Health & Nutrition - Supplements

I did not start taking supplements the same time as I started working out and used to dread taking many pills and disliked the nagging Jason did when he told me I should start taking supplements few years ago. It was only in end 2011 that I started taking supplements, after a bout of fungal infections. The first supplement I took was of course protein shakes, and the first supplement tablets I started taking was probiotics. So today, I'll be going into details of what each supplement is essential for. It'll be a long post so hang in there! :)

As you can see, I have bought most of my supplements from vitacost.com (explains some of the house brands that I have), will be trying iherb.com for my next order! Please note that I'll be touching on the brief benefits of each supplement (why I chose to take them) as it'll have to go on in pages if I were to explain everything. Go on and google more about them if you are interested to get any of the supplements that I'm taking. 

1. Folic acid - As some of you may know, folic acid is taken before and during pregnancy for women to prevent birth defects on the baby, so, yea that was the main reason why I started taking  them. HUR. However, it also keeps our hearts healthy and brains young!
2. Probiotics - These are also known as 'good bacteria' that can be found in yogurt and this is the only supplement I cannot live without. It helps improve your immune system and brain function, helps lower cholesterol levels and improve stomach health, and it treats allergies.
3. CoQ-10 - Improves heart health and acts as an anti-oxidant for your body.
4. Milk Thistle - Helps protect my liver from liver diseases
5. BCAA - Short for Branched Chain Amino Acids, to prevent muscle catabolism (muscle breakdown) especially important during my current Intermittent Fasting stint.
6. Multi-vitamins - To get a little more vitamins, minerals and nutrients than what I get from my daily food intake.
7. Calcium - Okay, the main reason why I'm forcing myself to eat these 3 calcium pills everyday is the fear of teeth and hair falling during and after pregnancy, since I don't drink milk everyday. On top of that, calcium better improves the absorbency of the other supplements that I take daily.
8. Fish oil - Very important staple if you are working out and bodybuilding. Fish oil reduces signs of aging, improves fat-burning and MOST IMPORTANTLY, preserves lean muscles and improve bone health.

Now that you know what I'm taking, I guess you should also know what I'm lacking. HAHA. Feel free to comment, email me if you think I'm lacking anything, or am taking too much of something? I'm very open to suggestions as well! I hope this post helps in clarifying some of your doubts and questions on what kind of supplements you decide to take.

Some updates from last week and yesterday..

Sunday OOTD before mass

My current back with WIIINGS!

May 2013 V.S Week 7 of IF

Team Axis was at Elias Park Primary yesterday and today, for the HPB program me "Be Smart, Don't Start"!

We homecooked last night, was craving salmon!

Yellow and green peppers with white fish!

That's all for today and have a fantastic week ahead everyone! Till thennnn!

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Product Review: Smartshake - Neon Series

It's been more than a year since I started bringing all these out with me every single day. Sometimes I misplace them individually in my huge gym bag that I got so annoyed with myself for forgetting to bring either my sups, pre workout drink or my additional scoop of protein for busier days, only to find out days later that they are actually somewhere hidden in my bag. HAHA. As somebody who works out regularly, it is important that we have enough protein, vitamins and other supplements in a day. So, how do you pack yours?

This was how I usually pack mine:

I have never paid for a shaker bottle, because I always get them FOC from my protein powder orders online. And sadly, none of them lasted long enough for me. Thank God for Smartshake! I first saw it on bodybuilding forum but had never really enticed me to get one mainly because of the hassle of shipping in from US. NOW you have it in Singapore and they come in such cute colors from the NEON Series! The fuchsia one caught my eye at first sight and I could not stop thinking about it until I decided to get Jess to order together with me (HEH).

Now, I can pack everything in a bottle, with the individual compartments! The best part is that it looks good and cool and I have been getting a lot of questions from the gyms about where I get my bottle from. I also don't have to worry about losing the individual items in my bag because they are all attached now!

Get yours today at www.smartshakesg.com! Colours from the Neon series comes individually so you may share your order with your gym buddy or get more than 1 if you want to have them all for yourself!

Lucky for you, my readers and IG followers are all entitled to a 10% off till 31st Oct 2013 on all items except for the Jay Cutler 800ml bottle as it is already on sale. GET YOURS TODAY and hurry before the promo code expires! All you need to do is enter my promo code "limaran9911" into the 'Add special instructions for your order' box before you click 'Checkout'! Have fun!!

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