Hi friends! I’m so excited to kick off the new 5 For You series where you will find reviews and recommendations to help make choosing quality supplements easier. And it starts with five key supplements to take that support your overall health and wellness. For an explanation of the series SEE HERE.
One of the most common questions I get is whether or not everyone should be taking daily supplements and if so, what supplements should I take daily? If you’ve read my posts you know that I’m about getting as many nutrients as possible from whole food. And in a perfect world where the soil isn’t depleted, the environment isn’t toxic, and our guts are in perfect shape to digest and absorb all the nutrients from the food we eat, this would be the case. Sadly though, it’s just not the reality we’re living in.
Supplements can be helpful and even essential to fill the nutritional gaps in our modern day diet, and for people eating highly processed foods supplementation can be a necessity. So yes, I believe that everyone can benefit from supplementation of some type but that varies depending on individual lifestyle, age, gender, health conditions, etc.
That said, I believe that at minimum, there are five best supplements to take for overall health. When taken in conjunction on a daily basis they can cover the basics like support gut health, insulin levels, energy levels, and even help reduce risk of heart disease and cancer. Let’s take a closer look.
5 Key Supplements to Take to Support Your Daily Health
1. Multivitamin
It’s common to be deficient in nutrients, but without having your levels tested there’s no way of knowing which ones, so a good quality multivitamin is one of the best vitamins to take daily. It’s like nutritional insurance. It offers protection against the effects of environmental toxins, increased stress levels, and helps to fill the gaps of vitamins and minerals that may be missing in modern foods, even if you do eat healthy. Find out why choosing a food based multi vs. a synthetic one is so important in this full review.
5 For You Multivitamin Supplements
2. Vitamin D3
Vitamin D is a unique supplement since the body converts it into a hormone and it’s almost impossible to get adequate amounts from food, so the primary way to get it without supplementing is through skin exposure to sunlight. Thousands of chemical reactions in our body rely on adequate amounts of vitamin D in the blood. It plays a role in bone, heart and immune health, and cancer prevention. Learn how to safely supplement with D, including specific dosages and tips.
5 For You Vitamin D Supplements
3. Omega 3
Omega-3 fatty acids are one of the most well known and essential supplements for health. This is another supplement the body doesn’t naturally produce so if you don’t eat a lot of fatty fish there’s good reason to supplement. EPA and DHA omega-3 fatty acids support heart, joint, eye, and immune health. They are also beneficial for hair, skin, nails, inflammation, mood, and memory. Find out what to look for in a high quality omega-3 supplement as well as quality options for vegans.
5 For You Fish Oil Supplements
5 For You Omega 3 Supplements for Vegans (coming soon!)
4. Probiotics
Modern medicine is finally catching up with how seriously important the ecosystem of our gut is. We’re finding out that nearly 80% of our immune system is located in the gut and up to 95% of our “happy mood” neurotransmitter serotonin is produced in our gut. Naturally occurring “good” bacteria plays a huge role in our wellness and when it’s out of balance in our gut, it can lead to things like poor digestion, poor immune health including autoimmune disorders, leaky gut, bowel discomfort, anxiety, and depression. Find out which probiotic supplements are the best quality and why it can make a huge difference.
5 For You Probiotic Supplements (Shelf Stable)
5. B Complex
Vitamin B deficiency is fairly common and the degree can vary depending on factors such as age, pregnancy, stress, etc. B’s are important to support our body’s energy supply and to maintain many functions of the nervous system. They can also be beneficial in therapeutic doses for treatment of things such as fatigue, stress, mood, headaches, and menstrual disorders. Supplementation is especially beneficial and may even be necessary for those who eat a vegetarian or vegan diet since it’s common for a plant based diet to show vitamin B deficiency. Learn why the form of B’s you get is so important.
5 For You B Complex Supplements
Bonus Supplement: Magnesium
Likes B vitamins, another common deficiency is the mineral magnesium which often shows up as muscle spasms or cramps. Since magnesium promotes a healthy nervous system and muscle function, it plays a big role in supporting healthy blood pressure, relaxing tense or twitching muscles, and promoting sleep and regularity. Find out more about what magnesium can do for you and which types work best.
5 For You Magnesium Supplements
Final Thoughts
Well, that concludes the first of the 5 For You series. I hope you found this to be informative and it comes in handy when choosing your supplements. Stay tuned for more reviews and recommendations!
Looking to start a daily beauty or hygiene ritual using clean ingredients? You might like this post :)
Thanks for reading and if you have any supplements or products you would like to know about, please share them in the comments and I’ll do my best to review them!