The 4 Go-To Supplements I Recommend to All My Sisters

These are the four supplements I'd wish to have on a desert island. (And the ones I take everywhere I go.)

I won't lie: I am a recovering supplement junkie. I find the worlds of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Ayurvedic healing, and naturopathy endlessly fascinating and awesome in their ability to help us heal our bodies and minds.

On a serious note, it's really important for us to respect the power of these herbs and supplements, and we need to take great care with what we put in our bodies. I've tried many supplements under the guidance of various doctors, naturopaths, and homeopaths, and these are the four I come back to time after time. They serve as my foundation for health and are the ones I recommend consistently to all my sisters. (Please note that I am not a doctor nor am I professing to provide medical advice. Always seek the advice of your own medical provider regarding questions or concerns you have about your specific health or any herbs or supplements you are currently taking, and before implementing any recommendations or suggestions from this site.)

PROBIOTIC

The first thing I do every morning is drink a big glass of water with lemon, and take my probiotic. I really believe in probiotics' ability to aid in digestion and compete with the bad yeast in our systems. I love this fizzy one from inner-eco; it tastes like coconuts, has 100 billion CFUs, and starts to work as soon as it's in your mouth. It also happens to be dairy-free, soy-free, gluten-free, and made with non-GMO ingredients. Winning!

When I'm traveling, this probiotic always comes with me. I love it because it comes in capsule form and doesn't require refrigeration, perfect for when you're not at home. It's also formulated specifically for women, and is one of the few probiotics I've tried that doesn't upset my stomach.

YIN POWER FROM SUN POTION

I've been in a committed relationship with Sun Potion for years, happily benefiting from their incredibly high-grade herbs and superfoods. I have one cabinet entirely dedicated to my beloved Sun Potion collection, and I used to combine the herbs depending on my time and inclination each day. Then, a year ago, Sun Potion introduced Yin Power, and changed everything for me. It's a daily tonic combining organic reishi mushroom, wildharvested he shou wu extract, wildharvested pearl powder, tocos, organic ashwagandha extract, wildharvested pine pollen, wildharvested astragalus extract, and organic shatavari. Sun Potion calls this blend their "love note to all the powerful mothers, sisters, daughters, teachers and healers in our global community...crafted to nourish feminine energy and harmonize the whole system, from the inside out." Now, I just mix a teaspoon of this into my coffee every morning, and I'm done! You can also add it to your tea, water, or another elixir. I think it tastes creamy and earthy and quite delicious. (Use custom promo code APOTIONADAY for 15% off at sunpotion.com!)

DR. SCHULZE'S SUPERFOOD

How do I adequately convey my appreciation for Dr. Schulze, the amazing Herb Doc? I think he's incredible, and ever since my dear friend Patty introduced me to his philosophy and products years ago, his SuperFood Plus has enjoyed permanent residence in my kitchen.

Ok, here's the truth: this stuff does not taste great. Not even close. But it's sooo worth the effort required to assimilate to it. Dr. Schulze's SuperFood is jam packed with vegan, organic vitamins, minerals, and superfoods to provide a whole new level of daily nutrition. Spirulina, chlorella, barley grass, wheat grass, purple dulse seaweed - the list goes on. I mix 2 tablespoons (you may have to work up to that amount) in my morning smoothie. (Berries and apples do the best job of masking the taste, in my opinion.) I absolutely can tell the difference in my energy if I skip a day of this.

HELIOCARE ADVANCED

Last but not least, I never miss a day of Heliocare Advanced. As I've mentioned in other posts, I've been working on healing a truly challenging case of melasma for years, and my dermatologist suggested I add this to my arsenal to help my skin cells defend against sun damage from the inside out. Heliocare Advanced is made with Fernblock® Polypodium leucotomos extract, a natural extract with antioxidant properties to help maintain your skin’s ability to protect itself against the aging effects of free radicals. Nicotinamide is a non-flushing form of Vitamin B3 that has been shown to support skin health and energy production. I take 2 capsules every morning to help protect my skin from the sun everyday.

So there you have it! These are my foundational, never-skip-a-day health hacks.

Once again, I need to reiterate that I am not a doctor or medical practitioner of any sort. Please seek the advice of your physician before introducing any new supplements into your diet.

LYLAS xo,

Ellen