Over the past few years, I’ve been taking various supplements in an effort to improve my overall health. I’ve tried different multivitamins, turmeric, fish oil, and a handful of other products that promised big results. To be honest, I haven’t seen much in terms of noticeable changes. I’m not sure if I’ve been using the wrong brands, the wrong doses, or if supplements just aren’t all they’re cracked up to be. But instead of giving up, I’ve decided to “up my game” and go all-in with higher-quality supplements.
After doing some research and reading a lot of reviews, I’ve decided to try out three new supplements to see if the quality of the products I’ve been using has been the issue. The three I’ve chosen are: THORNE Men’s Multi 50+, NatureWise Turmeric Curcumin with BioPerine, and Nordic Naturals Ultimate Omega. These brands are highly recommended and are known for being more potent, pure, and effective than your average off-the-shelf products.
Here’s what I’m hoping for:
1. THORNE Men’s Multi 50+
I’m over 50 now, so I wanted a multivitamin that’s specifically designed for someone my age. This product includes essential nutrients in forms that are supposedly easier to absorb, which might have been one of the problems with my old multivitamin. I’m hoping to see improvements in my energy levels, mood, and overall well-being with this one.
2. NatureWise Turmeric Curcumin with BioPerine
I’ve been taking turmeric for joint health for a while, but again, no real difference that I could notice. What makes this version different is the addition of BioPerine, a black pepper extract that’s supposed to improve the absorption of turmeric. Turmeric is known for its anti-inflammatory properties, and I’m really hoping this higher-quality version will actually help with some joint discomfort I’ve been dealing with lately.
3. Nordic Naturals Ultimate Omega
I’ve tried fish oil before, but I’m stepping it up with Nordic Naturals, which is well-known for its high-quality omega-3s. Omega-3s are great for heart health, joint health, and cognitive function, so I’m hoping this supplement will help with overall inflammation and mental clarity. This brand claims to have higher purity and better bioavailability, so maybe this will be the one that actually makes a difference.
Why the Change?
The big question in my mind is whether supplement price and presumed quality makes a real difference. If you go online, there are hundreds of brands all claiming to offer the best product, from my research, the truth is, not all supplements are created equal. Some brands might use cheap ingredients or forms of vitamins that your body can’t really absorb, which would explain why I haven’t seen results.
I’m also making sure to take these supplements consistently and for long enough to really gauge their effects. Too often, people (including myself) take supplements for a few weeks, don’t see instant results, and then stop. But I’m going to give this a fair shot.
The Plan
For the next few months, I’m going to stick with these three supplements and track how I feel—energy levels, joint pain, mood, mental clarity, and any other noticeable changes. I’m hoping that with better-quality supplements, I’ll start seeing the benefits that so many people rave about.
If I do see some noticeable results, I’ll know that supplement quality really does matter. If not, well, I guess I’ll have to reconsider the whole idea of taking supplements altogether.
Stay tuned—I’ll update you all on whether this “upping my game” approach pays off!
This is an exciting step forward for me, and I’m curious to see how it goes. If you’ve tried any of these brands or have had similar experiences, feel free to share in the comments.
I’m definitely curious to see how this goes for MD. I’m in the same boat as you (age, general health level), so please do follow up!
After much trial and error I’ve found that first (for many vitamins) it’s best to get non-gmo organic produce and juice it to get the most benefits from the vitamins. If that’s not an option, find a non-gmo organic whole food vitamin. I haven’t taken those brands but I’ve heard good things about the Nordic one. I take Vit C, Zinc, CoQ10 daily and sometimes take a multivitamin or NAC if I’m sick. Life Extension is a decent resource. You can buy turmeric at the store and juice it into a shot glass as well.
MD,
I’m in my 70’s and also take supplements. I’m a Type II diabetic so keeping my A1C under control is important. A couple I’ve found really help with pain in my knees and shoulders are Heal and Soothe and Osteo-Bi Flex. Cinnamon and tumeric with berberine help keep my blood sugar under control.
