In Good Health // Not All Supplements Are Made Equal

Your health has to be the number one factor in any change you make to your lifestyle.   Whilst you may be desperate to lose weight, get those abs or look a certain way,  the best advice I can give to anyone is to put their health first, regardless of specific goals, and trust me the rest will follow. 

Ultimately the healthier you are, the easier it is to lose fat, gain muscle, sleep better and recover faster. 

For example, a lot of people desperately want to lose weight, but they don’t care about their health in the process, and they focus solely on low calories.    But a plan like that may contain low nutrients and may not be good for you if you are putting your health at the centre of your decision making. You have to look at the quality of your food and what you are putting into your body. 

Optimal health is underlying everything I do in my daily life and with my clients regardless of goals and objectives. One area which plays a key part of this, that I suggest you look at and create positive change and new routines around is the supplements you take.   Just as the food you consume is important, so too are the supplements you take. Whilst it’s a nice idea, today it’s near impossible to get all the vitamins and minerals your body needs from food alone – so you need a supplement protocol for yourself.

I am not going to recommend a protocol for you, as no one approach fits all. Just because I’m taking something doesn’t mean it’s right for you. The same approach applies to food - what I’m eating isn’t necessarily what you should be eating.  Of course, there are some staple vitamins and minerals most of us can take that our bodies need and can generally be quite deficient in, but the rest depends on many factors. For example, I take a multi-vitamin, vitamin D, an activated charcoal for detoxification, magnesium and zinc, collagen, MCT oil (because I avoid carbs in the morning and it’s a great source of fats), grapeseed extract which reduces inflammation and at night I take a probiotic.

If don’t know where to start with your supplements, I always recommended starting with your gut.   This affects how you absorb things and impacts hormones too, so it will have a knock-on effect across many areas of your health.  Start there and try to heal/support the gut and most of us will find other symptoms will improve – tiredness for example.  Gut health is so important, so start with a good quality probiotic.  Good ones can be expensive but are so worth it and are a brilliant investment for your health.  

Remember too that not all supplements are made equal.  Don’t just buy into pretty packaging on the shelf. Do your research and invest in the best quality you supplements that you can. Many super cheap ones are not worth taking. Brands I personally rate and recommend include Cymbiotika, BetterYou and Pure Encapsulations.

Once you have determined what your supplement protocol is, the key is to make it a habit and part of your routine.  I try and stack my supplement taking with something else in my routine to reduce my chances of forgetting. For example, my PM supplements I keep in my bathroom so I take them at the same time I clean my teeth. If I had to go downstairs and take them, it increases the likelihood that I will forget to take them.  In the AM, I keep them near my coffee machine. Consistency is key with supplements and to getting the best out of them and feeling the benefits to your health.

If you keep your health at the heart of all you do, all goals are possible and you’ll be on the path to optimal health before you know it.

// Sarah Lindsay, 3x Olympian, Body Transformation Expert and Founder of Roar Fitness