We talk a lot about a good nutrition base and how "you can't outwork a bad diet."
All of that is true...
But we get a lot of questions on supplements.
Are they safe, should you take them, etc?
First, I think it's important to understand what supplements are.
The word supplement is defined as "to complete or enhance something."
Meaning, supplements do not replace your nutrition. They simply fill in the gaps and/or enhance it.
For example, you won't hear us talk about meal replacements.
We want your diet to be filled with real food.
However, there are some essential gaps that need to be filled in the traditional American diet that supplements fit nicely into.
Here are what we call the "CORE 4."
The four essential supplements that almost everyone would benefit from....
1. A Tub of Protein: Buying it by the tub allows you to save money per serving, although you can also get it in ready to drink shakes or single serve packets. The benefits of protein are endless including aiding in recovery, building lean muscle, boosting metabolism, and reducing inflammation. We recommend at least .8 grams per pound of body weight per day, but ideally, we're getting 1 gram of protein per pound of body weight. Taking a protein shake every day is a nice easy way to get an extra 30 grams that you can stack on top of what you get throughout the day with your traditional diet.
2. Greens Powder: You hear it preached all the time. More vegetables, more vegetables! Vegetables have essential vitamins and minerals our bodies need to lower cholesterol and even reduce the risk of stroke. Vegetables also have great things like potassium and fiber which also aid in the reduction of inflammation and a added safety measure in preventing metabolic diseases. However, with all that being said, we know getting the right amount of vegetables (7-10 servings per day) is hard to do. A greens powder is something you can mix right in with an existing drink and each scoop gives you 5 servings of vegetables, with all the same benefits. How can you beat that?
3. Fish Oil: You may have heard of fish oil and its benefits. Fish oil contains the fatty acids that a lot of us don't get in a traditional diet unless we eat a ton of fish. Fish oil is great for heart health including blood pressure, cholesterol, and triglycerides. It's also been shown to help with your vision, brain health, and even better skin.
4. ZMA: ZMA is a combination of Zinc and Magnesium along with vitamin B6. If you struggle with recovery and sleep this is a must! ZMA has been shown to help with recovery and helps you with better quality sleep. Our clients rave about this one.
I wanted to take a break today from the "fluffier" stuff I usually write about and give you some clear actionable education.
We sell supplements only for the reason that we think when done right, there are a lot of benefits for you.
We only sell 6 supplements because that's all we believe in, take ourselves, and feel comfortable and confident recommending to our clients.
If you go back to the definition of supplement, to complete or enhance, they can be a great tool to stack onto a healthy diet to give you that extra boost you're looking for.
If you have questions just reply and let us know.
You can pick up the CORE 4 kit at Spurling, or grab it here.
I'll be back tomorrow with Coach Kim's weekly guest post.
1% Better.
Dedicated to Your Success,
Doug Spurling
PS: If you're ready to really dial in your nutrition, we have a couple spots left in our next 6-week round of FLAG, Fat Loss Accountability Group. The next round starts Monday so you need to register today or tomorrow so we can get everything set up for you. Learn more and register here ===>>> FLAG