MY SUPPLEMENT STAPLES

I am a big supplement fan! Not the creatine, BCAA’s, pre-workout kind, but the vitamins and minerals kind… Does this make me lame??

The whole idea of “we are what we eat” honestly excites me SO much. We literally have the power to chose the foods which feed, fuel and make up our bodies. Is that not SO exciting and motivating??? We have so much power over the way our bodies feel and look!

This is where my love for certain supplements comes from.

I am all for the whole foods approach and I love to get all my vitamins and minerals from whole food sources, like fresh and organic fruit and vegetables.

However, like everyone, life gets busy, and sometimes skipping off to the fruit and veg store to get more organic celery takes a backseat to doing my assignment I should have done weeks ago and now have 2 hours to finish (AKA my life).

Other things like being super active, winter, being a female and being blessed with a uterus shedding its lining (love that), and being around sick people all day every day (literally) are big motivators for me to include supplements into my diet to support and give my body that extra boost when needed.

I honestly feel as though including a range of good quality supplements, some all the time and some just when needed, helps my body to thrive and be the functional, energised and healthy body that it is 99% of the time!

If you don’t have a solid supplement regime and are feeling a bit flat, lethargic or like you could feel a lot better I would recommend getting into some good quality vitamins and minerals, but consult a professional first!

I found my naturopath to be most helpful in this area, as I was able to explain my issues and she would give me supplements on the basis of what she felt was the cause. Sometimes it can be hard for pharmacists to recommend good quality supplements if they’re only getting a 10 second shpeel about why you think you need it..

Just one more disclaimer before we get into it. Good quality vitamins are generally more expensive that the el-cheapo ones you can buy from your local grocery store. HOWEVER, trust me when I say it is worth it!

Buying cheap, poor quality vitamins and minerals is sometimes worse than not taking the vitamins at all.

This is because some of these cheap vitamins and minerals are not made in the form that our body absorbs them (their entire form), this means that our bodies will have to draw from our own vitamin and mineral stores in order to make up this supplement into its entire form, to be absorbed and this leaves us deficient in our vitamin and mineral stores.

So we can end up worse off that before we even brought the damn vitamin! Don’t be that guy, save up if you have too! It is SO worth it.

Anyway, I tend to babble, and that’s what I’m doing now, so without further ado…

MAGNESIUM POWDER! – The one I use is called MagOpti, and the label is green. I get it from the herbal shop in Hamilton, and its around $50

A relatively new one to my collection, but one which I see myself taking year round. This powder is rich in magnesium and B vitamins. This one contains nutrients to support the nervous and immune system, while also supporting the production of energy within the body. A big reason, however behind why this is my ride or die, is because the B vitamins within it are great for adrenal health. In times of stress our adrenal glands can become overworked and get tired, this powder contains the necessary vitamins and minerals to keep the adrenals supported and working well. I’m not much of a stressed out person, but I can appreciate that I am a busy person who probably puts her body under more stress than she realises sometimes, therefore supporting my body with this powder is a must for me, and I definitely notice the difference + it tastes like juice so that’s amazing!

Magnesium also supports great sleep and recovery, which is great for an achy body that’s been exercising all week!!

FISH OIL – I use Be Pure fish oil!

Im sure weve ALL heard of this one! I take fish oil every day because the benefits are literally endless! Fish oil is rich in omega-3 fatty acids which we get from eating fish, however I don’t eat fish much because I don’t love the idea of buying it from the supermarket when I don’t neccesarily know when it was caught and I (sadly) don't own a boat to catch my own, so taking fish oil everyday means I am ensuring I have enough omega-3s. Fish oil reduces inflammation, supports healthy skin (A skin game-changer!) + aids the health of a lot of our precious organs! One stop shop if ya ask me!

EVENING PRIMROSE OIL – I purchase mine from the chemist. Good quality usually means more expenny, but worth it!

Evening primrose oil is high in the type of fatty acids involved in hormone production. I take EPO everyday to help with my hormone production! This one obviously isn’t essential for everyone, but having a pretty irregular cycle, this is one I make a priority in my day to day life! It can also be good if you have oestrogen dominance and just overall want to balance your hormones.

EVERY NOW AND THEN SUPPLEMENTS

PROBIOTICS – can get the tablet form at any chemist, otherwise I get my powder probiotic from the herbal shop here in Hamilton, opposite Waikato hospital!

Probiotics are one of those ones which I take when I see necessary. Probiotics come in the form of both powder and tablets, and I rate both forms (maybe powder form just a little bit more because I find it more effective!)! It is basically a little dose of good bacteria which our gut requires to function optimally. I use probiotics If I have had to have a course of antibiotics for any reason, or if I just feel as though my gut isn’t functioning amazingly and could do with the little helping hands of some good bacteria! I find a good probiotic really helpful for skin health as a result of good gut function also!

LIPOSOMAL VITAMIN C – I get mine from a chemist or health 2000

Two words: GAME-CHANGER! Liposomal vitamin C is essentially just vitamin C but it is made in a liquid form (or powder) which is formulated to be more bio-avaliable within the body than normal Vitamin C tablets. As we all know vitamin C plays a huge role in our immunity as well as in the production of collagen. Collagen is a major component of our ligaments, discs, bones, tendons and skin. The benefits of Liposomal Vitamin C over normal Vitamin C is that normal vitamin C tablets have only a 20% absorption rate into the bloodstream, some people also experience negative side effects of these oral vitamin C tablets, such as digestive upset and diarrhoea (this is because oral vitamin c tablets draw water into the colon).

Liposomal vitamin c, on the other hand, is designed to be recognised within the body as a “bodily cell”. By doing so it passes directly through the digestive barrier and the nutrient is delivered to the blood stream much quicker and more whole than the tablet vitamin c. The absorption rate is actually a whopping 90% - its almost like having IV vitamin c therapy, but minus the IV and minus the ridiculous costs. I like to take liposomal if I’m feeling myself becoming unwell, or just generally feeling run down. You can definitely feel the little boost it provides your body. I like the one which comes in a bottle, pre made because it tastes nice, and its convenient. It also comes in little sachets which can be made up, which is generally cheaper than the pre-made liquid bottle.

GREENS POWDER

Another “every-now and then” supplement for me is a good greens powder. Although im yet to find one I LOVE the taste of, I like to have a supply in the cupboard I can reach for when I’m feeling a bit under the weather. I often find if I’m getting sick or already sick, and life’s hectic or for whatever reason I’m not getting lots of greens in to support my immune system and overall health, I will reach for a greens powder. Super convenient and easy and I never run out because don’t use it often enough too! If anyone knows of a really good quality greens powder that tastes good too, holla at me!!

Tried to keep this one short and sweet for you guys but hope it was helpful! I can hand on heart say I 10000000% recommend every one of these supplements and I hope you feel inspired to take action to create your own supplement regime to get your body thriving and feeling amazing!!!

Until next time,

Vaida xxxxxx