Supplements: What’s in your cabinet?
Spirulina ballerina,
People always ask me what kind of supplements I take. To be honest, it changes and my personal supplements are tailored to my blood work. Meaning, I get a comprehensive analysis twice a year and my doctors design a nutraceutical program around my needs. My super smart functional medicine doctors are Keith Block, Ken Bock and Mark Hyman. Wowza do I love my men! But here are a list of what I call “The Foundationals” – basic, everyday, everyone products that can boost your health. To tailor a plan specific to you, it would be a good idea to see a functional medicine doctor or naturopath. Check out my blog on integrative MDs.
Green Powders
As much as possible I try to get my vitamins, minerals, enzymes, oxygen, antioxidants and phytonutrients from my food. I juice daily, make smoothies and eat a high-raw, organic (when possible), vegan diet. But these days, our food isn’t really enough, even when it’s organic! Enter the boosters. Hands down I love the Amazing Grass products. It is one of the tastiest and most nutritious superfood products on the market. One stop shopping loaded with tons of greens, spirulina, chlorella grasses and probiotics!
Multi-vitamin
If your diet isn’t what you’d like it to be, you may want to consider a multi. Vita Synergy and Mega Food are good brands.
Enzymes
Without enzymes, life could not exist. They are needed for every biochemical reaction in the body. As we age, our bodies’ natural production of enzymes decreases. Supplementation with enzymes along with proper diet and exercise will help to maintain normal enzyme levels, balancing your body’s own repair mechanisms. Take them with your meals. Here are some brands I heart: Theramedix DGX, Enzymetica Digest Gold and Hippocrates Enzymes (digestive AND systemic). I take the systemic enzymes in between meals. They help with repair while the digestive enzymes help break down food.
Probiotics
It is said that up to 80 percent of our immune system is located in the digestive system. When good bacteria are destroyed by stress, poor diet and antibiotics, birth control pills, drugs etc – probiotics help the digestive system by replenishing the good bacteria and balancing out the bad. Dr. Ohirra’s is my hands down FAVORITE! Theramedix PBC is a good brand too. So is PB8.
B12
For all you vegs and vegans out there, B12 is an important supplement to add to your diet. We need it and it’s hard to get unless you eat dead tush. B12 plays a key role in the body. It is required for energy production, red blood cell formation and proper nervous system development. B12 has also been shown to improve memory and promote heart health. Lack of sufficient amounts of vitamin B12 can lead to anemia. Research has shown that vitamin B12 levels decline as we age. This may be due to bad food choices, reduced intake of B12 or poor absorption. Check out: MegaFood, Nu Chapter and Innate brands.
Vitamin C
Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant. It neutralizes free radicals and helps boost our immune system. High doses of IV Vitamin C can have therapeutic benefits in the treatment of cancer. Pure Radiance C is a good oral supplement.
Vitamin D3
The sunshine vitamin is naturally produced in the skin with adequate sunlight exposure. Who gets that? Not me! Vitamin D3 plays an important role in bone health and calcium utilization. It’s also REALLY important for your immune system. This vitamin has been associated with preventing cancer and reducing heart problems. Pure Encapsulations makes terrific products.
What’s in my water?
Aloe & cell food! Aloe helps to soothe the colon and assist with bowel movements. Cell food give ya more oxygen. Cancer HATES oxygen.
What’s in my smoothie? Mostly veggies and a little bit of fruit but when I want an extra kick I add protein powder (Brendan Braziers Vega products are tasty!) or hemp powder, sometimes a dash of maca (terrific for your adrenals) and or a plot of cacao (wakes me up in a flash) Navitas makes them both these powders. E3 live is another terrific booster. Oh, and who can forget spirulina.
Problems with your pooper?
Try Natural Calm and/or use aloe. Hippocrates makes a great bowel cleanser and so does Hippocrates. Check them out and let it out! Don’t forget to hydrate and eat lots of fiber. If you need more help, give enemas and colonics a whirl. Get curious and look into wheat grass implants. Zing! Your liver will thank you.
