Gorgeous Supplements

Weekly tips from the book “Eat, Drink And Be Gorgeous.”

Eating healthy foods without taking supplements is like wearing a ball gown without the right accessories; without the right look of one, the other is a disaster.

Not all are vitamins are created equal however. Food based supplements are great because they contain the whole-food complex and can be absorbed better. They also contain enzymes, coenzymes, antioxidants and trace elements that improve absorption.

Below is a list of nutritional suggestions to treat a variety of ailments. This advice should not negate that of a doctor. Unless otherwise noted, all supplements should be taken with food.

ALLERGIES

• Borage oil (GLA) 250 mg twice a day
• Omega 3′s 1,000 mg twice a day
• Quercetin 500 mg twice a day
• Astragalus root 200 mg twice a day, in either liquid tincture or tablet form
• Echinacea root 100 mg twice a day, in either liquid tincture or tablet form
• Supplements for dietary allergies
• L-glutamine 5,000 mg per day in powdered form, mixed with water
• Probiotics 8-16 billion organisms a day

NOTE: It’s a good idea to eliminate wheat, cheese, and milk which are three of the most common allergen in our diet today and can axacerbate both food and seasonal allergies.

BRITTLE NAILS

• MSM 1,000 mg three times per day
• Calcium 1,000 mg per day
• Magnesium 400-800 mg per day
• Horsetail 1 teaspoon of liquid extract (2.5 g from Equisturn arvense herb) diluted in water or juice

NOTE: Nails are composed of protein, so make sure you eat enough protein each day, as well as essential fatty acids and calcium-rich foods. To pamper your nails, try rubbing olive or coconut oil into the cuticle or nail bed each night. If you have verticle ridges or dark lines down the nails, get your thyroid checked. For toenail fungus, try putting tea tree oil directly on top of the nails and under the nail bed.

COLD and FLU

• Vitamin C Acute: 250 mg every hour Maintenance: 500 mg twice a day
• Echinacea: Acute: 1 teaspoon from root 2.5 mg three times a day Maintenance: 1 teaspoon 1 or two times a day
• Olive leaf extract: Two 500 mg capsules three times a day
• Maitake D: Two capsules twice a day (two capsules should contain 300 mg maitake mushroom powder and 20 mg maitake standardized extract)
• Micellized Vitamin: A For upper respiratory tract infections take 1 dropperful, mixed into a shot of juice per day for 1 week. For long term prevention take 1 dropperful once per week.

DRY SKIN

• Evening primose oil: 3,000 mg per day
• Omega 3′s: 2,000 mg per day

NOTE: Add flaxseed oil liberally to salads to act as an internal moisturizer. Make sure you bathe in warm, not hot water so you don’t over dry your skin. Keep coconut or olive oil in a spray bottle and apply it to damp skin after a shower.

MENSTRUAL CRAMPS

• Cramp bark: 1 teaspoon liquid tincture diluted in juice (from Viburnum opulus bark 2.5 g) Begin taking it a week before your period, and continue during your period as needed.
• Magnesium: 400 mg twice per day
• Calcium lactate: 250 mg every 3 hours while cramps are active
• Evening primose oil: 3,000 mg per day

NOTE: Eat three to four ounces of protein at each meal, especially the week before your period. Protein supports liver function and will help your body metabolize your hormones. Steer clear of any and all hydrongenated oils which can generate severe inflammation. Look out for too much booze, which can temporarily alleviate cramps but will worsen them when the alcohol has worn off.

SUGAR CRAVINGS

• Lipoic acid: 300 mg per day
• Calcium: 500 mg twice a day
• Magnesium 400 mg twice a day
• Zinc 25 mg per day
• Aqueous selenium 200 mcg per day
• Tyrosin 500 mg twice a day on an empty stomach; you can take up to 2,000 mg per day if needed
• 5-HTP 300 mg per day
• L-glutamine 5,000 mg per day in powdered form, mixed into water

NOTE: It can take your body up to seven days to eliminate sugar from your system so try to go without it cold turkey. (Once you’re over the hump, it does get easier.)
It’s very important to eat small, frequent meals throughout the day to stabilize your blood sugar. Snack on raw nuts and seeds which are rich in trace minerals that will help curb cravings. Also avoid diet sodas and artificial sweeteners and allow some time for your taste buds to learn a new way of living; you’re better off using agave syrup or stevia powder, or even a little maple syrup or honey.

THINNING HAIR

• Zinc 25 mg per day
• Magnesium 400 mg per day
• Hyaluronic Acid 150 mg per day
• N-acetyl cysteine 1,000 mg per day
• Omega-3s 2,000 mg per day
• Evening Primose oil 1,000 mg per day

NOTE: Chicken stock made from bones is naturally rich in hyaluronic acid, and root vegetables like sweet potatoes are naturally rich in magnesium, so feel free to incorporate both into your diet. Your local health food store is a valuable resource for premade organic chicken stock, and I like to cook brown rice in the stock for a yummy risotto. Medically, make sure you get your thyroid checked, an under or overactive thyroid can be the cause of thinning hair. Stress can also cause hair loss, so take a minute to reflect on what’s been happening in your life in the past six months or so.

WATER RETENTION

• Vitamin B6 50 mg twice per day
• Taurine 1,000 mg twice per day
• Horsetail 1 teaspoon of liquid extract (2.5 g from Equisetum arvense herb) diluted in water or juice

NOTE: Drink dandelion tea throughout the day for gentle diuretic benefits. Unsweetened cranberry juice diluted in water also provides diuretic benefits as does eating asparagus, watermelon, and freshly steamed or sauteed dandelion greens.
Next Week: Gorgeous in Blue