Below is a link to my YouTube video discussing supplements, so if you want to just watch the video instead of reading this blog you can or you can just read my blog. Both have the same content.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UUh-25BntaQ&context=C3a46d63ADOEgsToPDskKNErPQKvIv83e7taVQ0A26
First, I should inform anyone who is reading this that I am not a supplement specialist, although I do like to know what I am putting into my own body. Some supplements are associated with some risks, and you should make sure to access those risks by conducting research on your own before taking any supplements.
So, I am going to start with water, I know it is not a supplement but it is very important when your are dieting or working out. Water flushes toxins out of your body and rehydrates you while you are exercising. If you do not drink enough water while exercising you can become dehydrated which can cause you to get sick. Water also helps you stay full which is a convenient benefit when one is dieting. Various sources say you should drink 8-10, 8 ounce glaces of water a day while other sources say you should drink half your body weight in ounces of water per day, (I follow this water intake suggestion). So if you weigh 120 pounds you should drink 60 ounces of water a day.
Now, for supplements, I will be going over fish oil, daily vitamins, potassium gluconate, 14 day detox cleanse systems, and whey protein.
Fish oils:
Fish oil supplements contain omega 3 which is the important part of the fish oil. When you are dieting, the purpose of the diet is to limit your fat intake but your body still needs fat. Omega 3 is a good source of fat because of the fact that it is a healthy fat. Omega 3 is supposed to help support cardiovascular functioning, lower blood pressure, lower cholesterol, boost immune system, and reduce blood clotting ("Mayo clinic").
Daily vitamins:
Personally, I take a women's daily vitamin. People are supposed to get various vitamins everyday through consumption of fruits and vegetables, but not everyone has time to eat healthy all of the time, so daily vitamins are a convenient source for the vitamins you need everyday, and the greatest part is that all of the vitamins you need are packed into one tablet!
Potassium gluconate:
Back when in the day when I was fit, I used to go for jogs but I was plagued by horrible calf cramps. Sometimes the cramps were so bad I could barely even walk. My doctor told me that all of the water I was drinking was flushing the potassium right out of me which is what was causing the leg cramping. Low levels of potassium is associated with weakness, muscle cramps, irregular heartbeat, and can cause and abnormal EKG (Ehrlich). So, as you can see, potassium is very important for normal bodily functioning as well as a remedy for cramps when exercising.
14 day detox cleanse:
I did a 14 day detox and I feel great! Detox cleansing systems come with 3 phases: days 1-2, days 3-7, and days 8-14. During days 1-2 you are supposed to drink a fiber drink which is included in the package. This fiber drink is supposed to gently clean out your system and prepare you to embark on a diet. The fiber in the drink is also supposed to provide a feeling of fullness which is helpful for dieting. During days 3-7, the heavier cleansing begins. There is a heavier sun fiber, circulatory caplets which get your blood moving, and some type of caplet that is supposed to boost liver function. During days 8-14 there are caplets that reduce bloating, and there are also probiotic caplets that are supposed to replace the good bacteria in your digestive system to aid digestion. Overall, I think that detox systems are healthy because our bodies are full of toxins that need to be released.
Whey protein:
Whey protein is good for you because it helps to build lean muscle mass. Even people that are trying to lose weight should use whey protein because you want to replace the fat with lean muscle instead of just losing fat and ending up flabby. I have heard that you should drink a protein shake immediately after working out because your body needs the protein to recover. When you work out your body uses the protein that you already have in your body to generate energy to push you through the workout, thus, when your workout is over, your body needs protein to replace the protein you used during your workout. Whey protein helps our bodies recover faster as well.
Sources:
"Omega-3 in Fish: How Eating Fish Helps Your Heart." Mayo clinic. Mayo Clinic, Dec.. Web. 24 Feb 2012. http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/omega-3/HB00087.
Ehrlich, S. D.. "Potassium." University of maryland medical center. University of Maryland Medical Center, 2011. Web. 24 Feb 2012. http://www.umm.edu/altmed/articles/potassium-000320.htm.
