Nutrition

Integrative Medicine

Could you recommend a 'certified for sport' line of supplements that can aid hydration, energy, and endurance?

Certified for Sport: A Myth or Marketing Scheme?

All right, so the question is, could I recommend a certified for sport line of supplements? That can a hydration energy and endurance. So first, the bad news, I've been doing this 32 years and I have never heard of a certified for sport. That wasn't certified by the company making the supplements there. I mean there is no official certified for sport that I know of that I've ever encountered. So my answer to you is a good line of supplements in which the ingredients Are vetted that you get from a for example, an authorized dispensary like full script, a good line is going to do exactly what you want to do. Hydration energy, endurance, all of those good things but there isn't one particular line that you can go. It's got the certified for sport label. So therefore, I can trust it and honestly to the person who asked this question if there was such a certified for sport, I'd be very suspicious of it. I would guess. Is that it was an industry-sponsored thing or that. It was something that the companies that make the supplements kind of made up, you just want high quality supplements and, you know, that's a long discussion. But basically you want stuff that has what it says in the label. And you want to talk to a nutritionist to talk to somebody about what supplements you should be using. That's not the question you asked. But just look for the best quality you can find. And usually those brands are found on an authorized dispensary, like full Script.

Unfortunately, there is no official certified for sport line of supplements. To get the hydration, energy, and endurance you want, look for a high quality brand from an authorized dispensary such as Full Script. Be wary of any supplements labeled as "certified for sport," as these are likely made up by the companies that make them and not an official certification.

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The question is whether I can recommend a certified for sport line of supplements that aid hydration, energy, and endurance. Unfortunately, in my 32 years of experience, I have never come across an official certified for sport label that is not certified by the company producing the supplements. There is no recognized certification that I am aware of.

Instead, I suggest focusing on finding a good line of supplements where the ingredients are vetted. Look for reputable brands that you can obtain from authorized dispensaries like Fullscript. While there isn't a specific line with a certified for sport label, a high-quality supplement line can still provide the desired benefits of hydration, energy, and endurance.

If such a certified for sport label did exist, I would be skeptical as it could potentially be an industry-sponsored or self-created designation by supplement companies. The key is to prioritize high-quality supplements that accurately list their ingredients on the label. It's also advisable to consult with a nutritionist or professional to determine which supplements are best suited for your specific needs.

In summary, focus on finding supplements of the highest quality and consider seeking guidance from a professional in the field.

What's the best probiotic for optimal health?

The Truth About Probiotics: We Still Don't Know the Best One for Optimal Health

What's the best probiotic for Optimal Health? That is a great question and I'm going to give you a disappointing answer but it's the truth. We don't know. The problem with probiotics is that everybody knows. They are incredibly important. Everybody understands their impact on the microbiome, but we don't yet know which strings work, best for which people with which conditions. So the research just hasn't caught up with that yet and they're looking for Constantly, there are people who say certain strains of great for the brain and other strains of great for other things. And we know that they're very important, we just don't know which ones do what. At least not to the extent that we hope to know and say the next 10 years. So I'll give you what I do. One of my girls on gut brain health and stuff like that is David Perlmutter. Here's an article online, the five Most important species of probiotics, making sure that you get those in whatever form you you look for and until we have a better answer. That's what I go with. So I look up his article. I have found a probiotic supplement. That contains all of those five species and it's an imperfect answer but it's kind of the best guidance that I have for you right now. And anyone who says they know exactly what the right probiotic is for everybody. In any stage of life and for any condition is making it up. We just don't know. But we have that kind of guidance and I think that's good guidance to follow. So look up David Perlmutter. Look up his article on the five most important species and look for a probiotic supplement. That contains those

We don't know the best probiotic for optimal health, but according to David Perlmutter's article on the five most important species of probiotics, look for a supplement that contains these five species.

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The best probiotic for optimal health is a difficult question to answer because the research hasn't caught up yet. While we understand the importance of probiotics and their impact on the microbiome, we don't know which specific strains work best for different people and conditions. There are claims about certain strains being beneficial for the brain or other areas, but the extent of our knowledge is limited.

