April 7, 2009

I am often asked what my “Top Recommended Supplements” are. Sometimes the question is vague (i.e. overall health) and sometimes it is more specific (i.e. burn fat fast). But it is probably the most common question I receive.

That's understandable.

Ever walked in a health club, gym or supplement outlet and been hounded by what seems like eight thousand “fat loss” labels staring back at you? Or some supplement with thirty ingredients designed to “shed fat and build lean muscle”? Or an article in the newspaper that basically tells you “nothing at all works, just exercise harder”?

Having worked for over a decade with thousands of people from across the planet, I realize that everybody's nutritional and dietary needs are vastly different. Because everybody's body is different. BUT there are a handful of supplements (SEVEN, as a matter of fact) that I actually do recommend, across the board, for everybody. These specific supplements will ensure that your body operates at peak capacity with maximum fat burning, optimized physical performance, laser focus, enhanced mental clarity, and a bulletproof immune system.

In other words, if you were headed to a stranded desert island, these are the supplements you'd want to take along. My “Super-Seven”, if you will. Anything else is just icing on the cake. Here they are (and yes, I take them all):

1. Mediterranean Oil of Oregano (Origanum Vulgare Essential Oil)

I know you've probably never heard of it, but you can read more about by clicking here. I just put a few drops under my tongue every night before bed, and also put a couple drops in a glass of water if I have to drink out a hotel room water tap or think I've eaten something that might be contaminated, like funny tasting meat at a restaurant. I also use it as an immune system booster (along with the Enerprime listed below) before and after I get on an airplane. It is mixed in a very unique and highly effective and absorbable 7:1 almond:oregano oil ratio, and the version of this oil that I use is 75% carvacrol, the primary indicator of quality. It even comes with a laboratory certificate of analysis, which the “fake” stuff at the grocery store doesn't give you. It is enormously effective in quickly eliminating yeast or fungal problems that lead to fat gain, eczema, acne, poor performance, and chronic fatigue. It can stop bad bugs in their tracks. It is also an incredibly rich source of iron and calcium, and can also be used as a topical anti-inflammatory, anti-septic, and anti-fungal. One Fluid Ounce (approx. 2 month supply) – $32.99.  Get it here.

2. Delta-E

This is an all-natural energy booster powder that you simply mix with a few ounces of water (but sometimes I just pour a packet into my mouth and let the energy hit me right away!). It includes healthy doses of the most bioavailable form of B vitamin, taurine for giving you physical energy, trace amounts of caffeine to stimulate the central nervous system, and L-theanine to increase dopamine production in the brain and give you happy energy (incidentally, with zero chance of a “crash”). I use this stuff as a pre-workout energy boost, I use it before triathlons, and I use it as an alternative to commercial energy drinks to bring me out of an afternoon “slump”. Way healthier than coffee (basically I have one cup of coffee in the morning, then I have this in the afternoon). 20 packet box – $57.99.  Get it here.

3. Enerprime Superfood Multi-Vitamin

Enerprime is basically like having ten salads for breakfast. It is a unique blend of ground-up vegetables, superfoods, adaptogens, antioxidants, phytonutrients, herbs, enzymes and micronutrients, over thirty of them that are too numerous for me to list here, but that you can read more about below. I put one teaspoon of the powder in a glass of water before breakfast every morning, which is basically the equivalent of six capsules. For the healthiest cocktail on the face of the planet, I actually mix the teaspoon of this with 1 packet of the Delta-E (listed above). This offers an enormous benefit for enhanced immune system and increased physical and mental performance, and I haven't been sick in the 2 years since I started taking Enerprime. I also crack open 1 capsule and put it into my baby's food to help them get the powerful nutrients. 1 month supply of capsules or powder – $49.99.  Get it here.

4. Lean Factor

LeanFactor is a proprietary formula with a synergistic blend of ingredients important for thyroid function and the addition of lean muscle tissue. The way that I like to explain it is that Lean Factor is for people who have too much fat and not enough lean muscle, or for people who have sluggish metabolism and low energy levels. Many of my fat loss clients or bodybuilders combine it with ThermoFactor (the next supplement down) for maximum fat loss shedding and lean muscle toning results, and I take it when I need to lose weight, fast. 1 month supply of capsules – $39.99.  Get it here.

