September 2016 - Supplements For Health
I’ve had a few questions about supplements over the last few weeks so I figured I’d address it all here…
The rule is: health first, performance later… (Because you can’t perform with flu or irritable bowels…)
Before we dive in, I have a couple of points...
1. Eating fairly clean should be your base - you can then use these supplements to supplement your base... Without a base, no amount of pills or voodoo chants can ward off man flu and explosive, catastrophic diarrhea...
2. Don’t take this stuff within 30 minutes of coffee or anything grain based… It will block some of the absorption.
3. You can take whatever you want - this is just what I know works… I encourage you to do your own research and find what works for you.
4. Fitness, wellness and sickness are all linked. The fitter you are, the less likely you are to get sick. **For information on this, you can read this piece written by an incredibly handsome and talented coach… http://www.crossfitblackbrook.com/sep16.html **
1. Probiotics.
All disease starts in the gut. This is a massive beast of topic, and as much as I love tackling beasts, this is one that I’m not willing to wrestle with right now… And even if I did, I doubt you’d read all the way to the end…
Here are a few of the benefits of taking a probiotic:
- Enhances immunity - a healthy gut will absorb more nutrients than an unhealthy one. It will also prevent a lot of bad s*** from happening…
- Probiotics have been shown to reverse ulcers, irritable bowel syndrome, Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, inflammatory bowel disease, and other gut inflammations that occur from a lack of sufficient probiotics.
- Celiac disease or gluten sensitivity issues/symptoms can be managed better by adding probiotics.
- Shown to improve colon function.
- A healthy gut flora balance has been shown to help prevent cancer by nourishing enzymes that inhibit tumor production throughout the body.
- And as a final perk, they have been shown to significantly aid fat loss - a Japanese study found that those who increased their probiotic intake for four weeks lost 8.2% belly fat!
Recommendations: Lactobacillus acidophilus & Bifidobacterium lactis - doses 60 - 90 billion cfu per day if you have gut issues or/and autoimmune disease… 30 billion per day will do the trick if you’re more or less healthy.
I take: Bio-Cultures Complex - Amazon.co.uk
It’s not the best, but it is reasonable… £16.97 for 180 caps - take 3 per day (30 billion), and it’ll last you 2 months.
Alternatives: Sauerkraut, kombucha, fermented cod liver oil, etc...
2. Ashwagandha.
Ashwagandha is known among herbalists as the ayurvedic steroid, Indian Ginseng - it’s roots have multiple medicinal applications and it has traditionally been prescribed to strengthen the immune system for thousands of years.
Ashwagandha is an adaptogen; adaptogens are basically just a combination of amino acids, vitamins, and herbs that modulate your response to stress or a changing environment. Adaptogens help the body cope with external stresses such as toxins in the environment and internal stresses such as anxiety and insomnia. Basically, it chills you out and helps you deal with all of life’s inconveniences a whole lot better… And **** me, there are a lot of them…
Other benefits include, but are not limited to:
- Improves memory and facilitates learning.
- Shown in numerous clinical studies to improve levels of blood plasma protein levels and hematocrit - general markers of overall health.
- Male athletes using Ashwagandha for the first time ALL show signs of increased testosterone production, increased facial hair and elevated libido… And increased semen production…
- For women, and these aren’t my words it: “promotes graceful ageing, provides menopause support, sexual potency, memory support, revitalization, memory support and helps with fertility…” Again, do your own research and decide if it’s for you.
Recommendations: 5 grams per day. Below you’ll find a strong supplement at 3.5g - it’ll do.
I take: Ashwagandha Root Extract - 700mg X Ashwagandha Root Extract 5:1 Equal to 3,500 Mg Pure Ashwagandha Root - Amazon.co.uk
£42.24 for 50 caps - take 1 per day…
Alternatives: “If it ain’t broke don’t fix it…” - you’ll be able to find cheaper products but they will be far weaker.
