Food supplements

Food supplements are one of the most talked about topics in the health industry. Supplements definitely have a place in the regime of elite athletes who are competing against athletes with the best genetics, training methods and often the best pharmacology available. Nutritional supplements are one of the key income sources in the health and fitness industries with an income potential much great than for equipment manufacture (one-off purchases), education (unless you’re Paul Chek) and even owning a gym facility. For that reason there is no shortage of BS or snake oil potions when it comes to the supplement industry.

Here is my no non-sense guide to food supplements. What you need as an individual will depend on your goals, budget, training regime and training age.

Fish Oils - EPA / DHA

DHA and EPA are the two active fatty acid components of fish oils. DHA has been proven to help with cognitive function (learning, memory, mood) while EPA helps with lowering inflammation, one of the underlying causes of most lifestyle diseases.

Colostrum vs Breast milk

All mammals receive this nutrient-rich food to help set up their immune system and build vitality during their first days of life. Organic cold-processed bovine colostrum can help avoid upper respiratory tract infections and help put on lean muscle mass. Since defence comes before growth in the evolutionary hierarchy colostrum can be very useful.

Virgin Coconut Oil - tell me something it's not good for?!

Of the 90+ countries included in the study, Thailand was the country with the lowest cancer rates in spite of its high incidence of smoking. They also have one of the highest per-capita consumption rates of coconuts. The islands in the South Pacific that have coconut trees growing on them have also been demonstrated to have better health than those islands without them. The benefits of coconut oil continue to emerge and it’s such a useful and tasty option in the kitchen that you would be mad not to use it! I get my coconut oil from coconoil.co.uk because they’re always helpful and prompt and Garry loves his rugby.

Cod Liver Oil has a long history

This ancient remedy helped keep many populations in northern Europe thriving through dark winters. Quality Cod Liver Oil is a great source of vitamin D and A. Most importantly they are delivered in the right ratio and in a biologically active form. Cod Liver Oil was one of the key nutrients that Dr Weston Price used to help rebuild health in unhealthy populations. Nordic Naturals

They’ve been used as superfoods throughout centuries. In the basin of Mexico city which was full of water during the Aztec period algae grown on the lake was a key food source. They are detoxifying agents rich in minerals with a variety of health benefits from alkalising the body to providing anti-cancer phytochemicals.

Spirulina

Curds and whey

Whey protein was most commonly known as the by-product of cheese manufacturing used to make pigs and other livestock grow. More recently it’s become a bodybuilding staple. In ancient Greece, it was used as a remedy for many woes as described in Sally Fallon’s amazing book Nourishing Traditions. I only recommend cold-processed pure whey. Most commercial powders are toxic junk filled with cheap vitamins and artificial flavours.

Cow eating grass

High vitamin butter oil was the other key nutrient identified and used by Dr Weston Price with great success. It contains many Quinones including Vitamin K, E and CoQ enzymes which all have proven health benefits. It’s possible that the oil contains other plant growth factors that aren’t readily available from other food sources.

Colourful foods in nature generally have special properties

Herbs and Spices have long been used in Ayurvedic medicine and lots of other cultures because of their active properties and mineral content.

Fields of green

Green tea has a number of health benefits mostly because of its high catechin content which acts as a powerful anti-oxidants. It can help with weight loss and lower the risk of cancer.

Other herbal teas can serve various functions depending on the individual and the herb/s being used.