Super Supplements for Back-to-School

On a recent episode of my show Living Simpliciously on Rogers Tv Georgina, I spoke about some of my key supplements for families to use during the school year, and now I am sharing them with you!

While I always turn to food first when educating on how to live your most vital and healthy life, no matter how old you are, they are still some baseline supplements that should be considered.

Probiotics: 

Did you know that about 70% of your immune system is located in your gut?

That’s right! Now don’t you think keeping your pretty little belly healthy and full of good bacteria to fend off the bad dudes is kind of important?

I will answer this one for you – YES!

So how do we become unbalanced and unhealthy in or guts? There are many ways but mainly; when you don’t eat healthfully, you need to take medications, prescription or not, or you undergo treatment like chemotherapy, the majority if not all of your good bacteria guys will be wiped out. This is why I call probiotics my foundational forever in your life supplementJ

When you go into the health food store or section now you will notice quite a few choices to pick from. Be sure to choose a brand that is vegetarian and enterically coated. This coating will help to protect the bacteria inside until it leaves your stomach and all of its lovely acids until it enters into your small intestine. Two more things need to be achieved; purchasing one with bacterial counts into the billions (yes billions) and you must keep it in the fridge. There are a few brands that are shelf stable for when you travel and don’t have the room to pack your fridge!

Some of my favorite brands are:

Genestra HMF Forte, Biotics BioDoph 7, Sisu, Innovite, Genuine Health Liveprobio+Omega 3

For the powdered capsules simply open them up and pop into your children’s mouths and have them drink some water to wash it down. for kids ages 0-2 use 1/4 recommend amount ages 2-4 use 1/2 and 4+ use 1 full capsule.

Sun-Shiney Vitamin D

Although we refer to Vitamin D as a vitamin, it really functions more like a hormone, being produced in the body, helping to enhance your metabolic system, all cellular functions and the integrity of your genes. Vitamins by definition are not produced by our bodies and must be obtained from dietary sources. One of the most common and serious deficiencies in the body in terms of ‘vitamins’ is Vitamin D and can have some very critical consequences. Low Vitamin D levels in North America are now bein linked to an increase risk and rate of diseases such as cancer, multiple sclerosis, osteoporosis, osteopenia, heart disease, infertility, rheumatoid arthritis, depression, SAD, ADD, ADHD, fibromyalgia, Alzheimer’s, obesity, insulin resistance and diabetes.

Some of the more common symptoms of low vitamin D are:

• Fatigue
• Muscle pain and weakness
• Muscle cramps
• Chronic pain
• Weight gain
• Restless sleep and/or insomnia
• Poor concentration and memory
• Headaches 

Vitamin is a keener within your body and has its hands in every spot within you. Nearly every tissue and cell in your body has a vitamin D receptor and it has the ability to interact with more than two thousands genes. For the majority of us living in north America, unless you work outside and exposure to the un daily, are either deficient or in need of daily supplementing to ensure that we don’t become deficient.

The best form of vitamin D is that which to you from the sun; its made by your skin in response to ultraviolet exposure from the sun. A mind blowing fact, is that after only 20 minutes of pure exposure to the sun can produce 20,000 IU of vitamin D! I know, crazy eh?! Now don’t you think there is a reason your body produces so much of it so quickly and naturally when given the right circumstances… 

By the right circumstances I mean you can’t be slathered in sunscreen and get these benefits. Your skin needs to be bare. The interesting thing about this is that, and I highly recommend you test this for yourself, when you do go out for ONLY 20 minutes with no sunscreen you don’t burn you tan slightly, a clear sign of positive vitamin D action happening. I know right now a whole whack of you just re-read what I wrote…NO SUNSCREEN??? What the heck is this girl talking about? For years now we have all been scared to death to go outside in the sun without sunscreen or we will get skin cancer. However, in the last few years, the same doctors and dermatologist that said this have now discovered that moderate exposure to sunlight helps the body produce the amount of vitamin D needed to keep our bones strong and our cells healthy, even protecting us against certain types of cancer, including skin cancer. What researchers are also discovering is that individuals who apply commercial, chemical filled sunscreens often, (which work to completely block any UV radiation from the sun to penetrate the skin and allow the body to produce Vitamin D) have a higher rate of skin and other types of cancers because the chemicals, parabens etc are literally being baked into your skin – which by the way is your body’s largest organ and #1 digester of all things it comes in contact with. We discuss more on this topic in Chapter 9 of my book The Simplicity Project http://www.icbookstore.ca/thesimplicityproject

You simply cannot get all of the requirements amounts from your food, because few foods naturally contain vitamin D. Some oily fish like wild salmon, mackerel, tuna and sardines, shitake mushrooms and egg yolks are the best sources. There are also fortified foods that contain D but you would have to consume copious amounts in order to get the recommended amount. When supplementing it is also important to get the adequate amount needed by your body to perform all of the daily tasks vitamin D has.

My #1 choice for vitamin D is Biotics D Mulsion. Make sure your D is in a liquid or emulsion form.

For Children:

ages infant – 2 years 400iu daily

2-10 years 1000iu daily

10+ 2000iu daily

For Adults:

base is 2000-4000iu daily

If you suffer from any autoimmune disorders, depression, cancer or blood sugar disorders then keep 5000iu as your base for 3 months, have your blood work down and see where your levels are at.

