I Believe In Food First, But Take These Supplements Everyday

When it comes to nutrition, my philosophy is clear: food first. However, I take supplements everyday as my “insurance policy.” Is supplementing your diet right for you? Read on to find out…

Disclosure: This post is sponsored by New Chapter, maker of whole-food vitamins & supplements, however, all thoughts are my honest opinions and all my own.

I have been writing and re-writing this post for at least a year. I can’t believe it’s been that long, but it’s THAT important to me to get this right…

We’re talking about SUPPLEMENTS.

There is SO much confusion about supplements, the quality of supplements, where (if anywhere) supplements fit into your wellness plan, and how to find YOUR best supplements, so I’m excited to clear up the confusion!

If you’re like most people I speak to, you’re BUSY with a capital B! Maybe you work in a high-powered job that consumes all your time. Maybe you’re just starting out and hustling. Or maybe you have a young child at home and it feels like you have no time for yourself.

Whatever you’re doing, I know you’re busy!

And do you know what happens when we’re busy?

Despite our best efforts, we may not eat the most balanced meals. Hey, you’re human, it happens (and please don’t feel guilty about that)!

As much as I promote eating a balanced plate, it doesn’t always happen. How many times have you had a bowl of cereal for dinner? (Just me?)

Maybe you regularly work through lunch and forget to eat? I can’t tell you how often I hear this from new clients!

Sure, a day here or there of missed nutrition opportunities won’t do major damage to your overall nutrition status. Remember, your health is impacted by the AVERAGE of your nutrition habits, in the long run.

Unfortunately, these times come in sprints and often happen out of nowhere, when you’re least prepared.

But what if you could collect on your nutrition insurance policy so you never have to notice any dip in your body’s efficiency?

That’s where a supplement regimen comes into play.

I follow a food-first mentality, trying to eat the rainbow as much as possible, but consider my supplement regimen my “insurance policy.” It ensures I’m covered for a rainy day, sort of speak.

So what’s in this insurance policy I speak of?

Before I reveal the supplements I take everyday, I want to remind you that we’re all different and YOUR supplement regimen should be individualized to meet your needs (so you may not need the adaptogenic energy support of fermented maca, but it may help you feel even better!). If you’re unsure, seek help from a qualified nutrition professional, like a dietitian.

Without further ado, here are the supplements I take everyday…

 

1. Probiotic

Everyday we’re learning more and more about the importance of gut health. For example, did you know that 70% of your immune system is found in your gut? While we have SO much more to learn about this living, dynamic atmosphere, we unequivocally know that a healthy gut leads to a healthy mind and body.

Why? There are TRILLIONS of microbes living in your gut. Many of these are beneficial, but it’s possible for the balance to tip out of favor. Womp womp. This happened to me, and let me tell you, it’s NOT fun (hello bloating, cramping, and constant digestive woes).

To prevent this from happening in the first place, we want to (ideally) eat a well-balanced diet with a variety of gut-friendly foods, like fermented foods (including kimchi, miso, kombucha) and those with naturally-occurring probiotics (like kefir and yogurt).

I don’t know about you, but in reality, this doesn’t happen as often as it should (which is pretty much every day).

That’s why I rely on a probiotic with BILLIONS of active cultures.

Most probiotics only have 1 billion CFUs (colony forming units). I love New Chapter’s Probiotic All-Flora because it contains 10 billion CFUs, with both beneficial bacteria (Lactobacillus plantarum and Bifidobacterium breve) and yeast (Saccharomyces boulardii) to replenish your gut flora. (And if you’ve been a long-time reader, then you may know that my gut needs some replenishing after using antibiotics.)

I started using New Chapter’s Probiotic All-Flora and I’m LOVING it. Not only because of the bacteria + yeast probiotics, but because of the extra digestive support from the fermented aloe, peppermint, and turmeric. These are all soothing, anti-inflammatory superfoods that make your digestive system go “ahhhh!”

When you start to use a probiotic, you may notice improved digestion and increased regularity. As a bonus, New Chapter’s formulation is also optimized to support healthy immune defenses.*

[Tweet “Improved digestion, increased regularity, and an immunity booster? This supplement may be able to help! Find out why I take it everyday… #AD @NewChapter”]

 

2. Whole-Food Prenatal Multivitamin

No, this isn’t a pregnancy announcement, but yup, I’m at that age! But before I was even married or anywhere close to thinking about starting a family, I was taking a whole-food prenatal vitamin.

There’s no better “insurance plan” than a multivitamin. If you’re of child-bearing age, a prenatal is just extra insurance (and I know OB/GYNs and midwives would agree)!

Since you know I believe in food first, it shouldn’t come as a surprise that my preferred multivitamin is made with organic vegetables and herbs, New Chapter’s Perfect Prenatal Multivitamin.

This easy-to-digest formulation (SO important in a multi!) is specially made with targeted nutrients for a healthy pregnancy and fetal development, including:

• Fermented Folate (also great for your hair and nails!)
• Fermented Iron
• Over 100% daily value Vitamin D3
• Fermented B vitamins for extra energy

But even more, there’s an organic herbal blend and organic cruciferous sprouts blend in this whole foods multivitamin – that’s where the real *magic* is to me. These extra whole foods provide complementary support that your body needs from whole FOODS – not the laboratory – making it a stronger insurance plan!

If you’re not of child-bearing age, I also suggest checking out the Every Woman’s One Daily Multivitamin.

 

3. Omega 3 Fatty Acid (aka Fish Oil)

Only 1 in 10 Americans eat the recommended amount of seafood each week. Fatty fish are one of the best sources of EPA and DHA omega 3 fatty acids, which promote better health of your:

• Heart (lower triglyceride levels, blood pressure, and more)
• Brain (for proper brain development and support)
• Eyes
• Prenatal development
• And more

Since eating more fish can be difficult some weeks, I rely on a high quality fish oil supplement to reap the same benefits… and then eat fish as much as I can (like this 10-Minute Salmon – made 4 ways!!).

Of course, these are SUPPLEMENTS, meaning they supplement my diet.

I don’t rely ONLY on these pills to achieve my health and wellness goals, but instead, they provide the extra boosts of nutrients I need to feel my best. Eating a well-balanced diet, full of fruits and vegetables is just as important!

So I want to hear from you… how do you think about supplements? If you want to learn more about any of the supplements I mentioned or have any questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out!

XO