SELECTING THE RIGHT SUPPLEMENTS BY HOLISTIC NUTRITIONIST ELISSA GOODMAN
I was introduced to Elissa Goodman through a friend at a beautiful woman’s retreat I was attending. I was instantly drawn to her and how similar our paths were — She was diagnosed with Hodgkins’s Lymphoma in her early 30’s and I was diagnosed with Non Hodgkins Lymphoma in my early 30’s as well. I have done many of her beautiful cleanses, and have learned so much from her. I am so excited to share her wealth of knowledge with you all. I admire her mission to educate others to embrace the concept that we are a product of what we eat and how we treat ourselves. — Britt
To say I'm obsessed with supplements is a bit of an understatement. I often refer to myself as the “Super Supplement Girl”. Supplements are the first thing most of my new clients ask about and as much as I’d love to dive right in with them, they can be a bit tricky. The problem with supplements is they’re not always what they say they are. Many have fillers and synthetics substances that aren’t great for us. Some companies just flat out lie. One study found that a majority of herbs sold in stores like Walmart and Target had zero trace of the plants on the label.
If you’re just beginning to skim the surface on cleansing your body through food, it’s smart to start simple. First off, food is step one. It’s important to keep in mind that there’s no substitute for a nutrient dense, plant-packed diet. Secondly, the quickest way to fail is to throw in a billion powders and pills into your daily routine. Not only will you likely waste money, you won’t be able to tell what’s actually working for you.
The key is to start slow and pay attention to how you feel! It’s all about self-awareness. The best way to remember to take your supplements is to be able to feel the difference when you forget to take them. These 3 supplements are my go-to for my clients who want to keep it simple and are a great start to a basic wellness regimen:
1. Mary Ruth’s Organic liquid multi + liquid minerals. Because these are liquid, these are much easier to absorb within the digestive system. Plus they’re totally organic! They cover your bases for getting a balanced intake of micronutrients. You take the multivitamin in the morning and the mineral before bed so it’s really easy to add into your routine. Note: If you are someone who has MTHFR, this multi isn’t for you. You need to make sure to supplement with the key B vitamins in the active forms - 5 methyltetrahydrofolate, methyl-cobalamin, pyridoxal 5-phosphate, riboflavin 5-phosphate. They are coming out with a methylated one soon.
2. A really strong probiotic before bed. First things first when getting healthy is to colonize your gut with beneficial bacteria. If your gut flora is off, digesting and absorbing nutrients becomes really difficult. Not only that but 75% of your immune system and 90% of your serotonin production resides in the gut. Inadequate flora can cause issues across the board. I recommend Renew Life Women’s Complete, Pure Encapsulations 50 Billion, VSL#3 and Dr. Ohhira’s Professional Strength.
3. An Adaptogen: Adaptogens are herbs that have the capability of adapting their actions to suit your unique physiological needs. For example, the same plant can either raise or lower a hormone based on what your individual needs. The top 7 adaptogens I recommend are:
Ginseng: Improves mental capabilities, reduces negative effects of stress.
Holy basil: Yoga in a cup! It calms the nervous system, reduces anxiety, and has powerful anti-aging properties.
Ashwagandha: Regulates immune system, lowers stress hormones, and decreases anxiety.
Cordyceps: Potent antioxidant which gives them anti-cancer/tumor properties. Helps restore balance within the system.
Licorice Root: Increases energy, endurance, boosts immunity, protects the Thymus from damage due to cortisol. Not good for those with high blood pressure
Rhodiola: Increases mental and physical energy while reducing physiological load of stress.
Astragalus: Boosts immunity, lowers stress and improves metabolism. Really great for anyone with diabetes or metabolic issues.
Pick one or two that sound like a good fit, do a little more research, and give one a try. Each of these plants has different qualities and will work better for some than others. Experiment! Pay attention to how you feel when you take it. For me, Holy Basil or Ashwagandha work really well.
Elissa also offers three amazing (Britt and Cyn tested and approved) cleanse programs! To learn more about Elissa Goodman’s program, visit her website or follow her on Instagram!
XO
ELISSA
The Sweet Life By Brittany + Cynthia Daniel
About Elissa Goodman: After being diagnosed with cancer when she was 32, Elissa Goodman explored holistic alternatives and combined them with traditional treatments and was able to beat the disease. Her husband wasn’t as fortunate; he succumbed to Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma when he was only 45 after a regimen of doctor-prescribed chemotherapy and two bone marrow transplants. Her personal experience led her to realize the many ways in which nutrition and lifestyle affect our ability to deal with health challenges. Today, Goodman is a leading expert on holistic medicine and lifestyle cleansing. You can learn more about her programs on her website.
