This morning I took the time to research a bit on supplements. In a few months I should have enough disposable income to afford some supplements I've wanted to try (and some old favorites), so I'm doing the preliminary $ research now. One thing led to another and so I figure hey, why not go for a fairly comprehensive list?
Spirulina & Chlorella: Must-haves. If you're uninitiated, look these up; there is a ton of information out there. The short of it is that they're deep-sea algaes, some of the only plant-based complete proteins, and they also bind to metals and environmental toxins in your body and remove them. Vast improvement of your digestive system.
Like damn near everything on this list, they are quite expensive, especially if you want quality. Quality control on esoteric supplements like this is notoriously hazy area; for my money I'm going with
Nuts.com's organic Spirulina (they also sell organic Chlorella) and
Natural News' organic "clean" Chlorella SL.
Apple Cider Vinegar: If I had to pick just one thing, this would be it. It's somewhat reasonably priced, as these things go (on sale for $2.67/16oz at the Vitamin Shoppe! MSRP: $6), and works for damn near
everything.
Why does it work? Well, the jist of it is that your body has a natural pH balance (slightly alkaline) that signifies optimumn health. The contemporary American diet (I usually avoid using this word, but in this context it's scarily apropos) is extraordinarily acidic, creating an environment in which pathogens mate like mice, compromising your body's natural self-healing mechanism.
ACV is (along with
lemons) the most powerful alkaline agent you can ingest! It's century-tested and the effects are immediate.
Personally I feel it's helped curb my appetite and boosted my energy levels. Many mornings the only thing I would have is water and a tablespoon or two of apple cider vinegar. I'd proceed to my morning yoga practice, and
still wouldn't be hungry until noontime. (The only other thing I'd consume is spirulina.)
There's a
review on Amazon with a customer who reports the most incredible effects, including curbing his addictions. Don't miss out!
Melatonin: I may take that back: melatonin is just as precious as ACV! Why? Because it’s so damn easy! It’s mad cheap and mad effective. I have
transcribed a
bunch of
stuff about
melatonin, so just
click those
links and be convinced. The only thing more important than the quality of your food intake is your sleep quality.
Coconut milk: I was researching T-Nation's
FA3 and Googled the ingredients: Lauric, Oleic, Gamma-linoleic and Linoleic acid. I will always prioritize getting my nutrients/vitamins/fatty acids/anti-oxidants in whole food form, and I'm already quite stringent on what foods I consume. What's the point in considering buying a supplement if I already get it from natural food sources?
Well, Lauric acid is found in coconut milk. (For those curious about the other acids:
oleic is found in almonds; GLA in
spirulina; and
Linoleic in sunflower seeds and Brazil nuts.) Since I gain the other three acids from natural food sources, if I just re-add coconut milk back to my food intake (it comes and goes since it's quite expensive), the FA3 supplement becomes effectively worthless.
Rhodiola: T-Nation offers a host of supplements, and is one of the few sites I respect re: nutrition because they are authoritatively well-sourced. I have yet to try
rhodiola, and must follow up with subsequent research, but it's very reasonably priced and the literature is compelling. Considering I am in the midst of ramping up my yoga practice on a daily basis, I will be ordering this to test the veracity of these claims within the next month.
Cod liver/fish/krill oil: We're getting into grey areas here. The Omega-3 v. Omega-6 debate rages on; for the uninitiated, here's a
primer. While I am skeptical of a few of the assertions that logically spring from placing too much stock into the literature (e.g. nuts becoming sub-optimal because of their extraordinarily high levels of Omega-6s; I am bearish on asserting too much value on "studies" that examine nutrition in isolation), the health risk/rewards seem very real.
Enter the fish oils. Omega-3s are a bitch to find. You have your grass-fed chicken eggs and red meat; raw milk (illegal in many states); fish (most); flax/chia seeds; hemp; and then your fish oil supplements. For practical purposes, if you eschew fish oils, the only way to get enough O3s is by consuming fish (particularly tuna) 1-3 times a week.
But fish oil is extremely prone to rancidity, so quality control is a must. I side by
Green Pasture's Cod Liver Oil. (
Jarrow's is much cheaper, though; read Chris Kresser's buying
guide to determine the differences.)
But if you peruse the market on krill oil, it's purported to be many times more powerful than typical fish oil. Kresser brushes on krill oil but is "ambivalent." Considering how absurdly expensive it is, let's leave that aside for now. The differences between krill oil v. fish oil seems to be more fiction than scientific fact. (For the intensely curious,
Black Label seems to be a high-quality krill.)
New research (you can read the comments in Kresser's articles for sources) suggests that all fish oil is, to some degree, rancid! And rancid fish oils fuck you up!
This is important, so I recommend you siphon through the comments. I have no interest in becoming a fish oil expert, but after sifting through the resources available, I must respectfully decline from recommending any fish oil supplements. (Another alternative:
Flameout. Aside from reading their spiel, I have not done any research on the product.) Instead, invest in:
Wild Planet Foods' sustainably caught tuna: Yes, it is mad expensive. But wait! While it retails for $5/can at their website (minimum order of 6; you can find single cans at Sprouts),
Swanson Vitamins has cans for $3.80. There are also
rumors that your local Costco may have it on sale; your mileage may vary.
Wild Planet Foods is not only offering sustainably-caught fish, but their fish also has
much more Omega-3s than your typically store-bought fish! I have consumed their fish and the quality is far superior than your average can of tuna.
Hemp protein powder:The real deal. A complete protein that also provides a 3-to-1 omega-3-to-omega-6 ratio! I have not consumed it but have recently realized I have been missing out. Make this a priority.
Superfood extract: A convenient, albeit expensive ($24 for a month's supply), way to get your fruit and vegetable anti-oxidants. The price has actually gone down (it was $40). Now it's low enough to where I actually plan on purchasing it. Even though I get more than 5+ servings of fruits/veggies a day, I tremendously value the acai/goji/pomegranate/kale/wasabi/green tea/watermelon anti-oxidants.
Raw cacao: One of the most powerful anti-oxidants on the planet! Great for your brain. Has no sugar, so you have no excuses not to partake in this.
Psyllium husk: For your intestinal health.
Read. Your intestines are your second brain. Take the health of your insides very seriously.
Chia seeds: Remember what I said about omega-3s being a bitch to maintain? Here's a minor solution. Tasteless, so you can add it to anything (I add it to eggs and spaghetti sauce, as well as soups), it's also the vaunted plant-based complete protein. Packed with important trace minerals, too. (And, as is especially pertinent on this forum, if you're recovering from drug use, tryptophan is metabolized into serotonin. Important to help normalize your brain chemistry.)
Moringa Oleifera powder: I have only recently discovered this. I am not too familiar with the health benefits. I have been taking it for the past 2-3 months and have not noticed a difference, but I also purchased a cheap provider of it. I stumbled across it while researching supplements to improve pineal gland function. Do your own research; your mileage may vary.
One could write a book on the health supplements available in modern society! I have assimilated and compartmentalized these from my five-plus years of becoming a burgeoning health freak, and I hope my experience and erudition can help you along your path.
