My Favorite Supplements
Let’s get this out of the way right out of the gate:
Supplements are not a substitute for eating whole, nutritious foods. But instead, it is a supplement to fill in the gaps you may not get in your diet. This list is simply the supplements that I use daily. They are the products that make a difference in my overall health and workout performance. I am not a healthcare professional, so always consult with your doctor to ensure any supplement is safe for you to use. Every individual has different needs that differ from person to person. So your needs may be other than mine or anyone else.
The supplements that I use daily are
electrolytes
creatine
collagen
Protein powder
Multi-vitamin
omega pills
mood gummy supplements
skincare supplements
Below, I go into detail regarding all the supplements I use. Please note that I am not a healthcare professional. Please consult your doctor to ensure any accessories you wish to take are safe for you individually. Everyone’s needs are very different. These are the things I researched and researched regarding the supplements that I feel are important for me to take personally.
This is a sample from My Active Life, LLC Members, where I post blog posts for nutrition and fitness tips, workout videos, and programs. Click here to join My Active Life, LLC Members, and read the full post!
Creatine
Creatine is one supplement beneficial for various areas of health and fitness performance. The liver and pancreas generate one gram per day of creatine, and it is stored in the muscles for energy use. Taking it orally increases the amount your body can accumulate in the muscles.
Taking creatine as part of your daily supplement routine has many benefits and few side effects.
Increased muscle strength, size, and performance
Injury prevention
Cognition and brain health
Loss of muscle mass and bone density due to aging
Skin aging
Side effects
Weight gain - typically in the form of lean muscle mass
potential to interact with caffeine when consuming more than 300mg daily* the resource I found stated that more research is needed.
My favorite creatine supplement is from Bulk Supplements. It is an unflavored powder. Typically I will mix it in with my pre-workout.
Electrolytes
Electrolytes are water-soluble salts that aid in essential bodily functions that include muscle contractions, regulating fluid balance, and balancing pH levels, to name a few. Some essential electrolytes the body needs include sodium, potassium, calcium, and magnesium. These are NOT created in the body and require food or drinks containing them.
Benefits of consuming electrolytes daily
replenish fluids that are lost during vigorous workouts, such as cardio through sweat
Potassium and sodium regulate fluids and protein and carbohydrate synthesis.
helps prevent muscle cramps and may improve recovery
rehydrate during sickness that includes vomiting and diarrhea, as well as boosts the immune system
Promotes recovery and rebuilds damaged tissue when recovering from workouts, injury, or even surgery
Maintains cellular health
It helps to prevent heat stroke - this is why backpackers have electrolyte powders on hand during their trip.
There is a possibility of overconsuming electrolytes that can negatively impact your health**
One of the easiest ways to consume electrolytes is through an electrolyte drink mix. My favorite is from a brand called LMNT. It has limited ingredients and contains no sugar.
Collagen
Collagen is a protein naturally found in connective tissue such as ligaments, tendons, cartilage, and skin. The body forms collagen by putting together three amino acids. Amino acids do need to be consumed through protein-containing foods. When consuming collagen supplements, the human body naturally produces more collagen in the skin and joints.
Benefits for the skin
Provides the overall structure of the skin
Collagen is a protein that has a high cell turnover (gets used up in the body, then more needs to be produced)
Improved hydration and elasticity and reduced the appearance of wrinkles
increases the healing of wounds in the skin
Benefits for the joints
collagen is the primary protein in the connective tissue of the joints
increased production of collagen reduces joint pain
Some other notes
need to consume at least 15grams (up to 30g) of collagen daily for ~1-2 months before any benefits can be seen
collagen supplements are sourced from bovine and marine***
My favorite collagen is from Bulk Supplements. It is an unflavored bovine-sourced powder I like adding to coffee or smoothies. It adds some protein intake but is not a complete protein. So other protein sources are needed for daily protein needs.
I love consuming collagen powder vs. a capsule. Previously, I had been taking collagen capsules from HUM Nutrition. It has been fine, but the serving is three capsules to receive the benefits. I have other medications I need to take, so having more pills to take daily is not worth it to me. But if that doesn’t bother you, I highly recommend HUM Nutrition supplements.
Protein Powder
Protein is an essential macronutrient that the body does not naturally make and needs to be consumed through food. You can consume ALL of your protein through whole foods. A supplement is never necessary but can complement your nutrition.
Protein powders are loosely regulated, and the quality between products varies immensely, so read the labels when shopping for protein powder. Most of them, especially the favored protein powders, have added sugar, fillers, and ingredients.**** I LOVE Bulk Supplements; the only element is a protein with no added sugar and minimal fillers. I like to add these to my smoothies.
My favorite unflavored dairy free. This one is from Bulk Supplements, and the only ingredient is pea protein isolate.
My favorite flavored dairy free.
My Favorite unflavored dairy. This one is from Bulk Supplements, and the only ingredient is whey protein isolate and one emulsifier.
My second favorite flavored dairy.
I usually opt for dairy-free protein powders as I am sensitive to dairy. I find that whey protein isolate that is lactose-free doesn’t bother me. So I don’t typically do not consume many dairy-containing protein powders.
