Back when I watched The Dr. Oz Show, it seemed as if he was touting the praises of some new “miracle” supplement every week. I’ll never forget the Raspberry Ketone craze he created. On one particular episode, Dr. Oz featured a segment about Raspberry Ketones and referred to them as a miracle fat burner. He said simply taking the supplements, without changing your diet or activity level, would lead to significant weight loss. Since this claim was coming from a member of the medical community, I immediately went to the nearest GNC with the intentions of picking up a bottle. Little did I know that every other woman had the same exact idea. Raspberry Ketones were suddenly the hottest and hardest-to-find dietary supplement. I scoured several GNC and Vitamin World stores in the area and eventually got my hands on a couple of bottles.
After several weeks of faithful consumption, I didn’t notice any big changes. A few months later, Dr. Oz was in front of Congress defending the claims he made on his show about various “miracle” supplements. So Raspberry Ketones and Green Tea Extract aren’t miracle weight loss supplements. Does that mean supplements are nothing more than fools gold? I think not. Supplements remain a multi-million dollar industry, and for good reason. Most of us, no matter how hard we try, don’t eat a balanced diet that provides all of the vitamins, minerals, and nutritional goodness we need. Supplements can fill in those dietary gaps.
As we get older our bodies require different or more vitamins, minerals, and nutrients. This is where supplements can have fountain-of-youth effects. Whether it’s an extra boost of energy, joints that ache less, or skin and hair that look healthier, supplements can have a noticeable difference on how you look and feel. Which supplements you should take will vary based on your individual needs. Here’s the rundown of what I take and why I take it.
The Supplement List
HGH – Human Growth Hormone. Not the illegal stuff. I find my HGH at GNC. As we get older, our natural HGH levels decrease. The supplements help the body reproduce HGH naturally. HGH is believed to help reduce body fat, increase lean muscle mass, boost mood, heighten sex drive, increase energy, get rid of wrinkles, and tighten saggy skin. I like taking HGH because it aids in recovery after a strenuous workout.
Omega 3 – Fatty acids that lower blood fat (triglycerides). I take them mostly because they are great for your skin. I prefer the chewables. Oh, and they have to be burpless. There’s nothing worse than a fish oil burp –yuck!
Spirulina – A natural algae (or pond scum) that is high in protein, iron, B-vitamins and other nutrients. Also a good source of antioxidants. I take it because I have low iron which which makes me feel tired all the time. When my iron levels are right, I have more energy. I could just take an iron supplement, but Spirulina is full of other great stuff too.
Vitamin D – Aids in bone strength and facilitating normal immune system function. I take Vitamin D because I’m old, and I don’t want brittle bones.
Multivitamins – I’ve been taking multivitamins since I was a kid to make up for my bad eating habits. Although my diet has become more balanced over the years, I think of multivitamins as a great backup, just in case.
Probiotics – Good bacteria that improves digestive function. I take it to help with belly bloat. In liquid form, it’s disgusting, so I take capsules. The jury is still out on the effectiveness of this supplement.
PGX – PolyGlycopleX is a highly purified fiber complex that also contains Mulberry (Morus alba) leaf extract. This supplement promotes satiety, helps reduce food cravings (my main reason for taking it), lowers glycemic index of meals, helps maintain normal, healthy blood glucose balance, and promotes regularity. MAJOR DRAWBACK: The coating of the capsule is very sticky which causes the pills to get stuck in my throat.
Disclaimer: You should consult a doctor before you start taking any supplements.
Can you think of any supplements I should add to the list?