Essential Fatty Acids: Omega 3’s & DHA/EPA

Essential fatty acids are called that because they are ESSENTIAL to the overall health, cellular functioning and well-being of yoru entire body. However, you do not produce them so you need and must obtain them solely from your diet and your supplements. 

EFAs support and nourish your cardiovascular, reproductive, immune, and nervous systems. Your body 100% needs EFAs to manufacture and repair cell membranes, enabling the cells to obtain optimum nutrition and expel harmful waste products. A primary function of EFAs is the production of prostaglandins, which regulate body functions such as heart rate, blood pressure, blood clotting, fertility, conception, and play a role in immune function by regulating inflammation and encouraging the body to fight infection.

Get ready for a bit of science and intelligent languaging my friends:)

Omega-3 (Linolenic Acid)
Alpha Linolenic Acid (ALA) is the principal Omega-3 fatty acid, which your body will convert into eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), and later into docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). EPA and GLA (Gamma Lineoleic Acid) synthesized from linoleic (Omega-6) acid are later converted into hormone-like compounds known as eicosanoids, which aid in many bodily functions including vital organ function and intracellular activity.

Omega-3s are used in the formation of cell walls, making them supple and flexible, and improving circulation and oxygen uptake with proper red blood cell flexibility and function.

So why the heck is all this Omega this and that mumble jumble so important to know about? Because without these wonderful Omega’s your body simply cannot function to its full potential or abilities. Period.

Remember this one very important thing: you cannot and will not lose weight that you can maintain keeping off and lead a vibrant life if the sum of all your life pieces, including all dietary aspects are not clean, vibrant and healthy. You know this is true. Just look around you at the all of the individual, you might even be one of them, who can’t lose any weight or keep losing and then re-gaining over and over again.

Omega-3 deficiencies are linked to decreased memory and mental abilities, tingling sensation of the nerves, poor vision, increased tendency to form blood clots, diminished immune function, increased triglycerides and “bad” cholesterol (LDL) levels, impaired membrane function, hypertension, irregular heart beat, learning disorders, menopausal discomfort, PMS, digestive upset, dry skin, eczema and psoriasis, and slower growth in infants, children, and pregnant women.

You can find your Omega 3 EFA’s in these foods:

• Flaxseed oil (flaxseed oil has the highest linolenic content of any food), flaxseeds, flaxseed meal, hempseed oil, hempseeds, walnuts, pumpkin seeds, Brazil nuts, sesame seeds, chia, Salba, savi seeds, avocados, some dark leafy green vegetables (kale, spinach, mustard greens, collards, etc.), wheat germ oil, salmon, mackerel, sardines, anchovies, albacore tuna, and others.
•

Make sure that any of your oils are kept in cool, dark places to prevent them from going rancid and that all your raw nuts and seeds are kept in either the fridge or freezer for best freshness. Also note that certain oils such as Flax and hemp should be kept in the fridge; other healthy oils such as olive oil, grapeseed, sesame, coconut oil etc can be kept in the cupboard.

1 tbsp of flax, hemp or coconut oil daily in smoothies, applesauce or oatmeal and if your kids do not enjoy that there are great Organic Gummies you can purchase for your Omega 3/DHA supplement.

Even the act of changing over from lotions to using purely almond oil , coconut oil, sesame or jojoa oil as our main moisturizers will increase your body’s exposure and absorption of healthy fats on a cellular level.

Vitamin C: Not ‘Sunny D’…real true Vitamin C

Nothing erks me more then when I hear the have a glass of Sunny D each morning to make sure your kids start of healthy commercial. Oh dear:( is all I can think and I am usually left speechless and dumbfounded.

 Vitamin C is found naturally highest in our adrenal glands (remember…your body’s SWAT response team to stress!), so its no shocker that this vitamin is depleted daily and needed just as often. This is true for our children just as much as it is for us adults. Vitamin C is a super powerful antioxidant that helps to fight off those nasty free radicals circulating your body. It is also an essential component to having a strong, balanced immune system and for collagen production in your skin, ligaments and tendons. I strongly suggest taking a minimum of 1,000mg daily for kids and 2000-3000mg daily for adults however if you are under extra stress or beginning to feel under the weather I would up it to 5,000 – 8,000mg daily. My preferred source of vitamin C is Emergen C, they are convenient easy to use powdered packages making them easy for travel plus they add a great flavor to your water for those of you who complains water is boring:) I also love Emergen C because it contains bioflavonoids and some b vitamins which enhance the use and activity of Vitamin C in your body.

Sisu chewable in 500mg doses are another fabulous source 2 per day for your monkeys and they are good to go!

Some other fabulous supplements to keep on hand this school are:

• Oregano oil – natural antiseptic and anti-bacertial properties
• Silver Shield – natural antiseptic and anti-bacertial properties
• Juice Plus www.juiceplus.com
• Oscillococcinum – Homeopathic medicine for the relief of flu symptoms: Fever, chills, body aches, headaches
• Calm – powdered calcium/magnesium for children with restless sleep and growing pains/cramps

Be sure of one thing; supplements are NOT to replace the food you actually need to consume. They are going to enhance of compliment what you are already eating and practicing. You also want to be sure that the brand you are purchasing is of good quality. If you are buying the cheapest one on the shelf or from a commercial company such as Jamieson, Quest, Centrum, Kirkland etc. If you are choosing these cheaper brands, please finish up what you have or if you can afford to – chuck them now and lets start over.