I always love seeing what supplements other people are taking and I’m often asked about my supplement routine, so I decided to compile a list of the supplements I take. I’ll get into my favorites that I take regularly and why - but keep in mind that this is just my routine, and supplements are never necessary unless recommended by your doctor.
Green Powder There are thousands of green powders out there. I’ve tried a lot of them over the years, but in 2020 I discovered a brand that has the highest quality green powder I’ve been able to find. The Paleovalley Organic Supergreens are unique from other green powders because they don’t contain any cereal grasses like wheatgrass, barley, oat, or rye. Most brands make their green powders mostly from these grasses because they’re cheap - the problem, though, is that humans can’t properly digest them. I love this powder in particular because you’re getting nothing but high quality, organic, non-GMO whole food ingredients. This product is also gut friendly and contains organic prebiotic fiber. I won’t go into too much detail on all the superfoods this product contains, but I highly recommend you check out the Paleovalley website for all the details. I’ve noticed a drastic improvement in the appearance of my skin, my digestion, and my energy levels since incorporating this daily. Not to mention, this is the best tasting green powder I’ve ever tried!
Organ Complex
Over the course of my health journey, one thing I’ve consistently read about is how beneficial organ meats are. Beef organs are one of the most nutrient dense things you can eat! I, like many people, don’t have the stomach to eat liver, kidney, or heart. In order to make sure I still get all the amazing benefits without the taste of organs, I take Paleovalley Grass-fed Organ Complex on a daily basis. This is one of the only organ complexes on the market that contain 3 different organs (grass fed beef liver, grass fed beef heart, and grass fed beef kidney). These organs are one of the richest sources of the following vitamins, minerals, and amino acids on the planet:
For more information on why this is one of the best organ supplements on the market, check out the Paleovalley website.
Probiotic
A feminine probiotic is something I think all women could benefit from. Probiotics are live microorganisms that live in your gut and provide a wide variety of health benefits. Fermented foods like kimchi and kefir are great ways to incorporate these healthy bacteria into your diet, but I like to take a feminine probiotic as well. Lactobacillus rhamnosus and Lactobacillus fermentum can positively improve vaginal flora. This is important for helping to ward off yeast infections, bacterial vaginosis, and urinary tract infections. If you’re looking for a good feminine probiotic to help with vaginal health, I recommend RepHresh™ Pro-B™ Probiotic - I take this on a daily basis. It’s clinically shown to balance yeast and bacteria, and it helps maintain vaginal flora in a normal range.
Digestive Health Supplement
Most Americans are living with digestive issues. To avoid bloating, discomfort, or other more serious gut-related conditions, I take a digestive health supplement. The one I recommend is GutConnect 365™ from NatureMD. It contains nutrient-rich superfoods that nourish the gut lining and target the causes of Leaky Gut. It also helps improve digestion so you can better absorb nutrients from your food. In addition, it helps rebalance your gut ecosystem with good bacteria which enhances your immune system’s performance. I feel so much lighter and less bloated when taking this supplement consistently!
Cod Liver Oil or Krill Oil
Cod liver oil is one of my favorite supplements because of the vast amount of benefits it provides. It provides nearly all of your daily requirements for vitamin A and vitamin D. The omega-3 fatty acids found in cod liver oil can also reduce inflammation and reduce the risk of heart disease. Plus, the vitamin D can help improve bone health. There are a wide range of other benefits as well! I highly recommend trying a whole food source of vitamins A & D, such as cod liver oil, rather than a synthetic supplement. Your body can utilize the vitamins in cod liver oil much easier than a synthetic vitamin A or vitamin D supplement. You also significantly reduce your risk of vitamin toxicity when you source it from whole foods. I take my cod liver oil or krill oil in a capsule form rather than in a liquid form to avoid the taste. Here are the links to my favorite cod liver oil and my favorite krill oil. I alternate between cod liver oil and krill oil because the benefits are slightly different. Cod liver oil will provide more vitamin A and vitamin D, while krill oil will provide more EPA/DHA (omega-3 fatty acids that support heart, brain, eye, and prenatal/maternal health).
Protein Powder
Protein powder is one of the most commonly used supplements, but it’s not all created equal. I’ve tried a variety of protein powders over the years, both plant-based and animal-based. My personal favorite is the Levels Grass Fed Whey Protein. This product tastes amazing, mixes really well, and has an extremely clean ingredient list when compared to most other protein powders. There are no GMOs, added sugar, hormones, gluten, soy, fillers, or artificial ingredients. It’s keto friendly and it contains 24 g of protein per scoop! The amino acid profile is also excellent. I toss this into smoothies, cereals, yogurt, oats, and more to add a significant protein boost to my meal.
Collagen
I first started taking collagen in January of 2019 after a minor arm injury in a jiu jitsu match. I couldn’t completely straighten my elbow and wanted to heal as quickly as possible, so I did a Google search for supplements to help heal an injury. Collagen was one that I saw over and over. Collagen is clinically proven to promote healthy skin, hair, joints, and digestion. My favorite brand Ancient Nutrition because their product contains 5 types of collagen - many other collagen supplements only contain 1 to 3 types. It’s grass fed, pasture raised, non GMO, and contains vitamin C along with probiotics. This product also improves exercise recovery, reduces joint discomfort, and improves the appearance of wrinkles. My favorite way to use collagen powder is to put it in my coffee to add some protein, health benefits, and good flavor. Who doesn’t love a supplement that helps with health and beauty but also tastes great?
While this isn’t a comprehensive list of every supplement I take, these are the ones I always find myself coming back to. I also find these to be the most critical in my personal health journey. My final piece of advice for purchasing supplements would be to remember that not all products are created equally - sometimes, you get what you pay for. While some of the supplements I mentioned may not be the cheapest of their kind, I’ve found them to be the best on the market based on extensive personal research. I’m confident in my brand recommendations, all of which I purchase with my own money and use regularly.
If you take any supplements, what’s your favorite and why? Let’s discuss in the comments! Thanks again for reading, and I hope to see you back soon! Please note that I will receive a small commission should you choose to purchase any products through my affiliate links. However, I was not paid to promote any of these products and purchased all of them with my own money. Your purchases using my affiliate links directly support this woman of color owned blog by allowing me to purchase products for review - thank you in advance for your support!
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AuthorDominique Cheylise, 27 year-old engineer and group fitness instructor. Archives
August 2021
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