Top Supplements Everyone Should Be Taking
19 Dec 2023
A well-balanced diet is the key for optimal health, but supplements can act as valuable allies, filling in nutritional gaps and supporting overall well-being. Here I'll discuss essential supplements, exploring those that can benefit virtually everyone on their path to vibrant health. Of course, everyone is different, but the recommendations here are generally what individuals are lacking or can enhance their health.
Vitamin D: Especially since we are in the winter months and are in the northeast this is definitely the most important vitamin to supplement with. It is pretty much non negotiable to do this in the winter months if you aren't in the warm sun. Part of the reason why seasonal depression is so common is because we aren't seeing the sun as much and vitamin D levels are plummeting. So clearly this plays a role in brain health and mood. Vitamin D is also extremely important for just about every function in your body like your immune system, bone health, and cardiovascular health. It is so important for immune health that you will not see someone who has cancer, also have optimal vitamin D levels.
Magnesium: Much like vitamin D, this essential nutrient plays an important role in our bodies and deals with a lot of different functions. In fact, magnesium plays a role in over 300 enzymatic reactions in our body which means that your body cannot do 600 things properly if you are low in magnesium. Also similar to vitamin D, almost everyone is low in this nutrient. Levels of magnesium are decreased by things alcohol, stress, and antibiotics, which are all aspects we see in everyday life so it is no wonder almost everyone is low in it. Magnesium plays a role in mood, heart health, and bone health. It has been shown to help with anxiety and headaches as well.
Creatine: There are a lot of misconceptions regarding creatine. You might have heard that there are health concerns surrounding it but this is probably one of the safer supplements. It is often looked at as a supplement for athletes or for building muscle, but this amazing supplement can provide you with a wide variety of health benefits. Primarily its effects on brain health, helping with focus and cognitive function. In fact, I recommend this supplement for elderly clients because of its positive effects on brain health. Creatine has also been shown to be neuroprotective, helping with conditions such as Alzheimer's disease, depression, or a brain injury. It can also help with energy levels and preventing overall fatigue.
Omega 3 Fatty Acids: This nutrient is important because of its anti inflammatory effects, brain, and heart health. It also doesn't help that most people don't eat enough seafood which means they don't get enough of this essential nutrient. This is usually a first line of defense for cardiovascular disease. Omega 3 fatty acids can decrease blood pressure and decrease risks of cardiovascular disease and cancer. It can also help with mood, depressive symptoms, and anxiety. If you are easily prone dry or peeling skin, this could also be a sign you are low in essential fatty acids.
Probiotics: I highly recommend this because our overall diet is not as diverse as it was in recent decades and centuries. When your diet is diverse with a lot of different foods and nutrients, you are giving your body different gut microbes to form diversity within your gut microbiome. This can translate to a lot of health benefits such as an improved immune system, increased energy levels, and good cognitive health. If there is one aspect of your health to focus on it's having a healthy gut. All diseases start in the gut. So probiotics can give you that microbial diversity if you don't have that much variety in your diet. If you have also been exposed to antibiotics in the past then I would recommend this even more.
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