Supplements 101: Which Supplements are Worth Investing In

With my busy and sometimes unpredictable schedule, it can be hard to stay on top of my nutrition. I’ve been getting into a better routine of working out daily, which has made a huge difference. But there has been so much talk about supplements and daily vitamins lately that I thought it was a good opportunity for us to dive into it head first here on the site.

Taking the right supplements can help you maintain a healthy lifestyle through whatever life throws at me, but figuring out which supplements are right for you can be tough. There are so many on the market and all are geared towards different things, so I asked Zach (our resident health and wellness guru) to share some of his top picks. Take it over Zach.

One of the questions I get asked most is which supplements are worth taking. There are so many out there and figuring out which ones work can be a daunting task. The answer to which supplements you should be taking can be very personal. Each of us has different bodies, needs, and goals. If you are starting from scratch and don’t have any current supplements you are taking, consider this post ‘Supplements 101’. You can leave here today with some of my top picks that can help everyone live a healthier, more active lifestyle!

Every version of powdered greens will be a little bit different so it’s always good to read the ingredient label. They typically contain a mix of veggies, fruits, grasses, and algaes. Some of the most common ingredients are wheat grass, spirulina, chlorella, barley grass, kale and spinach. Consuming an adequate amount of fruits and veggies has been shown to reduce cardiovascular disease, diabetes, obesity, stroke, osteoporosis, and a host of other medical conditions. Powdered greens can improve digestion helping you feel better and maintain a healthy weight. It can also benefit energy levels and post workout recovery.

My favorite brand

I’m going to be totally honest with you all, greens powders just don’t taste great. For that reason finding one with decent flavor is almost as important as the specifics of what’s in it. If you don’t like it then you probably won’t drink it regularly. I’ll give you a couple brands that I like and suggest to clients.

Amazing Grass is my go to. They have a different versions based on what benefits you want most. That also means you can get different flavors from berry to lemon lime to chocolate.

Athletic Greens is another great brand to try. Like the name says, it’s made specifically for athletes or anyone who lives an active lifestyle. It has a wide variety of ingredients and nutrients to provide all the benefits you would want from powdered greens. The flavor does a good job of covering up some of the less appetizing ingredients. I usually take it with a few ounces of water (so I can chug it down quickly) or mixed with some juice.

My favorite brand

Vital Proteins is my favorite brand. It’s great quality and they have the best selection of products and flavors to make everyone happy. I always have some of their unflavored peptides at home that I can add to anything, making it easy to always get it into my meals. I also love their collagen creamer with my morning cup of coffee! You can get it on their website, Target, Costco, or just about any other store that sells supplements.

Melatonin

What is it & why you should take it

If you ever have trouble falling asleep then melatonin could be the answer. Melatonin is a hormone that helps your body regulate its circadian rhythm. Basically, it tells your body when it’s time to go to sleep. It is not a sleep drug, so it won’t knock you out. It just helps you relax so that you can fall asleep easier.

Melatonin is also a powerful antioxidant. It may help support better eye health, reduce heartburn, and ease tinnitus.

My favorite brand

You can find melatonin just about anywhere. However, I prefer a supplement that includes melatonin along with some other ingredients to give you even more help achieving ample amounts of quality sleep.

I really like Sleep Mode from Bulletproof. They may be known for making keto friendly products, but they knocked it out of the park with Sleep Mode. In addition to melatonin it contains L-Ornithine to regulate cortisol levels (your stress hormone).

Vitamin D

What is it & why you should take it

Vitamin D is sometimes known as the “sunshine vitamin” because your body produces it as a response to sunlight. If you’ve ever experienced seasonal depression disorder (probably not the people in LA, but those of us from places with actual seasons) it’s partly caused by a decrease in vitamin D. Bad weather means you’re probably not spending much time outside and your body is low on vitamin D.

Vitamin D is important for the growth and development of strong bones and teeth. It also helps regulate your mood and fight off depression. One study also suggests that it can help people lose weight by having an appetite suppressing effect.

My favorite brand

I usually get Nature Made at any pharmacy or grocery store. I also like Up&Up fruit flavored gummies at Target (because I’m basically a big child and I still like my vitamins in gummy form).

CoQ10

What is it & why you should take it

CoQ10 stands for Coenzyme Q10, a vitamin like substance that is naturally produced by your body to create energy in your cells. It can be found all over your body, but is most common in the heart, liver, kidney, and pancreas (all pretty important organs). As you age your production of CoQ10 naturally decreases. Supplementing with CoQ10 in pill form can have a few key benefits. It can decrease your chances of heart disease, diabetes, Parkison’s and help prevent migraine headaches.

My favorite brand

You can get CoQ10 in just about any store that sells vitamins and supplements. I usually get a bottle of the Up&Up brand on my Target run. 120 count bottle is under $14, making it well worth the money.

I hope this helps you all make some better choices about which supplements are worth investing in and which are right for you. If you have any more questions about supplements feel free to comment here and I’ll do my best to answer.