I’ve been on an uphill health battle for many years now. Because of this, I’ve always been diligent with taking supplements. The older I get, the more improvements I’ve made to my diet as well. I don’t have serious health issues but I have always claimed I have IBS or leaky gut. Basically I deal with bloating, gas and constipation. Since I’ve remarried, these 3 issues have really had a negative effect on the business of being a newlywed, if you know what I mean.
Thanks to being uncomfortable and having gut issues, I have been forced to take a good hard look at my diet and began with eliminating gluten. While this helped for the first month, eating gluten free can really screw someone up that needs to be grain free. In order to make things “gluten free”, a lot of extra grains have to be added. I started feeling worse then ever after going a month being gluten free! Once I eliminated grains completely, I started to see my symptoms disappear and began feeling so much better. You can read more on that HERE. That was a year ago and I’m still feeling better and feel more in control of my digestion. I was able to add back things like sushi and tortilla chips but I save those items for special occasions and stay grain free 80% of the time.
On top of being grain free, I decided to let go of all my supplements. I was spending an arm and a leg monthly and still feeling bad. I finally realized that it is ideal to get your nutrients through food so I’ve focused more on diet. The bottom line is that I have found new ways of eating as many veggies as possible. I’m also continuing to eat high quality meat, limiting dairy and doing my best (which isn’t really my best) to cut back on my habit of sugar and wine several nights a week.
That being said, I’ve added back 3 supplements because I feel that they are absolutely necessary and I have greatly benefited from them.
Flourish Probiotic
I’ve taken probiotics most of my life but never have I experienced such obvious positive results as I do from THIS brand of probiotic. I take a tablespoon every morning and some times I take it in the evening if I’ve had an overload of bad food or am experiencing a lot of digestive symptoms. Not only have I not been getting sick this season, my mood and sense of contentment has been greatly improved. A good immune system starts in the gut as well as the production of serotonin and dopamine. A good probiotic does so much more then restore balance in the gut!
Flourish is a live, liquid probiotic. Because the bacteria is in liquid form, it is in the most natural state that a probiotic can exist. Also, it has 11 different strains (5 different genera) of bacteria living together.
It is different to drink your probiotic but it makes more sense when you think about it-a pill is freeze dried. What is that doing to live bacteria? Taking it in liquid form preserves the bacteria.
I’ve put my daughters, my husband and my neighbor on it as well! Flourish Junior is specifically for children. The only difference from the adult version is that it is a bit sweeter. It can be added to juice if you have picky kids. Kids need all the help they can get when it comes to fighting off bugs, am I right! Find Flourish Junior HERE.
Collagen
I’ve taken collagen for a long time but the outward benefits were very little. When I stopped adding it to my smoothie, I didn’t notice a change in any way. I decided to give it another try but this time I had another brand in mind. I switched to THIS brand and within days my splitting nails strengthened and began to grow like crazy. My skin also looked better.
I am insistent on collagen because while it is known to help with skin, nails and hair-it also helps strengthen joints and even the intestines. If you suffer from leaky gut, one of the best things you can do is take collagen to repair the fibers in your intestines. I feel that since I’m seeing an obvious outward benefit, I’m definitely experiencing internal benefits as well and that collagen is contributing to my feeling better.
There are so many benefits of taking collagen…
- Improved Skin Health
- Younger, Firmer Skin
- Joint Health
- Improved Gut Function and Digestion
- Keeps Excess Inflammation in Check
- Builds and Restores Muscle
- Supports Metabolism
- Regulates the appetite
- Promotes Healthy Brain Function
- Promotes Deeper Sleep
This particular brand has a low molecular weight and is 90% bioavailable which means it’s highly absorbable. I think this is why this collagen makes such a difference compared to other brands. It is also tested for glyphosate!
Find it HERE.
Magnesium
I started talking magnesium because I found that most people are terribly deficient and this can cause so many health issues but a bonus when taking magnesium citrate is that it can help you be more regular. I depend on magnesium to keep me regular as well as to help me sleep better.
Having proper magnesium levels is so important. Taking a magnesium supplement can help with so many bodily functions.
A magnesium supplement-
- Provides Energy on a Cellular Level
- Increases Bone Strength
- Helps to Reduce Stress and Anxiety
- Boosts Mood and Fights Depression
- Promotes Healthy Blood Sugar Levels
- Promotes Healthy Blood Pressure Levels
- Promotes Heart Health
- Can be Helpful for Headaches and Migraines
- Beneficial for Muscle Pain, Cramps, and Twitches
- Help Maintain Healthy Skin
- Can Increase DHEA Levels
- Plus much, much, more!
Magnesium actually helps to activate over 300 enzymes, the catalyst for every function in the body. It is needed for electrolyte transport across cellular membranes – key to effective nerve conduction, muscle contraction, and cardiac function.