In the meantime, I follow the guidance of experts like David Perlmutter, who focuses on gut-brain health. He has an article online about the five most important species of probiotics. I recommend looking it up and finding a probiotic supplement that contains those species. It's not a perfect answer, but it's the best guidance we have at the moment.

Anyone who claims to know the exact right probiotic for everyone in any stage of life and for any condition is simply making it up. We just don't have that level of understanding yet. So, for now, I suggest following the guidance provided by experts like David Perlmutter and looking for a probiotic supplement that includes the five most important species mentioned in his article.

What are your feelings about HMB supplements along with resistance training?  And do you know of a reputable distributor?

HMB Supplements: A Muscle-Protecting Game Changer for Resistance Training

So, the question is, what are my feelings about HMB supplements along with resistance training? And, do I happen to know of a reputable distributor or company that makes them? Well, full disclosure, I'm a huge fan of HMB supplementation. I take HMB every day. As far as, I don't know if it's distributors, I get mine from Amazon, there is a company called My HMB that is, from what I can tell, the most reputable, the most stable, they've been around the longest, they kind of wrote the book on it. So, they provide a lot of the HMB for different other companies. I personally get this kind, I get it from Amazon. It's called Life Extension Wellness Code and the reason I like it is because it has the dose that is most researched for the biggest effect. And that dose is 3,000 milligrams and I like this brand because you can, it's 3,000 milligrams in one scoop and you can put it into a shake and it doesn't have a bad taste or anything like that. I'd be very suspicious of some of the companies that sell this on Amazon or sell it anywhere at their health food stores. HMB, you know, it's all over the place and people know now that this is a good supplement. You look at it and it's, you know, 500 milligrams. You have to take, what, 6, 12 of them, you know, to get a dosage. You need 3,000 milligrams a day to get the effect. And it's preferable if you can combine it with vitamin D. I take vitamin D every day so I'm covered on that ground. So why do we take it and why do I like it? It's a muscle protector. You know, it will help you build new muscle but more importantly, it will help you not lose the muscle you have. And to me, that's one of the most important things you can do for your health. Muscle is the engine of longevity. It's the organ of longevity. We need to protect it. One of the ways we do that is with resistance training and HMB supplements. I'm a big fan.

I'm a huge fan of HMB supplementation and take it every day. My favorite brand is Life Extension Wellness Code, which provides 3,000 milligrams in one scoop, and I like to combine it with vitamin D. HMB helps protect muscle and is an important part of resistance training for longevity.

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Regarding my feelings about HMB supplements in conjunction with resistance training, I am a huge fan. I personally take HMB every day and find it beneficial. As for reputable distributors, I get mine from Amazon, specifically a company called My HMB. They have a solid reputation, longevity in the industry, and provide HMB to various other companies. The brand I prefer is Life Extension Wellness Code, which offers a 3,000 milligram dose of HMB per scoop. It can be easily added to shakes without any unpleasant taste. I advise being cautious of other companies selling HMB on Amazon or health food stores, as their doses may be insufficient. To experience the desired effect, one needs to consume 3,000 milligrams of HMB daily. Additionally, combining HMB with vitamin D is preferable, and personally, I take vitamin D daily as well. The reason I appreciate HMB supplementation is because it acts as a muscle protector. It helps prevent muscle loss and supports the development of new muscle mass. Preserving muscle is crucial for overall health and longevity since it serves as the engine and organ of longevity. Resistance training combined with HMB supplements is an approach that I highly endorse.

Are there any lifestyle changes or alternative interventions that someone could try before resorting to statin drugs?

