Supplements, Supplement, Supplements….
We post about all these phenomenal supplements and they all sound fabulous, but do you need all of them? How do I take them? Can I take too much? These are some common questions asked when wanting to start a supplement routine. However, with all the options, it can be so overwhelming!
Everything I am about to write is based on personal experience and my own research. I AM NOT A DOCTOR!
I am always going to tell you that you want a plant-based or whole food-based supplement. This allows your body to absorb the nutrients the way it was supposed to. I like to use our supplement Illumineyes as an example. Rather than an isolate or synthetic form of Vitamin A, this supplement contains purple carrot. These carrots contain beta carotene which convert to Vitamin A as we consume the supplement. This Vitamin A helps with the eyes ability to adjust to various light and help the eye to process it. (just one of the ingredients in that supplement). I saw the difference with a food-based supplement vs. prescription iron meds. I had much better luck with the whole food-based supplement and less side effects.
Moving on…
You do not want to take a supplement just because it looks good! You want to do your research and take what your body needs. For instance, if I am not deficient in B vitamins, I am not going to take Super B. One, because I have B a multi vitamin (Master Formula) that contains these vitamins, and two, since I am not deficient, I do not need to load up on them. As you start to develop a supplement plan, you need to ask yourself some questions.
- What are you trying to target?
- Are you aware of any deficiencies?
- What does your family history tell you?
- Do you have any targeted areas of support that need addressing now?
I heard Dr. Lindsey Elmore speak and she enforced a Core 4. Consider a CORE 4 based on your needs. Keep in mind, you may not take some of our supplements every day. For instance, I use Alkalime as needed, when I have an unsettled stomach, heartburn, or indigestion. Someone who suffers from chronic GI issues may take this as a daily supplement.
For example, here is what my plan looks like:
Foundational Support: Master Formula. If you want to remove multiple bottles of supplements from your countertop, go with this guy. I could write an entire blog post on how fabulous this supplement is but today, we will stick with foundational support.
Gut: Life9 Probiotic
Targeted Support: Olive Essentials (family history or cardiovascular and neurological issues.)
Those three are my constants! My fourth tends to change based on my current needs. If I feel like I need hormonal support, I will choose a supplement to support those issues. If I am doing the Whole 30 or looking to support a diet change, I reach for Juvatone. Right now, I am switching my fourth item to AgilEase. I have been running consistently and this is just what my body needs.
You may only have 2 or 3 Core supplements that you stick to. You know your body and you need to listen to it. Please look at the ingredients on your supplements. Often times, ingredients can overlap.
If someone was looking to support the immune system, their core routine may look like:
Ningxia, Life 9, and Inner Defense, Vitamin D or C
If someone was looking for hormonal support their core routine may look like:
PD 80/20, Ningxia, Master Formula, and Life 9
If someone is struggling with inflammation, their core routine may look like:
Sulfurzyme, AgilEase, and CBD oil
(All of the above are just examples!)
When to take your supplements?
Your dosage and timing should be on the bottle. Life9, should always be taken at night, an hour after eating. If you are taking an enzyme, you will take that an hour before your meal. Depending on why you are taking your enzyme, this may be a once a day thing, before a couple of meals a day, or an as needed when you indulge thing. Everything else can be worked into your day based on the directions on the bottle.
I hope this write up helped to guide you and was not too overwhelming. Please let me know if you have any questions!!
I also HIGHLY recommend The Supplement Desk Reference by Jen O’Sullivan.
