What’s up with the #WhatSupp hashtag?

It’s all about supplements, and what supplements we use to help us function at the top of our game. I’m working with New Hope Network and Delicious Living magazine to share #WhatSupp in my cabinet and #WhatSupp in my suitcase!

Why Take Supplements?

As you know, I travel often. What I never forget (okay, just once) is my prescription pills and supplements to get me at the top of my game. As a celiac, I’ve been battling nutritional deficiencies since my genes triggered this autoimmune disease. When I finally got my nutrient levels tested after my diagnosis I was low in everything.

Erica’s Supplements

I take several supplements regularly right now (in alphabetical order, not in dosage):

Charcoal – only as needed, helping with accidental contamination of gluten or food sensitiviites

CoQ10 – I was found to be deficient in this and now I take a daily supplement

Vitamin D, Calcium, Magnesium – supporting healthy bones, was severely deficient when diagnosed with celiac disease.

Digestive Enzymes – supporting my gut health and food sensitivities

L-Glutamine – supporting my gut health

Probiotic/Spore Probiotic – supporting my gut health/IBS

I also have a handful of supplements that I take when I’m not in an IBS flare or challenging a diet. Lately, I’ve been on a gut health diet for IBS and have been restricting my supplements to only what’s necessary.

Ashwagandha/L-theanine – an adaptogenic herb to help lower cortisol/assist with stress

Collagen – marine-based collagen to help grow healthy skin, nails, and help with joint issues

Vitamin B12 – for energy

Vitamin C – for overall health

I purchased a multi-day pill organizer to take while traveling. Most trips are five days or shorter, however I take a group of pills in the AM and another group in the PM. It’s the first thing I pack for my trips, often days in advance of the travel. I always need to make sure I have enough prescription medications to match my supplements, so it’s helpful to pack them up at least 24 hours in advance, to leave enough time to head to the pharmacy for a refill if necessary.

For traveling, I make sure that I take enough supplements for celiac disease and IBS. I take peppermint capsules for IBS and digestive enzymes and charcoal tablets for any errant gluten. While I always take my NIma Sensor with me when I travel, I need to be extra sure in case I find an errant noodle or something goes awry.

Interested In Learning More?

First, check out the “Inside the Bottle: Understanding Supplements Today” supplement guide on New Hope Network to see what supplements work best for certain diets, age ranges, etc.

Next, read “Fortify Your Life” book by Tieraona Low Dog, M.D. about supplements! I listened to the doctor at ShiftCon two years ago and loved all of her research into supplementation.

Next, always check for gluten free on the label and read all ingredients. You never know what’s hiding in food, including supplements.

Next, take a look at your overall pill consumption. I’ve gone to doctors that want to give me more supplements than my stomach can handle. I don’t want to be taking 20+ pills a day. I already take enough prescription medications. Take a second look at the supplements you’re taking and determine what you really need.

Then, check in on yourself. How are you feeling? Get your nutritional panels checked regularly to see how your body is reacting to the supplements. After rigorous testing, it was found that my vitamin D supplementation wasn’t enough, and I received a prescription vitamin D. After a few months, my levels returned to normal and I was able to return to regular supplementation without a prescription. I’m thankful that celiac disease and autoimmune issues led me to regularly check my nutritional deficiencies!

This post is sponsored by New Hope Network’s Inside the Bottle and its partners in high-quality nutrition: Natural Factors, NatureWise, NeoCell, Orgenetics, Sabinsa, SoftGel, Trust Transparency Consulting. I am proud to work with New Hope Network as a paid sponsor of Celiac and the Beast.