05. Supplements

Supplements can be extremely beneficial for maintaining optimal health in general, and are even more important for those with autoimmune diseases including multiple sclerosis. In addition to eating a balanced and well-rounded diet, I find it necessary to take certain supplements to really take my health to the next level. The supplements that I take on a daily basis that I would highly recommend are as follows:

Turmeric (Curcumin)

Turmeric is a root that has so many health benefits and is a natural anti-inflammatory. Reducing inflammation is really crucial for those who are battling autoimmune diseases, struggling with chronic pain, trying to prevent or treat cancer, and basically anyone who wants to be as healthy as possible. Turmeric can be used as a spice on food which can easily be added to meals when you are looking for a little extra flavor (you can even add some ginger too for an extra anti-inflammatory punch), or if you don’t particularly like the taste or just want to make sure you are getting a strong dosage each day, a supplement is ideal. Just be sure to check that the label lists organic turmeric root and curcumin, and also includes black pepper to make it more bioavailable.

Probiotics

Gut health is really important for everyone, and especially for those with autoimmune diseases. The majority of our immune system is comprised in our gut, so it makes sense that when something is not going right on the inside, we will see the negative effects manifest on the outside. Improving gut health is definitely a process that works best when we eat a healthy diet with plenty of fiber, stay hydrated, and avoid alcohol and other toxins. There are plenty of prebiotics that we can consume in the form of fibrous foods, and there are probiotics that we can get from fermented foods, or you can take a supplement that has both. If you are someone who has a sensitive digestive system, avoiding a supplement with prebiotics might be best, but for others it can be beneficial to find a supplement that has both. When looking for a probiotic supplement, definitely keep your eye out for CFUs in the billions, not millions to make sure you are getting the highest quality possible.

Milk Thistle (Silymarin)

Milk thistle is an herb that can be really helpful for your liver. Throughout a normal day we are exposed to so many toxins. While some of these are avoidable and can be limited through living a more conscious and “clean” lifestyle, some truly are unavoidable without us living in an actual bubble. A lot of these toxins end up being filtered through our liver which can overtime take quite a big toll on such an important organ. Combine these avoidable and not so unavoidable toxins with alcohol consumption, dehydration (most people do not nearly drink enough water and fluids throughout the day), and medications, our livers really end up needing some help to sustain optimal health. Milk thistle can be taken in supplement form, and I would recommend looking for an organic and high quality supplement that contains silymarin, which is the powerful stuff.

Collagen

Once we hit the age of 25, our collagen production starts to slow down a bit. Collagen is crucial to maintain healthy skin, joints, hair, muscles, and basically everything. Collagen can also be helpful for our gut health by keeping it strong and less permeable to pathogens. Supplementing with collagen is majorly hyped up right now and is touted as the new health and anti-aging craze, but I really do believe it can have some strong benefits. It is basically pure protein and is filled with amino acids, and this blog is called “To Be Well Preserved,” so how could I not recommend it? Collagen is most often taken in powder or capsule form, but can also be consumed from a high quality bone broth. When purchasing a supplement, I would look for grass-fed beef peptides, or wild caught fish as those are more bioavailable.

There are so many other amazing and valuable supplements out there that can be great for the health of everyone, and especially of those with autoimmune diseases including multiple sclerosis, and I could honestly go on and on. But, I think the supplements mentioned above are a good place to start on the quest to be well preserved! P.S. If you would like to specifically know which brands I recommend for a specific supplement, do not hesitate to contact me! I just didn’t want to make this post too long by going into detail about each specific brand.