3. Cod Liver Oil
More specifically, fermented cod liver oil & butter oil blend…
Every single cell in your body requires fat to function. This cod liver oil / butter blend provides the full spectrum of vitamins A, D, E and K, various quinones, such as CoQ10, provides PQQ - Vitamin B17/Laetrile, EPA/DHA, and it’s all perfectly balanced, all in the right proportions to be absorbed…
Benefits include but are not limited to:
- Better mood
- Increased stamina
- Increased libido
- Better eyesight, hearing, digestion, skin, nails, teeth, joints, etc
- Faster recovery
- Improved immune system
I can’t stress enough how good this stuff is, but sadly I do not have the time to list all the benefits… You can find stacks of information here: http://www.westonaprice.org/health-topics/cod-liver-oil-topics/
You can also go read the reviews on amazon…
Recommendations: Everyone should take it UNLESS you happen to be allergic to fish products, you’re sensitive to iodine or to fermented foods. These unlucky individuals will need to get their fat-soluble vitamins from other foods.
I take: Blue Ice Royal Butter Oil / Fermented Cod Liver Oil Blend - Capsules - Amazon.co.uk
£32.98 for 120 caps - take 2 per day and it’ll last 2 months.
Alternatives: raw egg yolk, butter from pastured cows, liver, etc.
4. ***Crossfit Blackbrook Winter Bonus*** Kyolic Garlic
The probiotics and cod liver oil will keep me fairly healthy over the winter months, and the Ashwagandha will keep me relaxed as f*** - but since interaction with the general public is unavoidable, I also take kyolic garlic…
Garlic - this tasty bastard of a herb has been used for centuries as a medicine and to flavour food. It has a range of sulphur-containing compounds: Allicin, arguably the most important compound among them, is known to have great anti-bacterial, anti-viral, anti-fungal and anti-oxidant properties, and rumour has it, is also the compound responsible for repelling vampires. Garlic is high in vitamin C and contains a good amount of selenium - vital for the immune system. Allicin and other compounds like ajoene and alliin are beneficial for the circulatory, digestive and immunological systems of the body and can help to lower high blood pressure, aid in detoxification, speed up the healing process, and so on…
Benefits include but are not limited to:
- Antibacterial and antiviral properties
- Lower blood pressure
- Heart protection
**Garlic protects against cardiovascular problems like atherosclerosis and even heart attacks. This heart friendly property can be attributed to various factors. As we age, our arteries tend to lose their suppleness - their ability to stretch. Garlic helps to reduce this and may also protect the heart from the damaging effects of free oxygen radicals. The sulphur-containing compounds of garlic also prevent our blood vessels from blood clots (blocking blood vessels) and slow the development of the hardening of the arteries (atherosclerosis)...**
- Reduces cholesterol
- Reduces respiratory problems
- Cancer prevention
**Daily intake of garlic has been found to lower risk of most types of cancer. This anti-cancer property is due to allyl sulphides found in garlic. Studies have found that diallyl sulphide - a property found in garlic - inhibits the transformation of PhIP into carcinogens. PhIP is a type of heterocyclic amine (HCA) and has been associated with increased incidence of breast cancer among women.**
- Aids in regulating blood sugar levels in diabetics
- Helps With Your Allergies
- Contains anti-arthritic properties
- Can be used to treat skin infections (athlete’s foot & ringworm- mixed reviews for acne)
- Good For The Love Life…
With improved circulation and a boost in confidence, you’ll be veritable love machine...
With 50% less warts, reduced allergy symptoms and the intoxicating aroma of garlic on your breath, you Sir, are ready for a night on the town! So adorn yourself with your finest braces, iron your favourite plaid shirt and keep your inhaler close to hand, because when you head out, you’ll have to beat all the women away with a s****y stick - you big sex typhoon, you!
Recommendations: Just take it.
I take: Quest Kyolic Garlic 1000mg - Aged Garlic Extract - 60 Tablets - Amazon.co.uk
£15.95 for 60 tablets - take 1 per day, will last 2 months… Since it’s aged, you won’t get the odour.
Is all this expensive? At first glance, yeah… But when you do the maths all four of these products will cost you less than £2.00 per day… That’s not much to avoid colds and flu, to sleep better, to stay calm in traffic, to digest food better and absorb more nutrients, for a better functioning cardio respiratory system, and so on and so forth… And I’m not saying go and buy all four of these right now - start with one or two and let them work their magic… Then whenever you’re ready, experiment with the others.
