Supplement fatigue is real!
Most people have no idea if their supplements are working for them or not.
One of the most common questions I get is, “Doc, do you think I’m taking too many supplements?”
My answer is always, it depends.
“Too many” can be 3 for some and 20 for others.
The point isn’t the number (well… I’ll get to that), it’s knowing why you’re taking something and what it’s doing for you.
Plus, if you’re taking them in the first place!
I fully admit that I’m only good with supplements when I have a protocol to go with taking them, aka a purpose for them.
With every functional medicine doc and influencer pitching their favorite supplements out there and promising amazing results, it’s easy to end up with an extensive cabinet collection of half-used supplements.
No shame there. If you haven’t seen mine, it’s quite the collection. It shows up on Instagram every so often in my stories.
What I recommend is that you do an overhaul every 3–6 months of your supplement list and run these questions by yourself:
- Why are you taking each of the supplements?
- Do you have labs that prove they are helping you? (Ex: Vitamin D, B12/folate, and magnesium levels improve while on them.) If not, it’s time to get tested.
- Have you stopped any of them for a few weeks and observed if you feel any different? If not, then it’s time to stop, test, take a break, and observe. Only test one at a time because you won’t know what’s making a difference otherwise.
- Are any of the supplement amounts overlapping? It’s common for combination formulas to have multiple B vitamins in them, as well as minerals. It’s easy to end up with double or triple what you need. Zinc is a common one where I see issues, as it impacts gut health, iron balance, and hormone balance.
- How consistent are you with your supplements? Do you need a reminder system? Is it best to find another route of delivery like injections, IVs, liquids, powders, or lozenges?
It’s not uncommon for me to find that clients are wasting over $100 a month on supplements they aren’t taking consistently enough to get results.
This leads me to my next point… if you know you’re not consistent with supplements, it may be worth looking into injections, IVs, liquids, lozenges, or powders.
I’ve moved to taking powders because I can throw my mix into a daily smoothie, a little yogurt, applesauce, or oatmeal.
This is a great option that’s cost-effective and saves the annoyance of swallowing so many capsules.
As the environment becomes more toxic and filled with EMFs that lower our cellular vibration and function, the need to adjust supplements and explore what really works for you will rise.
I’m seeing that what used to work over the last two decades isn’t working anymore.
Humans are becoming more dysregulated, both cellularly and nervous system-wise.
And if you’re not feeling like taking supplements anymore, you’re feeling like supplements just aren’t working for you anymore, or you’re having negative reactions to your supplements, you’re not alone. This isn’t a problem; it’s a sign.
This sign is highlighting that it’s time to go back to basics and revisit the foundations of health:
- Hydration
- Time off screens and away from technology
- Having fun
- Assessing whether you’re eating foods closest to nature or a lot of dead, low-vibe foods
- Getting out in nature
- Checking in on your sleep quality
- Moving daily with good mobility
If you can say you have all those dialed in, it’s time to dive into the health of your cells, circulation, nervous system, and immune system.
Tomorrow, my podcast is all about the biggest question I’m asking right now: Is the concept of nailing down a root cause no longer possible?
Here’s to exploring the questions it’s time to ask,
Dr. J
