Scour the shelves of any health food store and there seems to be a supplement for every ailment. And now, in the age of the internet, just a quick search for said ailment will produce a myriad of ads for every miracle cure in a bottle.
With all that being said, I’m actually a big fan of supplements... for that purpose... to supplement a healthy eating plan and potentially target some specific health issues that need specific attention.
But with so many options, how do you choose?
Below I have listed the 5 supplements we currently offer in our Live Smart Nutritionals supplement line. Since every person’s needs are different, you may need some, all, or none at all... and that’s ok!
Energize Daily Greens Powder
Energize is our all-natural, energizing greens powder that is chock full of vitamins, minerals, digestive enzymes, and pre- and probiotics. My favorite part about Energize is that it does not contain caffeine or dangerous stimulants, so the increased energy comes from the natural ingredients that support your body to make its own natural and sustained energy.
There are so many reasons a high-quality greens powder can be a great addition to your weight loss eating plan but, hands down, the top two reasons I see all the time among our members is that it helps them control afternoon cravings and it helps them avoid the afternoon energy crash.
Energize is a good fit for you if you often experience any of the following…
- You find yourself dragging mid-morning or mid-afternoon, making your work or daily tasks difficult to accomplish.
- You have increased cravings for sugary snacks, especially in the afternoon, to get through the slump in your day.
- You don’t enjoy a variety of fruits and vegetables and tend to gravitate towards the same ones over and over again.
- You don’t feel well rested in the morning, even after a good night's sleep.
A huge downside I keep seeing in the supplement industry is that manufacturers jump on the bandwagon to produce the next popular supplement and, in an effort to get to market faster than their competitors, end up cutting corners and not focusing on quality. That's why many of the greens powders you find on Amazon and in some large retail stores are not 3rd party tested and are packed with fillers and additives.
Here are just a few of the ingredients I found in the most popular greens powders sold on Amazon:
- Guar gum
- Sunflower oil powder
- Natural flavors (an unregulated term)
- Sucralose (yes, an artificial sweetener in a so-called health drink)
Our Energize formula does NOT contain any of these dangerous ingredients and additives, so you can confidently take it every day without worrying about putting dangerous fillers in your body.
Energize is so easy to incorporate into your day. You just mix it with water and have it first thing in the morning or alongside your healthy breakfast.
OmegaPURE Essential Omega-3s
I don’t say this often, but I truly believe just about every person should be taking a quality Omega-3 product. I even have my teenage boys on an Omega-3 supplement.
Fish oil, the best source for quality Omega-3 fatty acids your body can use, contains Omega-3s, specifically DHA and EPA, which our bodies cannot make on their own. These fatty acids are critical for the optimum function of our brains, hearts, muscles, and joints (just to name a few), and it's vitally important that we get them from either food or supplementation.
Because the majority of people today are not getting enough foods like salmon, sardines, and anchovies in their diets (and honestly, it would really be hard to), supplementation is highly recommended.
The list of benefits of Omega-3 is endless and includes...
- Reduces the risk of heart disease, help stabilize cholesterol levels and lower triglycerides
- Supports cognitive function and memory
- Helps combat chronic inflammation in the body
- Supports retina health and may reduce the risk of macular degeneration
- Alleviates joint pain and stiffness, particularly in arthritis
- Supports metabolism, balances blood sugar, and may lead to accelerated weight loss
And that's just to name a few! What an amazing list! You can see why I recommend an Omega-3 supplement to just about everyone.
OmegaPure is a good fit for you if you…
- Have a family history of heart disease, high cholesterol, or high triglycerides or you are currently suffering from any of these conditions yourself
- Have a family history of diabetes or blood sugar related illnesses or you are suffering from this yourself
- Have a family history of Alzheimer's or dementia
- Suffer from any condition related to inflammation in your body
With Omega-3 supplements becoming so popular, there are many brands being sold today that are extremely low-quality and loaded with fillers and potentially dangerous additives. The majority of them are also not 3rd party tested and may use the cheapest and lowest-quality Omega-3s available to keep their profit margins as high as possible. If that wasn’t bad enough, many of these bottles end up on the supermarket shelf for months, maybe even years, slowly creating rancid oils with no regulations in place to keep bottles fresh.
So, yes, it is important to take an Omega-3 daily, but please be very careful which one you take.
Our Omega-3 supplement is 3rd party tested for purity and quality and does not contain any unnecessary additives or fillers, so you can feel confident about what you’re putting in your body every single day.
InflamCALM Essential Daily Turmeric
Turmeric is another one of those staple, foundational supplements that I recommend extremely often, especially to anyone suffering from conditions like arthritis or nagging joint pain.
Turmeric contains curcumin, which has the power to decrease inflammation and pain in the body just as much as over-the-counter nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs like Advil and Motrin. It accomplishes this by several mechanisms, including the COX-2 pathway blocked by NSAIDs.
That is amazing news for people who find themselves dependent on these anti-inflammatory drugs just to function well throughout the day. If you can accomplish the same pain relief with something natural that is also providing your body with other incredible benefits, that will always be a better choice than a drug that also comes with dangerous side effects (stomach ulcers and other serious gastrointestinal issues).
