I have to be honest. It is hard to get all of the healthy things I am supposed to take during the day. Food is hard enough. Am I remembering to take all of my supplements? Am I getting enough protein? My nine cups of veggies? All of the water? Wait...how the heck did that bag of plantain chips get into the rotation? Please go buy those plantain chips from Trader Joe's. You are welcome.
So I cheat a little and make up for my deficiencies at night. I put my two little boys down for bed and waltz past my blue and white ikat Bella teapot, turning it on as I pirouette by. I rummage around the kitchen, gathering my various potions and powders. I wear the world's fluffiest purple robe, makeup off, hair up, ready to snuggle into bed with a good book and a hot mug of healthy goodness.
But, what is in said drink? If you were to tell me that you drink a health potion at night, I would pester you until you told me what was in it. So I will pre-emptively return this favor.
Here is the stack:
I am a fan of this multivitamin because there is a morning pack and an evening pack. The Caltons say that different minerals compete with each other for absorption, and I see this more clearly the more I study nutrition. Ladies, micronutrients are incredibly important. Not everyone needs all micronutrients all of the time (test, don't guess!), but three or four nights a week, I will add this vitamin pack to my nightly drink.
From the Nutrience Website:
"Your body is constantly being bombarded with more micronutrient depleting factors than it has ever had to deal with in human history. Did you know that stress alone depletes all of the following micronutrients: A, B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, B7, B9, B12, choline, C, D, E, calcium, chromium, copper, iodine, iron, magnesium, potassium, selenium, zinc, omega-3, and carnitine? Then you have to take into account the over-consumption of micronutrient depletors such as sugar, alcohol, processed foods, wheat, soy and medications. Finally, exercise, pollution, and environmental toxins reduce your level of micronutrients leaving you in a state of serious micronutrient deficiency."
So I add a little back in about half of the evenings per week. P.S.- I really do believe in this product. If you happen to click on it and purchase it through this website, I think I make like 5%. I will put that back into vitamins and research and possibly shoes. Thank you.
2. Inositol Powder
My friend and colleague Katy has been giving me great supporting evidence on this particular supplement. Thanks, Katy!
I am on a mission, girls:
How the heck do we lower insulin resistance?
High blood sugar for an extended period of time=
insulin resistance.
Insulin resistance=
(possible) weight gain, high triglycerides, high blood pressure, diabetes.
No, thank you.
According to my own Hair Tissue Mineral Analysis, my blood sugar is incredibly dysregulated. I can feel this through an increase in cravings and dammit, belly fat over the past two years or so. I see blood sugar dysregulation with my clients as well, and I would like to help this collective problem.
There are a few supplements I will use clinically instead of Metformin (but that's because I cannot diagnose, treat, or prescribe, obvs.) Metformin lowers blood sugar. It is used for Type II Diabetes. It also helps women with PCOS (Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome) control their blood sugar, and therefore their weight and insulin levels. But metformin also raises homocysteine (a marker for inflammation related to autoimmune disorders and other chronic conditions). So, what is a girl to do?
Inositol is an option.
Inositol is also called Vitamin B8. It is a long lost cousin of the rest of the B Vitamins. I take it to restore insulin sensitivity. It is especially helpful for women who are insulin resistant due to PCOS, as this Life Extension article (courtesy Katy) states.
The two active forms of inositol (myo-inositol and d-chiro-inositol, have been shown in clinical studies to lower insulin resistance, reduce abnormally high levels of testosterone in PCOS patients, and lead to ovulation in many anovulatory situations.
Two to four grams of myo-inositol is the clinical dose used to restore ovulation in anovulatory women.
PCOS=
High Testosterone +
Blood Sugar Imbalance +
Lack of Ovulation.
Inositol=
Reduction in Testosterone +
Balancing of Blood Sugar +
Restored Ovulation.
Do you know what this means for many women? It can mean pregnancy.
In fact,
"In a comparison study, 4 grams of MI plus 400 micrograms of folic acid per day was more effective than 1500 mg per day of metformin (Glucophage) in restoring ovulation in infertile women with PCOS. In addition, the total pregnancy rate was higher in women treated with MI (48.4%) than metformin (36.6%) (Raffone 2010)".
Now, two things.
1. This will not happen for everyone (see stats <50%).
2. I am not using this to restore my own ovulation or get pregnant. I am happy with my four sweet kiddos and this new phase in my life where everyone can theoretically remember to put their own shoes on each day.
(Me, explaining to the universe's coolest kindergarten teacher why we were going to be late that day).
3. Magnesium CALM powder
You already know how much I love my magnesium powder. If you are tired and crabby and constipated and PMS-y, this is the powder for you. But if you have loose stools regularly, this is not the powder for you. You want a magnesium glycinate, not a magnesium citrate. Also, if your calcium levels are low or on par with your magnesium levels, you should not supplement with the powder.
My magnesium levels are less than 1/3 of my calcium levels, and I am constipated or crabby much of the time. Ergo, I am a perfect candidate for magnesium powder!
Lately, I have been reading research that says that magnesium citrate may not be the best option to remineralize the body. Stay tuned for more on this.
4. Vitamin C Powder
This is a newer addition to my nightly beverage. As I was doing research for my Vitamin C flush, I learned that most people are severely deficient in Vitamin C and my tissue levels were nowhere near saturation (since it took 40 grams or 40,000 mg for my body to get to the point where it was ready to get rid of the extra!)
So I will add in 1-2 grams to my drink each night. The sour taste of ascorbic acid can detract from your enjoyment of an otherwise pleasantly sweet beverage, so be forewarned. You can also just add 1-2 scoops to a little glass of water and shoot it.
Vitamin C nourishes and supports overworked adrenal glands, so I like to take it before bed to calm my nervous system down. The C plus the magnesium does wonders to induce drowsiness.
5. Salt
Salt helps overworked adrenal glands. If you find yourself craving salt, go ahead and allow your body to have as much as it wants. Make sure it is a high mineral salt, like pink Himalayan Sea Salt. I get mine at Walmart, though Amazon has some fun black, red, and pink high-mineral salt options.
I put 1/4 tsp in my drink. If you don't want salt in your nightly beverage, add some to your water during the day. Sodium and potassium work together to keep the right fluid balance inside and outside of your cells. If you find yourself either chronically dehydrated or swelling with fluids, you need to play around with your sodium and potassium levels. You get sodium from good quality salt and your get potassium from vegetables. Eat your vegetables.
I am not telling you that this beverage tastes amazing. It really doesn't. The tang from the Vitamin C powder can be a little off-putting. So please decide what you want to put into your own drink. You can add Vitamin C and salt to an ounce of water and shoot it, and then enjoy the other three ingredients in a hot drink on its own. That is more palatable.
Let me know if you try it. Let's continue this discussion on Facebook.
Yours in health,
Jennifer