Should you add supplements to your nutrition?
It’s a hard question to answer. My clients ask me all the time what they should take. As a coach, I cannot prescribe any medications, including supplements. However, I can share my story on supplements with my clients. I can share what they have done for my body, how they have helped me with certain ailments and we can talk about which ones to talk to their doctor about.
I thought it might help you if I share what I take regularly. Below is what I take regularly and why I take it.
Garden of Life Vitamin Code Raw D3 – After doing a blood test, my Pulmonologist recommended I start taking Vitamin D. My levels were SUPER low and because I already have a suppressed immune system, he thought it was necessary. This one is gluten-free and dairy-free, which works well for my body, and has probiotics and enzymes in it. This supplement is a raw source too, which means you’re getting straight Vitamin D3. What does Vitamin D do for you? It’s necessary in the body to absorb calcium and promote bone growth. If you have too little, you could end up with brittle bones. As I get older, this is one of the last things I want. I take this supplement daily.
Thrive Market Adult Multi Vitamin & Mineral with Iron – Physicians always say that we need to take multivitamins. And it’s for a lot of reasons. Mainly because adding a multivitamin to your daily regimen will add in the things you might be missing from food. For me, I know I’m missing iron because I do not red meat very often. In addition to giving me iron, this supplement gives me lutein and lycopene, antioxidant compounds known to help with eye and heart health. I take this supplement daily.
Garden of Life Raw Probiotics for Women – Probiotics are all the rage over the past few years. They do lots of things for the body and this one is especially good for women. It helps to support vaginal health and overall digestive function. It also has dairy-digesting enzymes which help break down lactose and casein, which is found in dairy products. This is what sold me because I have digestive issues with many dairy products. One thing that many don’t know about probiotics is that it must be refrigerated. This is because the bacteria do not have a very long shelf life. Keep them refrigerated and they’ll treat you well. I take this two to three times a week.
Gaia Herbs Turmeric Supreme Allergy – Many of my faithful followers know that I have allergies and asthma. During certain times of the year, they are worse than others. During the Spring and Summer, they can be brutal. This supplement helps me manage those allergies. Turmeric is known for it’s anti-inflammatory properties which helps with swelling in the nasal capacity. This supplement also has Quercetin, which is a flavanoid found in plants and has been found to support the histamine response. In addition, the black pepper activates the turmeric. I take this every other day.
That’s it! Now you know what I take. But you’re probably wondering how I figured out what to take. That was done with some much needed guidance from my physician and the research I did on my own.
My recommendation is for you to do your own research, find out what you need and bring that information to your physician. A blood test can be ordered to see what you’re deficient in and help you decide. Granted, this test might not be covered by your insurance, but it might be worth it.