Peace & pills,
Kris
Updated: September 2, 2011
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29 Comments
I’m still writing believe it or not. Check back later today for an update to this post.
xo Kris
Hi Kris! I have found that as I learn more along the journey, I am adding/changing supplements for different reasons. A couple of questions for you:
1. I recall you using Green Vibrance in the past and I take that now. Have you changed because you have found that Vitamineral is better? If so, in what way?
2. I think my main frustration with supplements is this…how do we know what is working and what isn’t? Can you recommend any general tests/bloodwork to determine this, or is it best to see a naturopath to find these answers?
3. One more – where do you rank cellfood and E3 on the list, are they considered supplements?
Sorry this is longer than I intended. You know what – this is one of those “ask the expert” type of info that maybe you should charge for….don’t ya think?
Thanks and love you angel! xoxo Sherry
quick rundown on my regimen:
Vitamineral Green
Ins Wheatgrass powder
Healthforce Nut. Spirulina
both added to juice/ smoothies
Vitamins:
Zinc: Solaray 50mg 1 ea
Energy B Complex with C: Rainbow Light 1 ea
Vitamin D-3 1000 I.U.:Trader Joes 1 ea
Evening Primrose Oil 1000 mg: Trader Joes 2 ea
I am on a budget, so trader joes does fill the bill for those two!
If I am fighting any kind of infection I use Garlicin tablets and Olive Leaf drops.
I think everyone needs to find their best mix, try to stick with food based vegan brands.
thanks for this!
deb xoxooxo
Hi Sherry,
Green Vibrance is a good brand – stick with it if it works for you.
I totally agree – yes, get a blood test! My naturopath does labs on me to determine what I need and what I don’t. The foundationals are what I find most of us are lacking but to be specific blood work is needed.
Cell food is a supplement, E 3 live I would consider a food.
XO
PS. Thanks you for your ask the expert comment! Yes, I am strongly considering offering Crazy Sexy Consults! Brainstorming sessions and guidance with Kris… We shall see…
Deb reminded me about zinc. You know those little white spots on your nails?? That’s zinc deficiency!
I use E3live and either raw power or maca in smoothies, and I am a big fan of colloidal silver (protects me from cold/flu), but otherwise just rely on gorgeous greens, fabulous fruit & the all of the great raw, organic food available!
After reading 80/10/10, I nixed the coconut oil, EFA supplements, vitamin supplements. I feel great, have even more energy & am saving loads of money!
Tyrosine (for thyroid), Vit D 2000 mg, calcium 1000 mg, One a day type (can’t remember the brand) without iron, B12 drops, Vit C 2000 mg and Fish oil or other fatty acid with DHA/EPA…..hmmmmm oh yeah, my fave: Wheat grass powder!
Hey juicy Kris
I started zinc for my skin, thought it would help, but I have read that it is really good for us canser folks.
love you !
deb
I just wrote about this same subject on my little blog last night! http://heartshapedsky.vox.com/library/post/raw-supplements-and-superfoods.html
Thank you so much for your list. So much to learn about and try. I love this site and you rock it!
xoxo
I take turmeric supplements too…I used to sprinkle it on salads but I was losing my mind because everything turned yellow/orange!
Magnesium too (with calcium) -important for strong healthy bones in case I’m not getting enough in my diet.
PS – Kris, NO ONE should expect you to continuously give and share your knowledge and experience for free. I giggle every time I see Deb call you juicy Kris, but prob more appropriate is Crazy Sexy Consults…love the concept. Honey, if you build it, they will come!! (Yes I’m quoting Field of Dreams). xoxo
Kris,
Thanks so very much for this very important info! I have just discovered systemic enzymes (thanks to your info) and it is a great discovery for me! What is the name of the systemic enzymes that you get from Hippocrates? I have checked their site but am not sure which enzymes are systemic. Also, do you recommend first checking with one’s ND before taking them?
Thanks again!!
Mary
Kris, Thanks so much! I have heart problems, and have been researching coQ10. Do you recommend any specific brand? Its so overwhelming to try and guess which to choose? I have heard amazing things about it though.
