Supplements: A Starter’s Guide

A stroll down any supplement aisle in any health food store can be a little overwhelming, especially if you’re new to the whole “natural health” thing. There are so many different vitamins, minerals, herbs, spices, proteins, meal replacements, powders and tonics that deciding on something you actually need can quickly evolve into becoming quite a difficult process.

Kyle Drew is the resident supplement expert at Know the Cause. You’d be hard-pressed to find someone more well versed in supplements and what they do. If you have a specific problem, Kyle can typically give you the name of at least three supplements that can target your problem very specifically. We’re very lucky to have him around.

However, Doug often recommends people stop using most supplements they are taking when beginning the Kaufmann 1 Diet, with the exception of some natural anti-fungals. (This is advice should always be approved by your doctor first, especially if he or she has recommended you take certain supplements. Never use this site or the show in lieu of a doctor’s advice.) However, while we hold that diet and exercise are the two most critical components to good health, supplements can play a vital role in helping you achieve great health, and after you’ve been on the Kaufmann 1 Diet for a while, it may be time to add in some key supplements.

This is just a basic guide to three supplements that are good to take daily. This is by no means a comprehensive list or analysis of the listed items, nor are these supplements targeted specifically towards any sort of condition. They’re just a good base to compliment your Kaufmann 1 Diet, and a good starting point for someone new to supplementation.

Natural Anti-Fungals

Doug holds that most vitamins and minerals have some sort of anti-pathogenic fungal effect. But a few, such as olive leaf extract, oil of oregano, clove oil and grapefruit seed extract excel in this area. Rotate these regularly to help keep pathogenic fungi at bay.

A Good Multivitamin

There is a lot of evidence to suggest that food isn’t as nutritious as it once was. Soil depletion and food processing have rendered a food supply with a lower nutrient value than we’ve traditionally enjoyed. It is impossible to substitute vitamins for a good diet, and especially if you are eating on the Kaufmann 1, you’ll get most of what you need to enjoy good health. A good multi-vitamin is an insurance policy, a guarantee that you get what you need on a daily basis to enjoy all the benefits afforded by a diet rich in vitamins and minerals. Food-based multivitamins are great; look out for heavily synthetic supplements.

Probiotics

Even mainstream thought agrees that probiotics are extremely beneficial for health. Antibiotics and poor diet can eliminate a lot of the good bacteria in the gut – bacteria that aid in digestion, energy production and immunity. Once the good bacteria are eliminated, yeasts can gain stronghold. Probiotics can help recolonize your gut with the good bacteria that aid in good health and strong immunity, all while keeping pathogens at bay.