Unlocking the Great Cholesterol Myth: Lifestyle Changes Before Statin Drugs

So, the question is, are there any lifestyle changes or alternative interventions that someone could try before resorting to a statin drug? Yes, we wrote a book about this. It's called The Great Cholesterol Myth. There's plenty of things you can do. The problem that I think with going right to a statin drug is that most doctors prescribe it based on a really simplistic test, which is good and bad cholesterol. If you've listened to any of my hundreds of answers on this platform, you probably know I'm not a big fan of that test. There are much better tests, and I prefer you got a more detailed test before you go on a statin drug just based on good and bad cholesterol. One test you may be able to get your doctor to do is the ApoB test. That's kind of standard. They know what that is. It's covered by insurance. That's a pretty good surrogate. If that's very high, that might be a reason for a statin drug. My advice on what to do really revolves around not eliminating saturated fat, which has been shown to have no causal effect on heart disease, but to eliminating sugar. I think that makes the biggest and most profound difference in everything, including the blood tests that you take to determine if you're at risk. I think there is a place for statin drugs. I just think that they're often given without enough evidence that they're needed. For more information, visit www.FEMA.gov

Before resorting to a statin drug, there are lifestyle changes and alternative interventions that someone could try first. These include eliminating sugar from their diet and getting a more detailed blood test than just good and bad cholesterol, such as the ApoB test. This will help determine if a statin drug is necessary.

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Before resorting to statin drugs, there are several lifestyle changes and alternative interventions that can be considered. In our book, The Great Cholesterol Myth, we discuss these options in detail. Instead of solely relying on a simplistic test that assesses good and bad cholesterol, I recommend getting a more comprehensive test to better understand your lipid profile. One such test is the ApoB test, which is commonly covered by insurance and provides valuable insights. If the results show high levels of ApoB, it may be a reason to consider statin drugs.

In terms of lifestyle changes, rather than eliminating saturated fat, which has been shown to have no direct link to heart disease, I suggest focusing on reducing sugar intake. Eliminating sugar can have a profound impact on various aspects of health, including blood tests that assess heart disease risk.

While there is a place for statin drugs, they are often prescribed without sufficient evidence of necessity. It's important to explore lifestyle modifications and alternative interventions before immediately turning to medication. For more information, please visit www.FEMA.gov.

What is a healthier option for coffee creamer?

Healthier Coffee Creamer: Try Layered Superfoods!

So the question is, what is a healthier option for coffee creamer? Well, there's a premise in this question and I'm not sure what it is healthier has been want. If you're talking about something that doesn't have fat in it, I don't accept that premise. That fat in a coffee creamer is a bad thing. My favorite coffee creamer is heavy cream, followed by half and half, so I have no issue with the fat ass, but now, if you turn about healthy in those horrible, little fake creamers that you can get like it. Food places and stuff like that, that's pure trans fats, anything's better than that. So we're not talking about that if you're trying to avoid Dairy and you don't like my idea of just using plain old heavy cream or half-and-half, then my favorite brand for this. And I think what you're probably looking for is the line of cream is made by layered superfoods, and that's Laird Hamilton. He was the world famous surfer and he has his food company. And no financial interest whatsoever but I use a lot of his products and he does make a line of creamers made with coconut. I think most of them are vegetarian, if not all he often, fortifies them with performance mushrooms, which is a supplement, I add to my own coffee. So I would look into the layered superfoods line of coffee creamish because that's probably what you're looking for. And again, let me just give a shout-out for plain old healthy cream. We were all lied. To we don't need skim milk and almond milk and all the other options. Unless you're some reason you were avoiding Gary. We don't need to avoid the fat in coffee.

My favorite coffee creamer is heavy cream or half and half. If you're looking for something healthier, try the line of creamers made by Laird Hamilton's layered superfoods. They are usually vegan and often fortified with performance mushrooms.

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When it comes to a healthier option for coffee creamer, it's important to question the premise of what healthier means. If you're concerned about fat content, I personally don't view fat in coffee creamer as a bad thing. My preferred options are heavy cream followed by half-and-half. However, if you're looking to avoid dairy or prefer an alternative, there are options available.

One brand that I recommend is Laird Superfood, created by Laird Hamilton, a renowned surfer. They offer a line of creamers made with coconut, and most, if not all, of their products are vegetarian. They also fortify their creamers with performance mushrooms, which can be a beneficial supplement. This could be a suitable choice if you're seeking a non-dairy option.

