supplements that actually work

Thanks to Kourtney Kardashian and just about every wellness influencer on Instagram, supplements are being advertised more than ever before. With 50 different collagen powders, 15 brands of bear shaped gummy vitamins and a thousand different “skinny-tea” brands that will do nothing more than give you diarrhea; it’s a tough world for anyone trying to figure out their daily supplement routine. I’m not licensed to give supplement advice, but I may be a bit more knowledgeable than the girl in your DM’s telling you that you will absolutely lose 15 pounds in 8 days when you use her 15% off coupon on her ‘miracle’ tea. Surprise, the miracle is tapeworm.

Instead of trying to sell you scam products in an attempt to make a commission, I’ll let you in on my day-to-day supplement routine:

PROBIOTICS:

First, let’s start with my absolute holy-grail supplement: probiotics. Having a healthy gut will not only help your digestion issues, but may also fix your exhaustion and moodiness. Cranky and tired often? It may be a result of your toxic relationship, OR your gut health! Although there’s no pill for your dating life, probiotics will fight off all of the bad bacteria in your digestive tract; as long as you purchase a reputable brand with multiple bacterial strains (aim for around 10 billion CFU). I know that sounds repulsive, but so is all the bad bacteria literally sitting inside of you.

My probiotic: PB 8 Probiotic Acidophilus

OMEGA-3:

Another supplement that I’ve been religiously taking: Omega-3. Omega-3s fight depression, anxiety, inflammation, reduce liver fat, improve bone and joint health, alleviate menstrual pain, and are good for your skin. Honestly, a supplement given to us straight from God. Clear skin, good vibes and no menstrual pain? We LOVE that!

“Omega-3 fatty acids are essential nutrients that we must get from our diets because our bodies cannot make them; they are crucial for early brain development, and there is much evidence that they promote cardiovascular health and cognitive function.”

Joel Fuhrman M.D.

My Omega-3 EPA: Nordic Naturals EPA Extra High-Intensity Omega-3

SUPERFOODS SUPPLEMENT PILLS:

If you can somehow manage to stomach the disgusting green powders that give you 3 servings of greens in one scoop but tastes like the dirt outside your front door, then enjoy! As for me, I opt for the pill version instead to get rid of the nasty taste and texture.

I take about 1-3 pills (with food) to get my greens in every day. Boosted energy levels, higher nutrient absorption, reduced inflammation and neutralized pH leading to fat loss are just a few of the benefits you’ll experience from being consistent with your superfood supplement routine. 

Of course, each “superfood” supplement is going to be different. Some are absolutely better than others, so be sure to read the nutrition label and make sure that it has a greens, antioxidant and vegetables blend. Making sure that your supplement has all three will ensure that you get all of the benefits of the superfoods. 

My superfood supplement: GNC Superfoods Maximum Green Complete

APPLE CIDER VINEGAR PILLS :

Since I’m very anti-swallowing liquids that taste like gasoline, I also take the easier route when it comes to the apple cider vinegar shot trend. Don’t get me wrong, apple cider vinegar shots are amazing for cleansing your system and for digestion support; but I absolutely can not begin my day with a rough shot of apple cider vinegar. Instead, I make my life simple and take the supplement in pill-form. The pill is absolutely taste-free and provides you with all the benefits of apple cider vinegar, minus the nasty taste. The capsules I take are also zero calorie and gluten free!

My apple cider vinegar supplement: EVL Apple Cider Vinegar Capsules

COLLAGEN PEPTIDES:

Here for a good time AND a long time! Collagen is a miracle product that actually works. Staying on top of your collagen routine will give you healthier skin, hair, bones, joints, and nails. Wrinkles who? We don’t know her. 

In my opinion, I’d rather mix a plain powder into my water or shake vs. some of the flavored powders on the market. I’ve tested out the popular Vital Proteins collagen and honestly, I was not a fan. Their flavors weren’t very tasteful and their “unflavored” powder still had somewhat of an odd flavor to it. I’ve also read a few reviews saying that this product made them break out. Though this didn’t happen to me, I get paranoid whenever I read any reviews that state a product did the opposite of what it’s intended to do. I also found that the supplement was very difficult to mix into my water and took on a weird texture. 

For my collagen routine, I’ve been using the EVL Collagen Peptides. The powder mixes perfectly with water and actually lives up to its “unflavored” title.

My collagen peptides supplement: EVL Collagen Peptides

Leave a comment below with some of your favorite supplements!