Exactly! We've somehow gotten to a place where people think they can out-supplement a poor diet or that there's a magic pill for every symptom instead of looking at the basics first.
The supplement industry has done such a good job marketing that people often skip right over the fundamentals - good food, movement, muscle, sleep, stress management - and go straight to the pills and potions. Quality supplements absolutely have their place, but they work best when you've got a solid foundation! 🧡
I see so many people waste so much money on supplements that don't work. I highly research what I use and now have a few great ones from amazing companies I trust. I love Purium and Ancient Minerals for magnesium.
Thank you so much! I'm a huge believer in getting the fundamentals right first - food, movement, sleep, stress management - because no supplement can fix a poor foundation. But when someone has their basics dialed in and still needs targeted support, that's where quality supplements can be game-changing!🧡
Vitamin D3 supplements really work. My blood test in February showed my Vitamin D level was 16 ng/mL - lower than the low end of the acceptable range (30-100 ng/mL). My NP put me on a 50K IU dosage 1x per week for 12 weeks. Yesterday's blood test showed I was at 62 ng/mL! As a result of reading an article, possibly on this Substack column, I started taking Magnesium to help my body absorb the D3. Wow, that 1st week I slept thru the night which I hadn't done in years. The real observed benefit of the magnesium supplement has made me a believer. Waiting to speak to my NP about taking Vitamin D supplement going forward. Thank you for providing quality health information!
Thank you for sharing this—so glad to hear how much your vitamin D and magnesium regimen helped. I actually conducted two clinical trials on magnesium supplements, and we saw positive effects on sleep quality, very similar to your experience. It’s always great to see real-world stories that line up with the research. Wishing you continued good health as you and your NP plan your next steps!
I have chronic illness so supplements are a big part of how I stay healthy. I am working with a ND and have noticed that the brand matters so much. The field is not regulated at all so it’s a “buyer beware” situation.
This is so informative, thank you! My GP suggested I take a women’s multivitamin and I’ve been taking we natal. I believe my recent blood work is misleading since I was taking the vitamins. If I wanted to take another test, how long would you suggest I stop taking my supplements to get the true story?
Great question! For most vitamins, 3-7 days is typically sufficient - 3-5 days for water-soluble vitamins like B12 and folate, and 7-14 days if your multi contains iron or fat-soluble vitamins. However, I'd definitely check with your GP first since they ordered the tests and know exactly which markers they're concerned about. They can also advise whether stopping is safe given your specific health situation.
Great question, especially for those freckled and fair (like me, too)! The key is timing and using your tummy as a vitamin D factory - expose your tummy for 10-20 minutes during early morning (before 10 am) or late afternoon sun (after 4 pm) when UV rays are gentler, while keeping your face protected with a good mineral sunscreen and a hat. Your fair skin produces vitamin D more efficiently than darker skin tones, so you need less exposure time to get the benefits without the cancer risk!
thanks for voicing this. I feel like we throw common sense out the window these days...
Exactly! We've somehow gotten to a place where people think they can out-supplement a poor diet or that there's a magic pill for every symptom instead of looking at the basics first.
The supplement industry has done such a good job marketing that people often skip right over the fundamentals - good food, movement, muscle, sleep, stress management - and go straight to the pills and potions. Quality supplements absolutely have their place, but they work best when you've got a solid foundation! 🧡
I see so many people waste so much money on supplements that don't work. I highly research what I use and now have a few great ones from amazing companies I trust. I love Purium and Ancient Minerals for magnesium.
Thank you for sharing. I’m always interested in great companies.
Love how thorough this article is! Great job spreading the word of basics first and then quality supplements after that IF needed
Thank you so much! I'm a huge believer in getting the fundamentals right first - food, movement, sleep, stress management - because no supplement can fix a poor foundation. But when someone has their basics dialed in and still needs targeted support, that's where quality supplements can be game-changing!🧡
Vitamin D3 supplements really work. My blood test in February showed my Vitamin D level was 16 ng/mL - lower than the low end of the acceptable range (30-100 ng/mL). My NP put me on a 50K IU dosage 1x per week for 12 weeks. Yesterday's blood test showed I was at 62 ng/mL! As a result of reading an article, possibly on this Substack column, I started taking Magnesium to help my body absorb the D3. Wow, that 1st week I slept thru the night which I hadn't done in years. The real observed benefit of the magnesium supplement has made me a believer. Waiting to speak to my NP about taking Vitamin D supplement going forward. Thank you for providing quality health information!
Thank you for sharing this—so glad to hear how much your vitamin D and magnesium regimen helped. I actually conducted two clinical trials on magnesium supplements, and we saw positive effects on sleep quality, very similar to your experience. It’s always great to see real-world stories that line up with the research. Wishing you continued good health as you and your NP plan your next steps!
I love this vegan protein powder. It has no stevia (which I don’t like the flavor of) nor any flavoring: https://www.gardenoflife.com/products/our-vitamins/raw-organic-protein/raw-organic-protein-powder-unflavored-no-stevia. The Ora protein powder looks great too! I’ll have to try it. I’m also interested in the goat whey protein. It is so hard to find clean protein powders. Thanks!
thank you for sharing the one you like!
I have chronic illness so supplements are a big part of how I stay healthy. I am working with a ND and have noticed that the brand matters so much. The field is not regulated at all so it’s a “buyer beware” situation.
You’re right—brand quality matters so much. It really is “buyer beware,” and working with a good ND makes all the difference.
This is so informative, thank you! My GP suggested I take a women’s multivitamin and I’ve been taking we natal. I believe my recent blood work is misleading since I was taking the vitamins. If I wanted to take another test, how long would you suggest I stop taking my supplements to get the true story?
Great question! For most vitamins, 3-7 days is typically sufficient - 3-5 days for water-soluble vitamins like B12 and folate, and 7-14 days if your multi contains iron or fat-soluble vitamins. However, I'd definitely check with your GP first since they ordered the tests and know exactly which markers they're concerned about. They can also advise whether stopping is safe given your specific health situation.
How do you balance getting sun on your skin for healthy vitamin D and being wary of the rays causing cancer. I’m of the freckled fair variety 👩🦰
Great question, especially for those freckled and fair (like me, too)! The key is timing and using your tummy as a vitamin D factory - expose your tummy for 10-20 minutes during early morning (before 10 am) or late afternoon sun (after 4 pm) when UV rays are gentler, while keeping your face protected with a good mineral sunscreen and a hat. Your fair skin produces vitamin D more efficiently than darker skin tones, so you need less exposure time to get the benefits without the cancer risk!