This is AMAZING! Thank you so much, I have been waiting for this post.
I love Vitamineral Green and have recently started adding hemp protein to my smoothies – why did I wait so long? I also take zinc, natural calm when I need it (less and less), probiotics (need to step it up with my brand),B12, Digest Gold, aloe sporadically. Lucky for me I’ve been getting adequate sun but need to add D3 when I’m not. I’m patiently waiting for my spirulina order that Deb so kindly recommended.
Thank you KRIS – this was great!
Glad you like the Vitamineral Greens – my favorite
Kris – The cellfood is a new one for me. I only tried it once and it made me very alert and gave me a lot of energy. I ended up being up all night. So is that something you should just drink in the morning? And is it ok to put the aloe and cellfood into your water at the same time?
thanks!
Hi Kris, thanks for sharing. Always great to hear what works for others.
For me, it’s:
Daily:
Dr Ohhira’s probiotics
B12 sublingual
Aloe by Aloe Force
As needed:
Green powders
Dr Fred Bisci’s enzymes
Candex (if I’ve been going crazy on fruits and/or not feeling my absolute best)
Cheers
Casey
What is cell food and what brand(s) should I try?
Goons! love you! Can you believe that our Dee is preggers??? She needs to chime in on this discussion!
Love to Sherry too!
deb
hi kris, read you book helped me get through one of the toughest parts of my life, have been turning a corner health wise since my fight with cancer began. Love green foods, seems to help emensly, but i have began to take yj juice which contains fucoidan supposidly a major cancer fighter, and many other things check it out let us know what you think. also with green food i read a study that says spirulina is proven to detoxify against cisplatin is this something I could endorse to other in my shoes that may have to use this chemo drug. Anyway thank you so much for all your effort in the fight againts cancer, and are battle with living with cancer. You are an insperation to us all.
Murray,
YJ juice – not sure what that is. Spirulina – not sure if it detoxes cisplatin, I imagine that chlorella, dulse and saunas would have more of an effect.
Also – Cell Food – check it out gang, you can read about it on line – the brand is “CELL FOOD”. Goony – wow, it gives you that much energy!? Ok, so I guess take it earlier. I sip it through out the day, along with aloe and sometimes green powder in my alkaline water. I take 2 big kleen kanteens to work with me and suck them back.
This is some great information! I Healthforce Vitaminerals Greens and love it! I’ll definitely look up the Cell Food brand. This is my first time hearing about them.
Thanks again for the great info.!
Hi Kris,
Thanks so much for sharing this information. I know that you do not drink green tea, yet I read of the many health benefits of EGCG, even upon cancer. But you drink herbal teas. Do they have any reported health benefits like EGCG? Thanks for all of your help! Pam
Kris — also, what about wheat grass. Are you still taking wheat grass shots every day? Thanks! Pam
Great list! Thanks, Kris :)
Sweet! I’m overwhelmed with my vitamins. I think I’m going to get bloodwork done by my doc to see where I have problems because I’m rather randomly popping vitamins like a crackhead. B12, Vitamin C, Multi, Chlorlphyll drops in the water, Aloe Vera Juice, coQ10…also my cleanse.
Propolis
Pollen
Royal Jelly
Flax seed
Eleuthero (ginseng)
Lots of Yogi teas (especially Licorice and Detox)–yummy!
Stinging Nettle infusions
Lemon water
That’s it for the daily. I mix into my blend from time to time:
Echinacea
Omega Fatties
Bromelain
Folic acid, beta carotene, selenium
Rescue Remedy
Green tea
Melatonin
Voilà!
Hi Kris…thank you for this list. Nice to know I’m not the only one taking a butt-load of stuff every day. To your list I would add zyflamend (by New Chapter) which has wonderful natural herbs to fight inflammation naturally. It contains turmeric, ginger, rosemary, holy basil (etc.). A great formula. Also I take quercetin (the megafood brand).
Peace.
First Duvivier, now Dieterle. ,
Kris,
thanks for that. I am always baffled by the millions of different supplements there are on the shelves.
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March 9, 2009