~ Coach Collins
Copyright 2016
The rule is: health first, performance later… (Because you can’t perform with flu or irritable bowels…)
Before we dive in, I have a couple of points...
1. Eating fairly clean should be your base - you can then use these supplements to supplement your base... Without a base, no amount of pills or voodoo chants can ward off man flu and explosive, catastrophic diarrhea...
2. Don’t take this stuff within 30 minutes of coffee or anything grain based… It will block some of the absorption.
3. You can take whatever you want - this is just what I know works… I encourage you to do your own research and find what works for you.
4. Fitness, wellness and sickness are all linked. The fitter you are, the less likely you are to get sick. **For information on this, you can read this piece written by an incredibly handsome and talented coach… http://www.crossfitblackbrook.com/sep16.html **
1. Probiotics.
All disease starts in the gut. This is a massive beast of topic, and as much as I love tackling beasts, this is one that I’m not willing to wrestle with right now… And even if I did, I doubt you’d read all the way to the end…
Here are a few of the benefits of taking a probiotic:
- Enhances immunity - a healthy gut will absorb more nutrients than an unhealthy one. It will also prevent a lot of bad s*** from happening…
- Probiotics have been shown to reverse ulcers, irritable bowel syndrome, Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, inflammatory bowel disease, and other gut inflammations that occur from a lack of sufficient probiotics.
- Celiac disease or gluten sensitivity issues/symptoms can be managed better by adding probiotics.
- Shown to improve colon function.
- A healthy gut flora balance has been shown to help prevent cancer by nourishing enzymes that inhibit tumor production throughout the body.
- And as a final perk, they have been shown to significantly aid fat loss - a Japanese study found that those who increased their probiotic intake for four weeks lost 8.2% belly fat!
Recommendations: Lactobacillus acidophilus & Bifidobacterium lactis - doses 60 - 90 billion cfu per day if you have gut issues or/and autoimmune disease… 30 billion per day will do the trick if you’re more or less healthy.
I take: Bio-Cultures Complex - Amazon.co.uk
It’s not the best, but it is reasonable… £16.97 for 180 caps - take 3 per day (30 billion), and it’ll last you 2 months.
Alternatives: Sauerkraut, kombucha, fermented cod liver oil, etc...
2. Ashwagandha.
Ashwagandha is known among herbalists as the ayurvedic steroid, Indian Ginseng - it’s roots have multiple medicinal applications and it has traditionally been prescribed to strengthen the immune system for thousands of years.
Ashwagandha is an adaptogen; adaptogens are basically just a combination of amino acids, vitamins, and herbs that modulate your response to stress or a changing environment. Adaptogens help the body cope with external stresses such as toxins in the environment and internal stresses such as anxiety and insomnia. Basically, it chills you out and helps you deal with all of life’s inconveniences a whole lot better… And **** me, there are a lot of them…
Other benefits include, but are not limited to:
- Improves memory and facilitates learning.
- Shown in numerous clinical studies to improve levels of blood plasma protein levels and hematocrit - general markers of overall health.
- Male athletes using Ashwagandha for the first time ALL show signs of increased testosterone production, increased facial hair and elevated libido… And increased semen production…
- For women, and these aren’t my words it: “promotes graceful ageing, provides menopause support, sexual potency, memory support, revitalization, memory support and helps with fertility…” Again, do your own research and decide if it’s for you.
Recommendations: 5 grams per day. Below you’ll find a strong supplement at 3.5g - it’ll do.
I take: Ashwagandha Root Extract - 700mg X Ashwagandha Root Extract 5:1 Equal to 3,500 Mg Pure Ashwagandha Root - Amazon.co.uk
£42.24 for 50 caps - take 1 per day…
Alternatives: “If it ain’t broke don’t fix it…” - you’ll be able to find cheaper products but they will be far weaker.