However, I want to emphasize that plain old heavy cream is a great choice for coffee creamer. Many of us have been misled into thinking we need skim milk or almond milk. Unless you have a specific reason to avoid dairy, there's no need to shy away from the fat in coffee.

Fueling Athletes: The Pros and Cons of MCTs

The question is should athletes take MCTS. That's a medium chain triglycerides, that's what I'm c. T stands for and the answer is it depends on the athlete and the event and your reason for taking them. So, for example, bodybuilders are big fans of MCTS because they're a source of calories that are unlikely to be stored as fat. They are a fat but the body uses them preferentially for energy. So So, for the cutting phase of a bodybuilders cycle, when they we're trying to cut up, they need the calories in order to work out, they don't want to add body fat. So MCTS are a great solution. Now whether or not that's going to apply to your event and your particular situation is really up to you. They are a terrific source of calories unlikely to be stored as fat and they don't have the metabolic effects that high carb diets have and lots of Stir and all the other things that we used to teach athletes to load up on. So they have that advantage and whether or not you need that advantage or whether or not that suits you for your event is really completely individual and I can't answer it in a global sense. I can just tell you what MCTS do. There are also more likely to be converted to ketones and other fats. So depending on what kind of diet you're on and what you're trying to achieve, they could be a great thing to take or maybe not so great. I know that's not a perfect answer, but it's the best I've got. It always is going to depend on your particular, individual situation and the more, you know about what this supplement, you're thinking of taking does the better. You can make a decision about whether it's right for you or whether it's right for you at a particular point in your training.

Whether or not athletes should take MCTS depends on the athlete, the event, and their reason for taking them. They can be a great source of calories that are unlikely to be stored as fat and don't have the metabolic effects of high-carb diets, but it is up to the individual to decide if MCTS are right for them.

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Should athletes take MCTs (medium chain triglycerides)? The answer depends on the athlete, the event, and the reason for taking them. Bodybuilders often favor MCTs because they provide calories that are less likely to be stored as fat. MCTs are used preferentially by the body for energy during the cutting phase of a bodybuilder's cycle.

Whether MCTs are suitable for your specific event and situation is a personal decision. They offer a calorie source that is unlikely to be stored as fat and do not have the same metabolic effects as high carb diets. However, their effectiveness depends on individual needs and goals.

MCTs are also more likely to be converted to ketones and other fats, which may be beneficial depending on your diet and objectives. It's important to consider your specific circumstances and gather information about the supplement before making a decision.

Ultimately, the suitability of MCTs for athletes varies on a case-by-case basis. Understanding the supplement and its effects can help you determine if it aligns with your needs and training goals.

Neither AnyQuestion nor its Experts provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment or otherwise provide professional healthcare services.

Physician disclaimer

Jonny Bowden, PhD, CNS answers your Integrative Medicine questions. See all the advice Jonny Bowden, PhD, CNS has and get answers to your own Integrative Medicine questions.

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Jonny Bowden began his career as a jazz musician, studying under Herbie Hancock and at Juilliard before earning degrees in music & psychology from NYU. He found his passion for nutrition while working as a pianist for Alvin Ailey Dance Theatre. Bowden changed careers and earned 6 personal training certifications, a psychology masters, and a nutrition PhD. He was the Dean of the Equinox Fitness Training Institute for 4 years and became a board-certified nutritionist. Bowden has penned 15 books, including best-sellers "The Great Cholesterol Myth," "Living Low Carb," and "150 Healthiest Foods on Earth”. He's a worldwide speaker, has appeared on every major network (ABC, NBC, CBS, CNN, Fox, MSNBC), has been interviewed on dozens of podcasts, and featured in The NYT, Men’s Health, Woman’s World, Forbes Online, GQ, Cosmo, Self, Prevention, InStyle, Shape, and O, The Oprah Magazine. Known as The Nutrition Mythbuster™, Bowden is committed to debunking health myths and speaking truth to power.