Pre-workout
Pre-workout is entirely optional. I never used it for YEARS when I started working out. I like using it now for the added focus it provides for my workouts.
My favorite pre-workout is Alani Nu in rainbow candy. It tastes a little bit like sour Nerds. I like mixing my creatine with my pre-workout and chugging it just before I work out for a burst of energy and added focus to get my workout done! I have noticed that I get the face tingle (IYKYK) only if I have not consumed enough water.
Do your research for the right pre-workout, or if you feel it necessary, I like this article to start researching pre-workouts.
HUM Nutrition
HUM Nutrition is an online supplement company where when your sign up, you take a quiz for your nutrient goals, and they recommend supplements that will help you with your goals. You can choose those recommended supplements or choose from their entire online store. It is subscription-based, so every month, it is delivered straight to your door. You get 15% off your entire order for three or more supplements.
Using clinical research to determine the proper dose, HUM uses safe and effective ingredients. Additionally, HUM does not use 12 elements that may be harmful such as artificial colors, artificial sweeteners, artificial preservatives, and artificial flavors. The majority of their products are allergen friendly and vegan.
My referral link gives you $20 for an order of $39 or more.
Base Control, a multivitamin with biotin and folic acid, aids skin and hair health. It does not contain common electrolytes, so if you choose to add a supplemental electrolyte drink won’t give you more than you need.
OMG! Omega the Great is an omega supplement sourced from anchovy but otherwise allergen friendly. Omegas are helpful for overall brain and heart, and skin health.
Calm Sweet Calm gummies help reduce the symptoms of stress and aid in relaxation to support healthy cortisol levels. I do notice a difference when I take this one. It contains ashwagandha and l-theanine
I have repurchased the previous vitamins every month for the past six months. My next order will have a couple of additional immunities and skin health: Glow Sweet Glow gummies and Mightly Night. We are not getting younger, so if I can help improve my skin quality in any way, I can. I am all about it. I can split what I take between the morning and evening.
I am also getting Raw Beauty green superfood powder with fiber, probiotics, and superfood blends. I usually have probiotics as a capsule, but I wanted to decrease my pill intake slightly. I am going to add this to my smoothies.
I highly recommend Hum Nutrition for supplements. My referral link gives you $20 for your first $39 or more order.
Summary
To summarize the supplements that I use daily and which ones I feel are most beneficial for me to use every single day
electrolytes - daily
creatine - daily
collagen - daily
Protein powder - most days
Multivitamin - daily
omega pills - daily
mood gummy supplements - daily
skincare supplements - not necessary; I have not yet tried these though
References
NOTE
Supplements are not a substitute for eating whole, nutritious foods. But instead, it is a supplement to fill in the gaps you may not get in your diet. You do not need to take any supplements; I wanted to list all of the supplements I love to take that are my holy grail products.
Like I said above, but to reiterate:
They are the products that make a difference in my overall health and workout performance. I am not a healthcare professional, so always consult with your doctor to ensure any supplement is safe for you to use. Every individual has different needs that differ from person to person. So your needs may be other than mine or anyone else.
This is a sample from My Active Life, LLC Members, where I post blog posts for nutrition and fitness tips, workout videos, and programs. Click here to join My Active Life, LLC Members, and read the full post!
If you are here and reading this, you are interested in your health and fitness and subscribed to My Active Life Members. That is so good; I am so excited for you! Taking care of your body is the best thing you can do for yourself in the present and the long term.
“Do something today that your future self will thank you for”
— unknown
I find that quote so inspiring. Hard work will pay off in the future, but you also have to live in the moment, and I feel like taking care of yourself is doing both. You are doing good for yourself now as well as for your future self.
Please note that this post contains affiliate links. Should you purchase using my links, I may make a small commission at no additional cost. I appreciate your support! Check Out my AMAZON IDEA LIST for my Favorites!
Amazon has a deal on organic vitamins and supplements. Check it out here!
Click here for Amazon Deals for safe and natural household products!
Click here for all of my referral links!
Thank you so much for reading! If you want to learn more about health and fitness, follow me on Pinterest, Facebook, and Instagram @myactivelife_stacey. I am now offering nutrition and personal training online coaching programs. These six-week programs are designed to help you create lifelong healthy habits with nutrition and fitness. Click here to learn more!
I am not accepting new personal training and nutrition clients at this time. I am fully booked! If you want to know when I accept new clients, subscribe Here!
Subscribe to my newsletter at the bottom of the page to get notified when I post new blog posts on health and fitness-related along with some tips on outdoor activities sprinkled here and there. Thank you all for the support, and I’ll see you in the next post!
Thank you so much for reading! If you want to learn more about health and fitness, follow me on Pinterest, Facebook, and Instagram @myactivelife_stacey. I am now offering nutrition and personal training online coaching programs. These six-week programs are designed to help you create lifelong healthy habits with nutrition and fitness. Click here to learn more!
I am not accepting new personal training and nutrition clients at this time. I am fully booked! If you want to know when I am accepting new clients, subscribe below!
Subscribe to my newsletter at the bottom of the page to get notified when I post new blog posts on health and fitness-related along with some tips on outdoor activities sprinkled here and there. Thank you all for the support, and I’ll see you in the next post!