Similar to Omega-3s, the list of benefits that come with taking turmeric is quite extensive, but here are just a few...
- Combats chronic inflammation, which is linked to diseases such as arthritis, heart disease, and diabetes
- Helps reduce joint pain and stiffness, particularly in those with osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis
- Shows potential in reducing the risk of neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's
- Improves heart health and cholesterol levels
- Helps soothe digestive disorders, including gas, bloating, and inflammatory conditions like IBS
- Strengthens the immune system
It is important to note that turmeric’s benefits in the body are seen more powerfully when combined with black pepper for increased absorption. That is why our InflamCALM formula includes BioPerine, which is an extract of black pepper, clinically shown to increase the absorption of the curcumin that you take.
InflamCALM is a great option for you if you...
- Have arthritis or suffer from muscular pain often
- Have a family history of arthritis
- Suffer from consistent digestive issues like bloating, gas, constipation, or diarrhea
- Have a history of Alzheimer's or dementia in your family
InflamCALM is made with...
- Organic, non-GMO plants
- Absolutely zero added sugars
- Gluten free Curcuma Longa roots
- Vegan-friendly ingredients
- None of the eight most common allergens (milk, eggs, fish, shellfish, tree nuts, peanuts, wheat, and soybeans)
So you can be certain you are getting the highest quality ingredients when you take InflamCALM each day.
SkinREJUV Anti-Aging Collagen Formula
Aging is just a natural part of life. Our bodies are not quite the same at 50 as they were at 20, and that’s ok! But it doesn’t mean we can’t do our very best to support it along the way.
One significant change we see as we age is in our skin, and one of the biggest reasons is a decline in collagen beginning as early as 30 years old.
Collagen is the most abundant protein in the human body, providing structure, strength, and elasticity to various tissues. It forms the building blocks of skin, muscles, bones, tendons, ligaments, and connective tissues. Think of it as the "glue" that holds your body together.
The great news is that supplementing with high-quality collagen has been shown to...
- Reduce the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines
- Relieve joint pain and stiffness
- Reduce symptoms of osteoarthritis
- Help maintain bone density and strength
- Improve hair thickness and nail growth
- Support a healthy gut
- Help counteract bone density loss, particularly in menopausal and postmenopausal women
Another great list of incredible benefits, especially for women!
The wonderful thing about SkinREJUV is that it is not just plain collagen like so many other products. We have enhanced the benefits of collagen alone by adding several nutrients that support skin, hair, and nail health.
Nutrients like...
- Horsetail extract, a powerful anti-aging nutrient that protects your cells from "free radical" damage. It promotes skin elasticity and hair and nail strength
- Bamboo extract, which stimulates collagen production on a cellular level while improving firmness in skin, hair, and nails
- Hyaluronic acid, which speeds up the wound and scar healing process while drawing in much-needed moisture for improved skin hydration
SkinREJUV is a great choice for you if...
- You have noticed an increase in fine lines and wrinkles
- Your hair is thinning or shedding
- Your nails are brittle or won’t grow
- You're noticing more skin crepiness as you age
The great part about collagen is that it is so easy to use and to incorporate into your daily eating plan. You can add it to your morning coffee or tea; add it to foods like oatmeal, yogurt, or soup; or combine it with Energize to make the ultimate nutrient-rich morning drink.
MARIA Blood Sugar Support
Anyone who knows me, knows I have a deep passion for helping those with diabetes and any blood sugar related condition. My mother, Maria, was a Type 2 diabetic and the reason I became a nutritionist, which is why our Blood Sugar Support Formula is appropriately named after her.
MARIA is designed to...
- Help maintain steady blood sugar levels throughout the day
- Prevent dangerous blood sugar spikes
- Increase insulin sensitivity, helping your body more readily utilize glucose in your body
- Give support to pancreatic cells
MARIA includes the best of the best blood sugar regulating nutrients all in one dose including...
- Chromium, which is an essential trace mineral that plays a critical role in the metabolism of carbs and fats in the body
- Cinnamon, which has been well known for years to help lower blood sugar levels
- Berberine HCL, which can improve insulin sensitivity, reduce glucose production in the liver, and enhance the body’s ability to use sugar effectively, making it a powerful natural tool for managing blood sugar
- Gymnema, an herb known for its ability to reduce sugar absorption in the intestines and enhance insulin function
These four amazing nutrients, alongside a few more all-natural herbs, are all included in this highly effective formula.
MARIA is a great option for you if...
- You have been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes or prediabetes
- You have been told you have insulin resistance
- You have a family history of type 2 diabetes
- Your A1C is 5.7 or higher
Just one capsule of MARIA Blood Sugar Support has the potential to keep your blood sugar balanced and under control all day long. Take one capsule with your breakfast to set your body up for a well-balanced blood sugar day.
The right supplements can be a great addition to a healthy and well-balanced meal plan and have the potential to accelerate results or help you tackle specific health issues.
Rest assured we have taken the utmost care to choose what we truly believe are some of the best foundational supplements for your health journey.