What supplements do YOU take?

What supplements do YOU take? I hear that question often from patients, wanting to know how I stay healthy and do what I do. Life is all about choices and balance. Probably in another blog I’ll talk about how I balance everything out, but this one will be devoted to the supplements that I take, because I really believe it’s the supplements, combined with regular chiropractic care and good quality sleep, is what keeps me healthy. The choice of which supplements, and which brand of supplements, is key.

Over the past 20 years or so I have learned the difference between vitamins & whole food supplements, what they do for you (or don’t do for you), and the difference between quality and crappy products. If you are taking a poor quality supplement (most generic brands), you basically are throwing your money away, “peeing away the product” as they say. If the product you are taking doesn’t absorb into your body efficiently, then it’s time to switch to a different brand. How do you know if it’s quality product and/or absorbing into your body? Well you can start by looking at the specific research for that PARTICULAR product. Yes there are plenty of studies that talk about how great fish oil can be for you, but are their specific studies on the Sam’s or Kroger branded fish oil? Nordic Naturals has research on their brand. And that’s just a very easy simple way to start.

So here goes…here are my many supplements:

Juice Plus – the Veggie, Fruit and Berry. Two green in the morning, two berry at lunch, and two red ones at dinner. I’ve been taking Juice Plus for 18 years or so, and will be on this product forever. It’s that important to my health. It’s helped my sister recover from breast cancer and stay cancer free for 15+ years. (My son takes the chewable and they are yummy!)

Nordic Naturals Pro Omega+D – Two capsules a day, morning and lunch. Every so often I’ll switch to the Pro Omega or the Pro DHA 100, just to vary it up.

Standard Process Immuplex – Three a day (one per meal), but if I’m fighting a cold or bug or am feeling down, I typically increase to nine a day. Yes nine. Three per meal. This is another “must” supplement for me.

Hammer Nutrition Tissue Rejuvenator – This is a glucosamine joint supplement. I take three a day – one each at morning, lunch and dinner. If I’m in a big workout week, I’ll double the dosage (thus 6 a day).

Standard Process Drenamin –  Six a day, two each at morning, lunch and dinner. This is for my adrenals, and if I’m in stressful time, I’ll increase that to three or four a meal. Yes, that’s 9-12 a day.

Elderberry Syrup – homemade Elderberry Syrup made by my friend Amy. Just started this consistently this year and this has made a big difference in keeping me healthy.

Metagenix Estrovera – I’ve only been taking this 2 years or so, but this has been key in cutting back on my hot flashe (yup this menopause thing stinks). I take one a day.

Other products I have on hand that I take occasionally, are Standard Process Congaplex (at the first sign of a head cold) & Klaire Therbiotic Complete – a probiotic (I should take this more often but I don’t).

Oh yea, and then there’s the protein shake that I take at breakfast as well as the supplements I take before, during and after exercise, but I’ll write about those another time….

Some of my friends laugh at me and say “but you are the healthiest person, why do you take so many?” …… hmmm, maybe I’m healthy because I take so many?

I have the Standard Process “supplement box”, that comes in very handy. I just fill up a weeks worth of supplements and carry the individual day around with me, and that way I don’t forget. Sure there are some days I skip the supplements all together, like if I’m traveling or just forget, but for the most part, I take these supplements almost every day. I’m partially afraid to stop taking them …. for the unknown of what will happen. I’m doing well following this routine, so I plan on sticking with it.

Every now & then I’ll add in other supplements for a month or so, but for the most part, that’s my routine.

So there you go. And if you ask, DO NOT buy supplements off Amazon. Too often food products/supplements are tainted, repackaged, and sold on Amazon. Only buy supplements from an authorized dealer. Otherwise there is no guarantee that you are getting the true product you are purchasing.

And lastly….make sure you are still getting chiropractic adjustments. You can have the best diet and the best supplements, but if your nervous system is not working efficiently, then you will not absorb and make the most of your diet.

Eat well, take good quality supplements, get weekly chiropractic adjustments (or 2x month), and get good sleep.  Those are my keys to good health.