There are so many vitamins and supplements out there, it’s hard to know which ones to take!
Your best bet of course is to talk to your Family Doctor, or Naturopath, to help you determine what’s missing from your nutrition intake.
Starting with your diet is ideal, and once you’ve got that all figured out and your doctor says that your blood work looks great, and that your levels are all where they need to be? Then you may not even need to supplement your nutritional intake because your diet is that great!
Awesome work!
So, just keep that in mind.
Otherwise, here is the list of vitamins and supplements that work best for me, and the people I golf with that you may want to ask a medical professional about:
1. Fish Oils
Have you experienced memory loss or brain fog? A great way to help deal with that is to ensure you're getting enough DHA. You can do this by taking fish oils!
There are many fascinating benefits of taking them, including memory retention!
2. Vitamin B12
Many folks don’t get enough of this essential vitamin. A deficiency will make you seem irritable and feeling sluggish.
The only way to know for sure if this important vitamin is something you need to be supplementing on a daily basis is to talk to your doctor and have your levels checked out.
3. Probiotics
Antibiotics have saved many peoples' lives since their application via western medicine.
But did you know that there are probiotics too?
The easiest and cheapest way to find or make them is in fermented foods, such as sauerkraut.
But you can also buy them in a supplement form in gel capsules, powders and drops!
I take this to help with my overall mood, as well as to help me maintain a healthy weight (it helps with sugar cravings!) and I even give a baby version of them to my kiddos (way better than gripe water) to help keep their tummies stay happy and healthy!
Don’t forget to eat your probiotics with prebiotics: plant fibres that act like fertilizers and actually stimulate the growth of healthy bacteria in the gut.
4. Multivitamins
There is a lot of debate about whether or not we need to take multivitamins. I feel it’s important for me to take one approved by my doctor, so do your research and speak with your family physician about which might be the right one for you.
5. Iron
Iron is very important and low energy levels could be a sign of a deficiency. The best way to know is to talk to your doctor and have your blood tested for a deficiency.
6. Ashwagandha
Ashwagandha is traditionally used as an adaptogen for many conditions related to stress.
It's believed to have chemicals that help calm the mind, lower blood pressure, and improve the overall immune system.
7. Reishi Mushroom
This is a mushroom that is said to be very high in nutritional value and is often referred to as a superfood (an all-in-one source of nutrients including protein levels comparable to eggs) due to its low calorie, high protein content.
It contains a high amount of: fibre, amino acids, and healthy fatty acids.
Here is a quick list of what are believed to be the benefits of the most well-known and potent variation, Red Reishi:
Antioxidant
Fights cancer
Decreases fatigue
Supports gut health
Increases mental wellness
Boosts the immune system
Supports the immune system
Helps with Alzheimer's disease
Prevents and slows the spread of cancer
Improves the health and functioning of various organs, including the heart, liver, and kidneys
8. Echinicia
Have a cold or flu but don’t want to take an over the counter medicine that could interact with something else already in your personal arsenal?
Consider the simple flower, echinacea. It’s said to help with: sore throats, coughs, and even fevers.
Echinacea is widely believed to help boost the immune system and help the body fight infections.
9. Oil of Oregano
Another one of my favourite natural flu fighters is oregano oil. Made from yet another simple plant, it’s said to be an effective, natural antibiotic and antifungal agent, and it may even help you lose weight and lower your cholesterol levels too!
10. Spirulina
Okay, keep an open mind because this last one is weird!
Spirulina is a blue-green algae, and is believed to be one of the oldest life forms on Earth.
Used by the Aztecs as an endurance-booster, this is another one that is often called a superfood!
They say the Aztecs also used it to help treat disease, while modern research supports many of the alleged benefits of taking spirulina, and continues to study its potential for treating health concerns.
However, they also warn that folks with shellfish, seafood or iodine allergies should strictly avoid spirulina.
"If you suffer from the rare disease phenylketonuria, you should avoid spirulina since it contains the amino acid phenylalanine -- a substance that people with phenylketonuria cannot metabolize.”
It tastes bitter, so it's often mixed with yogurts, juices, and smoothies to improve its flavor, and is commonly available as a supplement at most health food stores.
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