Supplementing basics

Supplements can get very confusing when starting out. I find even when you I go into stores like the Vitamin Shoppe each salesperson will tell me something different based on their opinion and experience. Sometimes I'm convinced they're having a sales contest for certain brands and win prizes they push certain products so hard.  Rule number one with supplements - they aren't meant to replace eating clean whole foods. Supplements are meant to fill in the holes in our diet and make sure we're getting the daily allotment our body needs of vitamins and minerals for maximum performance and recovery. Always keep in mind no matter which supplements you decide are important for you to take you're buying good quality. Here are the basic supplements you should be taking:

-Multivitamin

Multivitamins pack way more micronutrients than the food we eat. Basically they make sure you have plenty of the essential micros your body needs - especially important when working out so your body can reach its maximum potential in recovery.

-Fish oil

Fish oil is important to fight inflammation in your body. Inflammation happens in your cells from the foods you eat along with training and can be very bad for your health. Fish oil works to minimize breakdown that happens to our cells from inflammation. They also help to oxidize fat and give you extra energy! This is one you really want to pay attention to quality on. The cheaper qualities of fish oil are made from larger fish that eat smaller fish (in turn means you're ingesting the waste of the smaller fish - gross)! 

-Probiotics

Probiotics help prevent as well as treat illnesses. They work to make sure your digestive track is as clean as it can be. As well as benefiting your immune system! When most people think of probiotics they think of "good bacteria" which is exactly what it contains. 

-Whey Protein Isolate

Whey Protein Isolate the purest quality whey out there. Its designed to be taken within 10 minutes of working out when our muscles need protein fast for optimal growth and recovery. It is manufactured with the protein broken down to the max so that it goes directly to our damaged muscles faster than other proteins. Also good to take if you're feeling fatigued during your workout to give you quick energy your body needs fast so you can power through.

Now these are truly the "basics" there are so many more pre workout and post workout supplements you can take to optimize your training. But these are a nice place to start for sure ;)