3. Cod Liver Oil
More specifically, fermented cod liver oil & butter oil blend…
Every single cell in your body requires fat to function. This cod liver oil / butter blend provides the full spectrum of vitamins A, D, E and K, various quinones, such as CoQ10, provides PQQ - Vitamin B17/Laetrile, EPA/DHA, and it’s all perfectly balanced, all in the right proportions to be absorbed…
Benefits include but are not limited to:
- Better mood
- Increased stamina
- Increased libido
- Better eyesight, hearing, digestion, skin, nails, teeth, joints, etc
- Faster recovery
- Improved immune system
I can’t stress enough how good this stuff is, but sadly I do not have the time to list all the benefits… You can find stacks of information here: http://www.westonaprice.org/health-topics/cod-liver-oil-topics/
You can also go read the reviews on amazon…
Recommendations: Everyone should take it UNLESS you happen to be allergic to fish products, you’re sensitive to iodine or to fermented foods. These unlucky individuals will need to get their fat-soluble vitamins from other foods.
I take: Blue Ice Royal Butter Oil / Fermented Cod Liver Oil Blend - Capsules - Amazon.co.uk
£32.98 for 120 caps - take 2 per day and it’ll last 2 months.
Alternatives: raw egg yolk, butter from pastured cows, liver, etc.
4. ***Crossfit Blackbrook Winter Bonus*** Kyolic Garlic
The probiotics and cod liver oil will keep me fairly healthy over the winter months, and the Ashwagandha will keep me relaxed as f*** - but since interaction with the general public is unavoidable, I also take kyolic garlic…
Garlic - this tasty bastard of a herb has been used for centuries as a medicine and to flavour food. It has a range of sulphur-containing compounds: Allicin, arguably the most important compound among them, is known to have great anti-bacterial, anti-viral, anti-fungal and anti-oxidant properties, and rumour has it, is also the compound responsible for repelling vampires. Garlic is high in vitamin C and contains a good amount of selenium - vital for the immune system. Allicin and other compounds like ajoene and alliin are beneficial for the circulatory, digestive and immunological systems of the body and can help to lower high blood pressure, aid in detoxification, speed up the healing process, and so on…
Benefits include but are not limited to:
- Antibacterial and antiviral properties
- Lower blood pressure
- Heart protection
**Garlic protects against cardiovascular problems like atherosclerosis and even heart attacks. This heart friendly property can be attributed to various factors. As we age, our arteries tend to lose their suppleness - their ability to stretch. Garlic helps to reduce this and may also protect the heart from the damaging effects of free oxygen radicals. The sulphur-containing compounds of garlic also prevent our blood vessels from blood clots (blocking blood vessels) and slow the development of the hardening of the arteries (atherosclerosis)...**
- Reduces cholesterol
- Reduces respiratory problems
- Cancer prevention
**Daily intake of garlic has been found to lower risk of most types of cancer. This anti-cancer property is due to allyl sulphides found in garlic. Studies have found that diallyl sulphide - a property found in garlic - inhibits the transformation of PhIP into carcinogens. PhIP is a type of heterocyclic amine (HCA) and has been associated with increased incidence of breast cancer among women.**
- Aids in regulating blood sugar levels in diabetics
- Helps With Your Allergies
- Contains anti-arthritic properties
- Can be used to treat skin infections (athlete’s foot & ringworm- mixed reviews for acne)
- Good For The Love Life…
With improved circulation and a boost in confidence, you’ll be veritable love machine...
With 50% less warts, reduced allergy symptoms and the intoxicating aroma of garlic on your breath, you Sir, are ready for a night on the town! So adorn yourself with your finest braces, iron your favourite plaid shirt and keep your inhaler close to hand, because when you head out, you’ll have to beat all the women away with a s****y stick - you big sex typhoon, you!
Recommendations: Just take it.
I take: Quest Kyolic Garlic 1000mg - Aged Garlic Extract - 60 Tablets - Amazon.co.uk
£15.95 for 60 tablets - take 1 per day, will last 2 months… Since it’s aged, you won’t get the odour.
Is all this expensive? At first glance, yeah… But when you do the maths all four of these products will cost you less than £2.00 per day… That’s not much to avoid colds and flu, to sleep better, to stay calm in traffic, to digest food better and absorb more nutrients, for a better functioning cardio respiratory system, and so on and so forth… And I’m not saying go and buy all four of these right now - start with one or two and let them work their magic… Then whenever you’re ready, experiment with the others.
~ Coach Collins
Copyright 2016
