5 Supplements I'd Recommend to Those who Hate Taking Supplements

Are you like me? I hate taking medications. For one, I've never been consistent. Many times, I forget. Secondly, I hate routine. I get tired of doing the same things over and over again. I get lazy if something becomes repetitive. When it comes to vitamins and supplements however, I had to discipline myself into taking them.

Some people don't believe in taking capsules. They say anything that's not natural is not actually beneficial and that the only way to get your vitamins and nutrients is to eat them, to get them from actual food. The problem with that kind of thinking though is it's often difficult to do that. You may need to stuff yourself with so much food in order to get all the nutrients you need in one day.

Due to seasonal availability, it may also be impossible to manage an exact or rigid food diet.  Hence, stocking up on "the right kind" of vitamins and nutritional supplements may actually be good for you. Take them when you are unable to eat the right amount of nutrients you need. They will provide the nourishment you miss out on from the food you consume. Here, I share some of the most basic supplements you'd want to be taking (at least):

1. Vitamin C

Vitamin C boosts the immune system and promotes faster healing. It is also good for maintaining healthy skin conditions. From researching the best Vitamin C to take, I learned that:

• A combination of Ascorbic Acid/Sodium Ascorbate is more beneficial. It is easier on the digestive tract and it allows for better absorption.
• Timed-release or Slow-release tabs/caps ensure a steady distribution of Vitamin C throughout the day. Even a dose of 500mg will be absorbed slowly and surely, and not just be excreted in the urine in a matter of minutes.
• A combination of Vitamin C and Bioflavonoids is best. Bioflavonoids are antioxidants that help flush toxins from the body. Proponents of alternative medicine say that it helps the body absorb the Vitamin C much better. But more studies need to validate that.
• Sugarless, chewable tabs will get kids to taking them voluntarily :)

For a more helpful read from Oregon State University, check this out.

What I take:

Cenovis Vitamin C

American Health Ester C with Bioflavonoids

Thompson C with Bioflavonoics

Bewell C

2. Vitamin E

Vitamin E is an antioxidant that helps slow down the aging process. It helps the body fight against health problems and promotes healing as well. It is also good for the heart, especially circulation. From researching the best Vitamin E to take, I learned that:

• Synthetic vitamin E is no good so watch out for labels that contain dl-alpha-tocopherol. It is not easily absorbed by the body. Choose d-alpha-tocopherols and if you can get mixed tocopherols, that's actually quite a good choice as well. Alphas are good antioxidants while Gammas are good anti-inflammatory Vitamin E types.

What I take:

Cenovis Mega E

ATC Vitamin E

3. Celery Caps

Celery grants a lot of health benefits. It is a great anti-inflammatory and I take it to help manage my arthritic conditions. It helps with gout conditions as well. It is also a diuretic that helps me flush out toxins and helps me deal with water retention brought about by a high sodium diet or other triggers. It is also a natural blood pressure lowering supplement.

• The best supplements would be Celery Seed Extracts with high potency or concentration.

What I take:

Cenovis Celery Caps

4. Green Tea Caps

Prescribing Green Tea  for health reasons has been an ancient practice especially in Asia. Green Tea does give a lot of health benefits. It is an effective antioxidant. It helps with digestion and enhances metabolism in the body, it helps you burn fat and calories. It is prescribed by alternative medicine proponents for anti-cancer measures and cancer management purposes.

The University of Maryland gives a good discussion on the benefits of taking green tea. Read here.

What I take:

Redoxfat

Next Generation Green Tea Vegetarian Capsules

5. Probiotics

Probiotics help maintain a healthy gut and fights digestive & intestinal inflammations. This allows your body to absorb nutrients more efficiently. You also have fewer stomach upsets like diarrhea, gas, or bloating. Other probiotics strains help you build overall immunity especially on the skin. When my body was undergoing heavy inflammation, I broke out into hives and rashes all over my body. Blackmores Probiotics Eczema for infants helped me a lot. I took one daily. It contains 20 billion strains of Lactobacillus Rhammosus gg Once recovered, I included 1 cap a day of Blackmore Probiotics Immune Defence as part of my supplementation. Here are the concentration amounts:

Blackmores has a varied line of Probiotics you may explore.

Nature's Way also has an article on choosing probiotics.

Other brands may prove better. Let me know by commenting below :)

There you have it! 5 Supplements you should be taking... if you can't have all the required amounts from actual food.