Benefits of Perfect Supplements Magnesium:
- High Bioavailability
- Lab Tested For Heavy Metals, Click For The Results
- Virtually Tasteless and Odorless
- 100% Pure and Natural Magnesium Citrate
- Organic Form of Magnesium
- No Synthetics
- Non-GMO
- Easily Mixes Into Water or Juice
- High Solubility and Gut Absorption Rate
I mix the powder into my water after dinner. It’s pretty much tasteless and helps me to wind down in the evening.
Find magnesium HERE.
What’s Next?
Hormones are still an issue for most of us, especially if you’ve had kids. It’s very common to be estrogen dominant. Symptoms of estrogen dominance are heavy periods, low libido, weight gain, hair loss, bloat, fatigue, insomnia and even thyroid issues. I’m going to start taking maca root and ashwaghanda root. I’ll keep you posted on that. Any one have any other suggestions?
To be totally transparent, I discovered the company where I get magnesium and collagen through a fellow blogger. She’s an affiliate of the program and encouraged me to sign up due to their quality. I do get a small percentage if you buy either product. I’m also an affiliate of the company that makes Flourish. I’m so incredibly sold on this product they can sign me up to sell it on the street corner-lol. I’m quite thrilled to be making a small commission on it but can honestly say that if there were no affiliate programs, I would still be sharing all 3 of these products! In my 6 years of blogging, I have developed a huge distaste for “influencers” (I hate that title) that share things for any other reason then that they absolutely love it.
I hope you’ll try out these 3 supplements. They’ve truly changed my health.
Perfect Supplements is having a sale right now. I thought I’d sync this post up with it so if you want to try this brand, you can get a discount! Shop HERE.
xx, Jenni
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Hi Jenni! I just saw your post this morning. I too have IBS, have had for long time, though not officially diagnosed with it. Gas, bloating, painful gut cramps when stressed, cannot eat foods high in FODMAPs, I do eat paleo mostly, avoid grains, but eat the latter occasionally, do drink wine occasionally, stay away from sugar, am looking into doing the keto diet. Have found that drinking kombucha, kefir, or eating even the homemade sauerkraut gives me gas, found out that the fermentation creates more FODMAPs in these foods.
Some questions for you on your recommended supplements:
1) Can Flourish be ordered any time of the year? I live in high dessert climate, cold in winter, really hot in summer so is summer not a good time to order Flourish?. 2) Why do you think the collagen supplement you like works for you? I ordered some via your site; the company’s site says that it is very low molecular weight. Wondered if their collagen is different from other collagen supplements in that way, or is it something else that you think makes it work? 3) On the magnesium, I take the glycinate form, as I do not have problems with constipation, at least rarely. I use Pure Encapsulations for the magnesium. Thank you! Elizabeth
Elizabeth-You sound similar to me. Flourish does not have to be refrigerated but I think it’s best if it is. I’ve not heard of them limiting where and when they ship. Cold is fine but extreme heat might effect. However, I live in a very hot climate and ordered and took mine all summer with great results. I do love that they email me when it’s been delivered so it doesn’t sit in my hot mailbox all day. Did you order the collagen in pill form? I can’t speak to how well those work-I’m sorry-Something happened to the link and it changed to the pills instead of the powder that I can speak for since it’s all I’ve used. I just noticed it the other day and corrected all of those links. However, I love Perfect Supplements brand and I’m sure it’s the same but for people who don’t want to add it to a liquid. I’ve heard Pure Encapsulations is a great brand.
I’ve never heard of Gut Shot. I’ll check it out but I’m 100% sold on Flourish. Did you read my full post on it? I’ve truly never experienced a probiotic that has helped me so obviously. I also like that Flourish comes from a small company. They aren’t a company that mass produces so there is great customer service and quality control.
Best of luck to you!
Thank you for your response! I will order the Flourish, ordered it before when you first posted about it, seemed to do fine. Yes, I did read your post on it above. Gut Shot is also a live, probiotic liquid. I am able to get the Got Shot liquid locally so had been trying that. Sauerkraut liquid, sauerkraut, and kefir, all homemade especially, is supposed to be so good for your gut. But taking Flourish would be the easiest which is great seeing as it is a high quality product. Thanks for letting me know about the collagen pills vs the powder. Next time I will make sure to get the powder. The fewer pills, the better, for me, anyway. I have heard that taking evening primrose oil is great for hormones too.
Jenni, one more question to add to my post above, how do you think Flourish compares to Gut Shot by Farmhouse Culture (that can be bought at Whole Foods, Albertsons, etc.)? Gut Shot is liquid from sauerkraut. If you have ever heard of or tried Gut Shot… Thanks again, Elizabeth
I have used Maca for years and it is the one supplement I swear by. It has helped me so much with hormone balance, especially as I’m approaching menopause age, I definitely notice a difference if I’m not taking it regularly.
