Supplements
Vitamins and Supplements can be controversial for some people. Unfortunately, vitamins and supplements are not federally regulated in the US. This can mean that companies can put whatever they want in capsules, claim it is 100% vitamin C, and it’s not true. Also, our body is designed to best absorb vitamins and supplements naturally through the food we eat, drinks we drink, and environment we are exposed to. Not all vitamins and supplements are able to be absorbed by the body in pill form. All this complexity leads some to believe that supplements are not worth the money or the trouble.
I am not one of those people. I depend on experts to recommend supplements that are able to be absorbed by my body and actually contain what they claim to contain. I will provide you a few resources. I will also list the supplements I take below; however, please do not take this as a recommendation for YOUR body. These work for me, and my doctor knows about them. I am not a doctor. Please check with your doctor before you adopt a new supplement routine.
Multivitamin – I take Plexus X-Factor multivitamin.
Magnesium – Magnesium can help with muscle soreness, digestion, and sleep. I take Mind Body Green’s sleep formula. High doses of magnesium can lead to diarrhea so be careful with this one.
Probiotic – I take Plexus Pro-Bio5. I also regularly eat Greek yogurt. I wish I liked Kimchi, Sour Kraut, Kombucha, etc. but I can’t handle it. These foods are good sources of pro and/or pre-biotics.
Fish Oil – Omegas help with everything, and I rarely eat fish. I love shellfish, but my allergy test says that I am slightly intolerant of it. I miss my crab, shrimp, scallops, and lobster. I take Nordic Naturals Ultimate Omega.
Tumeric – helps with inflammation. I take Mind Body Green’s version.
CoQ10 – helps with brain power and focus.
Vitamin D + K3– I am vitamin D deficient as are many people (especially women) in the US. I take twice the recommended amount, and I’m due for a lab appointment to see if I’m still deficient.
Creatine – this is a powder that I mix into my morning coffee. This helps with muscle building, muscle recovery, and it has some mental health benefits. This is great for runners, athletes, and people over 35 who are training and trying to slow the aging process of losing muscle mass each year. I feel less sore and stronger when I take this every day.
When I am sick, I take Vitamin C and elderberry. I also like a cough syrup from Zarbees that has zinc, Vitamin C, and elderberry to support my immune system.
When I started with supplements, I added 1 supplement to my routine at a time for at least a few months. I wanted to see how my body reacted to it. I did have a bad reaction to mushroom nootropics. If I had taken that with other supplements, I wouldn’t have known what was causing the reaction. Many people love mushroom nootropics! Make the decision that is best for you (and AGAIN go to the doctor)!
Here are sources I used for my recommended supplement mix:
Be Well By Kelly’s Vitamin Guide - https://bewellbykelly.com/products/supplement-guide?srsltid=AfmBOor730CL5y-2RlnziGG8-lufp5aYiGgWSBB23dPUf7SZOA0Kkv_0
Supplement podcast by Another Mother Runner - https://anothermotherrunner.com/best-supplements-for-women-runners/
Please note: I do not get paid for any of these recommendations.
