My typical supplements

Supplements are an interesting concept. I’m a bit skeptical about “superfoods.”  I’ve no doubt that there are healthy nutritious benefits in cacao, maca, sprirulina, etc. etc. etc.   Ideally we should be getting as many vitamins, minerals, phytonutrients and so on via good whole food.  Supplements and superfoods are expensive and they are rarely locally produced products

The problem, is that our soil and air are denatured.  Pollution rules the day (especially here in L.A.).  Socio-political issues hinder the availability of good whole food (see the concept of food deserts).  Circumstances make it so our diets are less than complete.

Also, supplements can be useful when people have pre-existing health conditions.  Depression, for example, can be helped with doses of essential fatty acids.

I do use a few supplements regularly because I have some health issues.  Here’s my favorite “stack.”  I typically add these to my daily green smoothies.

MSM – methylsulfonylmethane – great for joints and tendons.  I have suffered painful bouts of tendonitis and MSM has really helped me.

DHA purity – a great vegan source of essential fatty acids.  The science indicates it’s deficient in people with depression.  That’s me.   Nobody likes it when Laura doesn’t take her happy juice.

E3 live – Aphanizomenon flos-aquae blue-green algae (AFA for short) – full of chlorophyll, protein, amino acids.  It has Phenylethylamine which is believed to have anti-depressant effects, and Phycocyanin (the blue part of the blue-green) which is believed to have anti-inflammatory properties.

Bee Pollen – not strictly vegan.  I’m a beegan.  There are methods of collecting pollen which do not hurt the bees. Bee pollen is a good source of carbs and protein.  It adds a nice sweet flavor to foods.  It can help allergy sufferers. It works like allergy shots – you get a small dose of the irritant in order to build up immunity.  The wife and I do suffer allergies.  L.A. pollution makes it worse.   We get local pollen from local apiaries at our neighborhood farmers market whenever possible.  The jar in the photo is a brand we get when we can’t get regional pollen.  There isn’t a lot of science behind the health claims but, it tastes good, and it can’t hurt.

Acidopholus – good flora.  Friendly bacteria which aids digestion.  I’ve got IBS and every bit of gut help I can get is welcomed.  It also helps combat candida, if you’re prone to that.

I also take a multi-vitamin and a vitamin D/calcium supplement in addition to the stack of stuff I add to my daily smoothie.  The multi is an insurance policy since I may not be eating a wide variety of foods and there is that whole soil depletion thing. The vitamin D is due to the depression – it’s low in depressed individuals.   It’s also critical in maintaining the calcium balance in your bones.  Calcium supplementation alone is not enough.   I have a high risk factor for osteoporosis (mom’s got it, I’m of Northern European extraction with a fine bone structure).

I do use so called super-foods from time to time (especially cacao — chocolate smoothies anybody?).  I use them as food rather than supplement though.  It’s purely a matter of taste.

Using supplements is a bit expensive.  It does seem to help.  If money became an issue I’d surely focus on eating more greens and getting more exercise.  As long as I can afford it and it doesn’t cause harm I’ll continue using my stack.