This question tends to come up quite frequently with a nutritionist – should I take supplements?
Currently studying Naturopathic Nutrition, and trained in basic nutrition and CBT, I’m learning more about the need to supplement.
Supplements can be useful to take if you don’t have a very healthy diet, or if you’re like me, and you don’t eat much throughout the day; in order to get all the required nutrients, I feel it is beneficial to take some supplements.
Additionally, if individuals have health conditions that cause a person to be deficient in certain nutrients, then it may be beneficial to take some supplements.
I have Fibromyalgia and Endometriosis, so having certain supplements to help decrease the severity and frequency of my symptoms is helpful.
Keep in mind, supplements and a healthy diet isn’t going to cure you or take away symptoms, it can just be useful to help manage the symptoms so you can do what you want to do.
Below I have listed the supplements I take; however, consult a nutritionist or doctor before going ahead and purchasing supplements. You are welcome to contact me if you need some advice.
I am not promoting any brands, these are just the brands I like to take.
I take 2 Spirulina tablets. I highly recommend Spirulina as it helps to make up for the lack of nutrients in an average diet. I find it difficult to get in 5+ a day, especially in vegetables. Spirulina is a complete food, containing all the nutrients you need, and is a complete protein.
It could be considered to be one of the most nutrient-dense foods on earth.
However, you do need to have a lot of Spirulina to get everything you need, that is why it makes a good addition to a diet, rather than completely relying on it.
Glucosamine and Chondroitin tablets are particularly good for people that experience pain in their joints and muscles, and for those that have joint and muscle medical conditions. Both Glucosamine and Chondroitin are major components in cartilage, as a person gets older the levels of these nutrients decrease.
I take one Magnesium tablet a day, usually after a afternoon workout, or can be taken closer to bedtime.
Magnesium can help with facial tics, muscle pain, insomnia and cramps. Some signs of Magnesium deficiency is:
- Hyperactivity
- Difficulty getting to sleep
- Difficulty staying asleep
- Anxiety
Just because you experience these symptoms, it doesn’t mean you are deficient; however, you could benefit by taking a magnesium supplement to help ease symptoms.
5-HTP or serotonin helps to boost serotonin levels in the brain. You don’t need to take one every day; however, supplementing with one every now and then, can be beneficial to boosting mood, helping with depression and anxiety.
L-tryptophan is an amino acid that is converted to serotonin in the brain. L-tryptophan can be taken daily to keep mood levels stable, help with pain reduction, appetite and temperature imbalance.
Taking one charcoal tablet a day is particularly good for flushing the body out of toxins and chemicals so the body doesn’t absorb them. One of the most effective uses for Charcoal tablets is for poisoning, drug overdoses and nausea.
It can also be used to treat bloating, and helping to prevent hangovers if you take one before you go to bed.
Lastly, I have 1 garlic tablet; especially good for the winter months to help prevent getting a cold or flu. Garlic tablets can also be useful for helping combat fatigue, and detoxify heavy metals and other toxins in the body.
Whether you just have garlic and charcoal tablets in your cupboard for a quick response to nausea, feeling like you are getting a cold, or to help prevent a hangover 😉
If you’re unsure about any supplements and their dosage, just post in the comment section, and I’ll get back to you.
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