Program to Treat the Root Cause of Illness and Optimize Your Health. HarperOne.– Explains how genetic variations (like MTHFR and others) can influence health and nutrient needs, in an accessible format.

8. Rosenberg, I. H. (2005). Challenges and opportunities in the translation of the science of vitamins into policy and practice. The Journal of Nutrition, 135(3), 675–678.– Supports the concept that bioavailability and nutrient synergy are key to efficacy.

9. Kresser, C. (2013). Your Personal Paleo Code. Little, Brown Spark.– Covers how nutrient synergy, digestive health, and individual genetic variations affect nutrient absorption and utilisation.

10. Gershon, M. D. (1998). The Second Brain. Harper Perennial.– Explores the enteric nervous system and the gut-brain connection relevant to mental health.