7 Things I Take Every Day

From the Podcast

Erin and I talked all about our health and fitness habits as moms, as women who work from home, as humans that deal with autoimmune issues, and as health nerds who geek out about all this stuff. You can listen to that interview HERE!

7 Things I Take Every Day

You know I care a lot about health if you know me well. Friends often ask me what kinds of vitamins I take, who the latest voodoo doctor I’m seeing is, or what they can do for their own symptoms. I’m pretty demanding about having my body and brain feel good.

I’m in my late 30s and things aren’t what they used to be in my 20s. I’m rarely awake past midnight. If we turn on a movie after 9:00 p.m. – you can guarantee I’ll be asleep in 20 minutes. This body of mine has made three babies, spent countless hours (and years) starting and running a business, and it just plain endures the hustle of keeping up with life.

5 years ago my husband got in a major car accident. That sent my body into overdrive for months. As things calmed down, my body fell apart. I couldn’t sleep, my body hurt, my menstrual cycles were horrible, I was depressed, my digestion was a wreck, my joints ached, I got blood clots in my legs, I had headaches, my body and brain were not working. My autoimmune system was out of whack. I went into “fix it” mode and have been making tweaks over the years (and I’m still making changes).

Stress takes a toll on our bodies. Life demands a lot from us as mothers, and I demand a lot from myself. I want to be able to function at a level that makes me happy. Over these last decade, I’ve done a lot to ensure my health is what I want it to be – which includes a pretty strict regimen of vitamins and supplements that my body needs and seeing a doctor that gets what I need (not prescription drugs).

This list has come with a lot of trial and error, help from an awesome doctor, and a few revisions.

Here’s what I take every day:

• Nordic Naturals ProEFA – 3-6-9: I take 2 teaspoons a day. It’s liquid omegas, but it doesn’t taste fishy at all. My doctor says that if your omegas smell fishy that it’s a sign that they have already started to go rancid. It’s important that any omega you take be refrigerated (and that you buy it refrigerated). Recommended dose is 1 teaspoon a day .
• Pure Vitamin D-3 Liquid: 3/4 of Americans are deficient in Vitamin D. That’s tied to depression and increased risks for certain types of cancer. My blood work showed that I too was severely deficient in Vitamin D. If you are taking it in pill form, odds are it’s not absorbing and being utilized in your system. I take a liquid form of Vitamin D and I saw an increase to normal levels of Vitamin D in my blood work. I take 3 drops a day. Recommended dose is 2 drops a day.
• Friendly Force Probiotic: Everyone has a different method to their madness on how they take their probiotics (before or after a meal, in the morning or the nighttime). I take 2-4 before I go to bed. They are the last thing that runs through my system. I find that if I take my probiotics at night that I wake up with less puffy eyes/water retention, and my digestion is better. I have a few food intolerances/allergies, and this is the probiotic that has made the biggest difference for me. I’ve also noticed that this has helped my girls with skin breakouts! Recommended dose is 4 a day.
• Pure OptiFerin C: This is an Iron + Ferritin supplement. On my blood work, my iron always looked like it was in normal/healthy ranges. I had achy legs, dizziness, and was cold all of the time. My doctor decided to check my ferritin levels (a subset of iron). They were practically non-existent. Ferritin is a protein that helps store and release iron. Within a week of taking this my legs quit aching, my body warmed up, and my dizziness was gone. If you have restless leg syndrome, a ferritin deficiency can be the cause of it, be sure to ask to have it tested. I take 2 a day. Recommended dose is 1 a day.
• Rainbow Light Everyday Calcium (with Magnesium): This is a food-based formula that includes enzymes for digestion. I’m pretty sure all women should be taking this, especially as we get older. This brand was recommended by my doctor. I take 2 a day. Recommended dose is 4 per day.
• Priority One Methyl-Balance: I have figured out over the years that I need to take methylated vitamins (especially B vitamins). My hands seem to be shaky if I don’t take my B vitamins. I also notice a difference in energy.  Recommended dose is 1 per day. 
• Xyngular Complete Collagen: I have tried other kinds of collagen (like Vital Proteins) that absolutely tore my stomach up. I could not process it, so I kind of gave up. A friend recommended this product and it has digestive enzymes and 3 different kinds of collagen. It tastes great and is easily digested. I notice my hair is growing a little faster, but weird side effect? The whites of my eyes are BRIGHTER! Recommended serving is one scoop in water. 

Some things I hope you noticed:

• I have a doctor that I love that does blood work to see what’s missing and ensure things are working. He’s a D.O. and what I call a medical super sleuth. He’s a total detective and wants to see results. If you don’t have a doctor like that, you need to find one.
• I included the recommended dose for each vitamin, and I told you how much I take. Most of the time, what I take is different (both higher and lower). It’s what MY body needs. You need to figure out what YOUR body needs.
• I’m still working on it. You need to follow up on this stuff and make adjustments over time. I do blood work every 6 months.

A few other favorite products in our vitamin cabinet: 

• Bragg Apple Cider Vinegar: I take this if I feel like I’m getting sick or need a little extra digestive support. It’s also supposed to be good for circulation. 
• Digest Gold: I have a gluten intolerance. It’s not horrible or life-threatening. I typically just get a stomach ache or feel bloated. If I eat gluten consistently over time my joints hurt and my skin is enflamed. If I decide to go ahead and have a piece of cake or I accidentally end up with some gluten, I’ll take one of these and these digestive enzymes and it helps a ton!

Other Things in My Health Arsenal

In addition to these supplements, I do other things to help my body and brain work the way I want them to. I try to go on a 2-mile walk every day (I hate running). I do yoga once or twice a week. I do some basic stuff at my house (pushups, lunges, etc.) I have a pretty basic physical regiment. I just don’t have the time to make it to the gym much and I need simple stuff I can do from home.

I also see a massage/structural therapist once a month. This isn’t really the relaxing kind. It’s the kind that digs deep into my muscles and posture. I’m at my computer a lot and my back needs lots of undoing on a regular basis.

I’m really careful about what I eat. I’d say that I eat 80-90% Whole 30 (Vegetables, fruits, meats, seeds/nuts), and I avoid quite a few things (grains, dairy, sugar, some nuts, and beans).

The results of all of this? 

It’s work, but work that has results I can feel. I rarely get sick. I sleep great. My family is healthier. I’m happier.

My overall philosophy is that our health is 80% what we put into our bodies and about 20% the way we use our bodies.