Fueling the Machine - Supplements
I get asked by friends what my routine is on many things, one of which is my health/skincare routine.
That is a pretty complex answer, like, reaaaalllly complex. I could never detail ALL the things in a single blog post - your head might explode and I don't want that on my conscience. I promise we will get to all of it eventually. This seems as good a time as any to start at square one though - supplements.
There are so many things that affect your health and, in addition, your skin. Your gut and your skin are wonderful indicators of your current overall health. There is so much you can do to change things in both directions. It's overwhelming frankly.
I not saying this is what everyone else should run out and do. I'm just letting y'all in on what I myself do everyday.
My day starts with a 5am alarm, a workout or some book reading, then everyone else wakes around 6:30am and we get our day in gear.
That's where my supplements come in. I only take them once a day, in the morning. If you want me to do anything more convoluted than that, I'm gonna fail at it; seriously will. I know who I am.
Also, I'm not yet compensated for any of these recommendations or products. I'd recommend them anyway. But if anyone wants to help me change the 'ole compensation setup, holler at your girl!
Here we go - every morning supplements:
2 Flo vitamins. These claim to help your menstrual symptoms when taken regularly. After a few months I gotta admit I do think my cramps are a little lessened (I have real serious ones) and, dare I say, my bloating is decreased. I still want to eat all the chips, so I'm not seeing improvement there but I just really friggin' love chips.
1,000 MG of vitamin C. You might say to yourself, "Yes of course, immunity. She has an auto-immune disease and germ-riddled youngsters. Makes sense." Yea, it is for that too. But that's really just a bonus. The real reason is vanity. Vitamin C also helps your collagen production and elastin. You can't effectively produce collagen without it. Once you learn all the other components of my routine (some revealed here, some not just yet) you'll see why this is so crucial for me.
1-2 small vitamin D3 capsules. 1 if I might get a little sun already that day. None if I'm going to be out in it all day. Good for bone health, immune support, and muscle function. We just mostly don't get enough sun and I don't like to be in the physical sun all the time because that is also bad for your skin. Balance.
1 capsule of Arnica. Muscle relief and helps with bruising - something I have a tendency to do easily. I will go up to 2 a day for a few days before any heavy cosmetic procedure (such as microneedling) to help minimize swelling and bruising. Works for me.
3 capsules Vital Restore. This is the gut stuff. Helps with leaky gut symptoms and regulating things. I don't seem to have as many vagus nerve issues on this stuff. I'm not a scientist, I'm just reporting what I know as a user.
2 scoops a day of Collage Peptide powder in my morning coffee. Or 2 scoops beauty powder in water. I really think my thighs and booty have a better texture to them since I've started using this stuff over a year ago. It's not all about the face! It mostly is for me... but not all. Lol.
4 capsules Collagen Booster with hyaluronic acid and resveratrol. I'll try just about anything that says it will help my collagen production. I find I am one that loses it quickly and needs all the help I can get in that department. Any weight loss and my face sinks. So I figure it doesn't hurt to cover all the bases.
That covers my daily stuff - other than melatonin at night and a Tylenol here and there.
My supplements are focused on how my skin looks and how my joints, muscles and gut feel and function. That's the only way I can get out of bed and do the rest of the things, like workout.
Supplements don't fix any and all issues. They supplement or help your body with producing the things it needs to function at its best. If you're expecting supplements alone to turn back time or make you look/feel 20-something again (and you're very much not), you'll be disappointed. They are an important component of a robust and complex regimen. But not enough on their own.
Everyone's mixture will be unique, just like we are. But if you do not do it consistently - and I meant it; I'm looking right at you! - you will not get the full benefit you are looking for. You have to commit and find whatever your particular reminder system is so that you take them regularly and consistently.
So that's it. It's not "that" complicated but it's not that simple either. Just being real with you.
- Monica