To supplement or not to supplement~

As a trainer I get asked this question a lot,  "What supplements should I be taking, if any?"

For general health and fitness I will always recommend :
-A good quality multi vitamin. I push this one firmly because regardless of how "perfect" your diet may be, you are never able to get the exact amount of vitamins and or minerals in with just food. The more active your are, the more you need, and food itself will never supply an adequate amount.
 -An omega 3 or fish oil to increase the intake of your essential fatty acids. Keeping your essential fatty acid levels up will allow your body to release the stored 'bad' fats. (an added bonus is clear skin and shiny healthy hair and nails)
-A greens supplement powder to help balance out your PH levels, aid in energy levels and help to detoxify and cleanse the internal body of the 'crap'.
I personally use the GNC brand for 'mega' active women multi vitamin, my omega 3 is Costco brand and my new favorite obsession is my GREENS / PHYTO BERRY mix, Performance Edge from MAGNUM NUTRACUTICALS
A popular supplement today in almost every body's life is a protein powder. This is something that I will recommend for those who are unable to get sufficient protein from regular food.
If a protein powder is something that you will include in your routine, be aware of the differences in powders. Whey Isolate, Whey Concentrate,Casein, Soy and hemp are the most popular, and can be discussed in more detail with an associate in the health food store.
Flavors can vary, some delicious and some not so much lol. I have tried and tested many a protein powders and my favorite to date is .... Chocolate Love, Magnum Nutracuticals.
* I personally like to deal with GNC and  POPEYES, on Bay and Douglas in Victoria, and find Chris and his staff extremely educated on their product.


Now, that is just for general everyday maintenance.

The more specific your training is, the more supplements will have a role in your daily nutrition routine.
A pre workout energy building,mass builder drink - I use one regularly and love the energy and 'pump' it gives my muscles during and post workout. I use SERUM, by MAGNUM Nutracuticals

If you are looking to cut down for competition or sport, I will recommend, and i mean it when i say, USE SPARINGLY, and not regularly.
A 'thermogenic' fat burning stack can be very helpful if you find a high quality, scientifically tested and proven combo.Make sure you are following all guidelines and stop immediately if you feel ill.
A solid combo that I also use every 6 months or so is again through the company MAGNUM.
Heat paired with Acid does the trick.
An amino acid combo is crucial when training regularly, especially with intensity. (SERUM has a high count of amino acids, but many other post workout recovery supplements or even go directly to buying a bottle of BCAA's)

(I am not paid through MAGNUM, I just feel so strongly that the products are top of the line,  they area a young local (Vancouver) company and will continue to support them as they grow.

There are many other types of supplementation, more so with men. There's the famous Creatine, Testosterone booster, and many many others

Please before starting any supplement program other than for general health (listed above) speak to a professional, and if its your first time, think about keeping a journal of any new feelings or sensations your body feels with the new nutrients.
To recap, if you haven't already started your multi vitamin, omega 3 and greens supplement, do yourself a favour, next time your in the grocery store, or health food store, load up. The importance of these three is crucial to feeling your best!!!!

** For more information on my favorite products through Magnum go to www.hardmagnum.com