I am looking forward to trying the magnesium you recommend, I also like it in powder form, easier than swallowing pills. I have a been looking for awhile for a new one because the brand I am currently taking is expensive and I feel I’m just padding this guys already rich pockets, high quality doesn’t need to be high dollar.
I’m also going to give the probiotics a try, again, the less pills I have to swallow the better lol.
I’m still on the fence about collagen, but I have been using fresh aloe vera in my smoothies and feel its helped my skin, especially with hydration.
Thank you for the suggestions!
Jenni, I really trust your honest opinions on products, so I ordered these 3 supplements that you recommended. The shipping was extremely fast and I started the supplements approx. 3 days ago, I’ll give an update once I’ve used them for a few weeks. I too have suffered with stomach/digestive issues (since I was a small child), Hashimotos, migraines, sluggishness, etc. – I’m 55 now. I was also diagnosed with Celiac many years ago & really just went grain free because I know it’s “time”. So, any input on grain free is very much appreciated. Thanks so much for all this information! Have a great day!
Ive heard that magnesium should help a lot.
google brought me to your article.
I will go and buy some magnesium.
thank you for the inspiration 🙂
xoxo
franzi powder brows
Jenni, I ordered the products that you’ve mentioned above and I’m just waiting and so excited to ship out my Flourish and try it. Thank you so much for sharing this with us. I appreciate it a lot.
I’m so glad! I hope you love them as much as I do! Stick with the Flourish-I felt an immediate improvement but I just keep feeling better and better!
One supplement that was recommended to me for IBS (or IBD?) by a functional medicine MD doctor is called Restore. I tried it sporadically, have re-ordered it again so I can be more consistent this time. It restores the gut from a different angle than pre- or probiotics. Has great reviews, is sold on Amazon, has the description of the product there. People with gut issues need to start out with low doses at first. Can see what reviewers say to give you an idea about how it has helped, or not helped, others. I have gut issues, have to avoid gluten, sugar and most grains (except oatmeal), manage stress, but taking the Restore, even sporadically awhile ago, did not bother me, just needed to take more consistently to see if it would have helped me.
I think a missing factor for people reviewing supplements and how it affects their personal health (e.g. on Amazon) is the matter of not eating sugar and all of the beloved starchy foods. Sugar is toxic, damaging, feeds autoimmune diseases, arthritis, not good for the brain at all, so, I would think getting our diet healthy would have to be a base, and then see how the supplements work once on a consistently healthy diet (and exercise!).
Elizabeth-I have heard of Restore and how great it is-I’ve never tried it though. In fact, the lady that recommended me to Flourish also take Restore. I’ll have to check it out.
You are so right. Sugar is my downfall. It’s so hard to stop but if you don’t you’re just feeding the yeast!
Two people you may want to check out are Dr. Terry Wahls with her updated book The Wahls Protocol coming out soon. Dr. Wahls achieved tremendous healing from M.S. through diet. One of the big changes she made was instead of getting the vitamins she needed through supplements she researched what foods had those nutrients and focused on getting them through food. The other person is Summer Bock of Guts and Glory. She’s big in to fermented foods but cautions that other healing may have to happen in the gut before consuming these foods, otherwise they could cause distress. And I love Perfect collagen. I started taking it without telling my husband, just to see if he could tell a difference, and that it wasn’t all in my head. I noticed he started commenting how soft my skin was after about a month. I was taking it twice a day. After 3 months he would keep going on about how soft my skin was and that’s when I told him the only thing I changed was taking the collagen. Then I started having strangers comment on how great my skin looked and that’s when I knew I was on to something. Sorry for the long post! Good luck & God bless!
Katie-I’ll check those two out! Thank you! That’s really interesting about your husband actually noticing your skin! I swear by collagen especially in the winter-it definitely helps keep the dry, dull winter skin away! Thanks for sharing!
Hi! Thanks so much for giving your recommendation for a collagen supplement that has worked for you! I’ll definitely check that brand out…I’ve been wondering if there were any that actually had any noticeable effects after I saw them mentioned in a few blogs (like this one: https://www.ez.insure/2019/12/tighten-loose-skin-naturally/) I’ve been really interested in ways to firm skin and I see that you mention that as one of the effects you noticed. That article also mentions taking Vitamin C, gelatin, protein…I know you said you’ve cut down on your supplements but have you tried any of those? Thanks!
Jo-You’re welcome! I have not taken Vitamin C on a regular basis. I always take a supplement in the summer to help with sun protection but I didn’t notice any firming effect. Gelatin is very similar to collagen but it gels up in a liquid so collagen is the better daily supplement. Collagen has a ton of protein in each scoop so that definitely makes it easy.