One of the questions I get asked most frequently about my weight loss journey are what supplements I take. This has changed and evolved over time. I used to take a TON! Through massive research I realized I was over supplementing and taking ineffective vitamins.

I went through a long process trying to figure out why I had a variety of strange symptoms occurring. I even went as far as having and endoscopy and then exploratory surgery to get to the root of them. In the end – that didn’t come up with a whole lot – but my Dr. did find some of my intestines had kind of twisted / adhered to themselves. Please remember my initial RNY was in 2004. My current physician fixed this issue during the exploratory surgery and some of the weird symptoms I have had for nearly 20 years did in fact resolve. It did not however solve everything. I dug deeper and after about a year of pouring through articles and medical journals I realized I was suffering from long covid and was experiencing a host of issues brought on by oxidative stress and adrenal fatigue. Oxidative stress can occur about two months post covid – but due to the lag many people do not make the connection. I developed POTS as part of mine. Upon realizing all of this I dug deeper and deeper to learn how fundamentally important our PH balance is as well as our electrolyte balance. This is a very oversimplified statement – but these are the keys at the root of MANY health issues.

To counter this I altered my routine to balance my electrolytes first thing every morning. I start with a bottle of water (which I use to take my supplements). Then, I have water with Liquid IV because the amount of magnesium and potassium helps keep my electrolyte balance in check which directly affects my heart rate and essentially keeps my POTs at bay. If I need additional supplementation I will also mix 8oz orange juice (with no added vitamins, etc, pulp free) and 8oz coconut water. I personally cannot stand coconut, but cannot taste it at all when these two are mixed. This drink helps with adrenal fatigue and also is another large boost of potassium and magnesium.

My supplements to minimize the effects of oxidative stress are quite literally anti-oxidants. I will include medical journals here to back up my statements with the research I did.

Pictured are the items I take daily:

Lutein & Zeaxanthin – Eye Health (My experience may not be yours, but my prescription got BETTER at my last visit to the eye doctor for the first time in my life).
Lion’s Mane – I am currently taking THIS ONE but have ordered the POWDERED form to add to protein shakes as I have heard it is even more effective.
Astaxanthin – The mother of all antioxidants – when we were reading medical journals and they all kept saying the same great things my husband said “sounds like Jesus in a pill!) – it is what makes shrimp pink and salmon have the strength to swim upstream. Also known as “sunscreen in a pill”. It does NOT have a fishy taste at all.
NAC – Do your brain the favor. This is a powerful antioxidant. One day about two months into taking it I mentioned to my husband “I keep realizing I haven’t taken my adderall at all until about 3pm” He looked at me and said “you know what, now that you mention it, the same thing has been happening to me!” – It took us a minute to trail it back – but this was the common denominator.
Magnesium – I might do a whole blog post on all the different types – their uses, their benefits – what to stay away from… but this is the one that you want!