5. ThermoFactor

ThermoFactor is a synergistic formula that successfully addresses major issues associated with weight gain, or a resistance to weight loss. Its ingredients provide powerful metabolic-boosting support and help control the appetite and blood sugar balance. So if you have carbohydrate cravings because you just started a diet (or you just like candy!) or if you have problems with your appetite getting out of control, then this can help quite a bit, especially if you combine it with Lean Factor (the supplement mentioned above). If I've been having trouble with snacking at night, I take 1 capsule one hour prior to dinner, and my cravings melt away. 1 month supply of capsules – $39.99.  Get it here.

6. Kion Omega

I've always said that “‘taking a bad fish oil is worse than taking no fish oil at all.”

So I'm constantly on the hunt for a joint-protecting, brain-enhancing, vision-assisting fish oil that isn't rancid, is sustainably sourced, and contains a powerhouse of antioxidants to keep the oil stable, such as astaxanthin and antioxidant vitamins.

Enter Kion Omega, a premium fish oil supplement that offers 1,000mg of EPA and DHA (530mg of EPA and 435mg of DHA). The fatty acids are also in triglyceride form rather than ethyl ester form, which boosts absorption even more.

Made from sustainably-sourced cold-water anchovies to minimize mercury content, Kion Omega is naturally preserved with the antioxidants astaxanthin and rosemary leaf extract (which have their own benefits for skin, athletic endurance, and cognitive function).

Kion Omega is also GOED (Global Organization of EPA and DHA Omega-3s)-compliant and processed in a GMP-certified facility. (Basically, this means that we have demonstrated a strong regulatory commitment and compliance to international good manufacturing practices.)

You basically just pop two Kion Omega softgels per day—again, preferably with food—for over 200% of your daily omega-3 recommendation. Because I actually feel amazing with higher dose fish oil based on my own personal experimentation, I personally take about 8g of fish oil (yes, a whopping 4 servings of Kion Omega) on days that I don’t eat fish, ideally with breakfast, since a fat-based supplement should be taken with a meal to maximize absorption. Of course, this is nowhere near old-school fitness icon Charles Polloquin's fish oil megadose recommendations for up to 40g/day, but it certainly packs a wallop in the cognition and recovery department, bigtime.

7. ProstÉlan

OK, last one, and this is for you guys out there (although it has some really good effects for females as well). This synergestic formula includes a powerful flower pollen extract, clinically proven in Europe and Japan to promote prostate health and reduce inflammation, especially useful for male cyclists and triathletes, people who exercise frequently, or an older male population who worries about things like difficulty urinating or erectile dysfunction. It gives quicker and more comprehensive results than the usual nutritional choices such as saw palmetto or pygeum. ProstÉlan is rich in important anti-inflammatory nutrients for men and women, and I'm especially careful to take a couple capsules after a hard workout or when I've been riding a bicycle alot! Ladies, if you don't want the urinary tract infection prevention properties and the benefits of the super-food pollen extract included in this supplements, just give it to your father, boyfriend, or husband. They'll owe you for life. 1 month supply of capsules – $49.99.   Get it here.

—————————————-

So I know that sometimes people have questions about this type of stuff (nutrition supplements, pills, capsules, etc.), and whether it interferes with medications they're taking, whether it is really “for them”, which ones are the best for their needs, when is the ideal time to take it in correlation to a meal, and so on. So I'd like to offer you the opportunity to e-mail me, [email protected], and just ask me if you have questions! Heck, you can even call me: 1-877-209-9439. The fact is that most of us really aren't getting everything that we need from food, and even though real food is a great natural source of nutrients, sometimes our goals go over and above the limitations that food can offer. When it comes to taking care of your body, prevention and preparation are key, and each of the supplements listed above arms you with exactly what you need to optimize wellness.

And that's it, use code “superseven” to automatically receive a 10% discount on any of the supplements above.