I didn’t notice any changes when I first started taking them, but after a few weeks I noticed I wasn’t limping as much and my left shoulder wasn’t hurting as much. It’s harder to notice the absence of something (even pain) than the presence.
M D, Want to give you my two cents worth. When I was in my 40’s my hands started stiffening up and painful to squeeze together or make a fist. Did some research and decided to try glucosamine. The brand I used was Schiff, glucosamine +MSM. I’ve been using it for almost 30 years now and my hands are as supple as a 20 year old. From what I’ve read it doesn’t work for everyone but for me it worked wonderful. It should work within 30 days if its going to work for you.
Cool, will be looking forward to tracking the results as you share them.
Did you look into the supplements that BlackScout promotes on his channel? Black Forest or something…
Perhaps we bit different than what your plan is in terms of vitamins etc
Try to get non synthetic when you can
You need vit D pretty high dose n u cant get that in a multi, you need to add more (tho you get outside) as well as some various others B maybe Or depending on your wants n issues magnesium at night n calcium is great
Fish oil is good good for brain
Just bc you don’t feel anything doesn’t mean it’d not helping
Do u feel anything when you eat veggies?
Try raising nitric oxide some beets supplements help w that too n the ****moringa said to be awesome for joints n many other benefits
I will send you a link maybe just busy right now now as in couple weeks but where you can see some and the companybtries to be healthy alternative you know no harmful chemicals and all , I buy some from them n then others they don’t have in right quantities elsewhere n there’s other bonuses to being w them .
I get D from the sun… I don’t feel anything because it’s not doing anything.
I am curious to see how these work. I have been taking turmeric for about 8 months and have seen a remarkable decrease in my shoulder pain caused by arthritis. I also take fish oil and vitamin supplements with no noticeable changes in how I feel. But I have been taken them for so long I don’t want to quit.
I use Nordic Naturals also, but I added COQ10, vitamin K2, and a multivitamin. I can tell the difference with the COQ10 easily as my blood pressure shoots up.
Its not just the supplements (although quality does make a difference), but the BIOREACTIONS certain foods or other supplements have on the supplement that you are taking.
If you with to supplement with Omega-3, you MUST reduce all sources of Omega-6 (largely seed oils and factory-farmed meat and dairy — use olive oil and grass fed meat).
You MUST ALSO reduce certain foods that bioreact with other vitamins and minerals that your body uses to get the supplement you are taking to the part of your body that needs it.
For example, if you eat ANY grain product that is “enriched” (which is ALL of them in the USA … even organic … unless you are grinding your own wheat berries), you probably are getting too much artificial folic acid, which molecularly bonds to Vitamin B12 and makes it bio-unavailable. Your body NEEDS the Vitamin B12 to carry the Omega-3 to the parts of your body that needs it, especially the brain.
So NOT ONLY must you get enough of a good quality Omega-3 fish oil (ONLY get refrigerated bottled oil, the tablets are crap), but you must ALSO drastically reduce the Omega-6, and ALSO reduce the artificial “enriched” folic acid that the USDA demands be added to grain, and ALSO make sure you are getting enough Vitamin B12. If you are missing any piece of that puzzle, then it won’t be as effective.
I know all that, BTW, because they diagnosed my son with “autism.” Turned out it wasn’t autism. He has low-grade pernicious anemia (inability to metabolize vitamin B12), which paired with a “western” diet left the poor boy with almost NO myelin sheath to protect his nervous system. Cut out the Omega-6, artificial folic acid, and started supplementing with Norwegian fish oil and sublingual B12, and within a few weeks, years of so-called “autism” just went away.
Nutrition matters….
My husband and I both take tumeric daily and we give some to our older dog. Really helps! Anyway, that can get pricey so I buy tumeric by the 5 lb bag, found a ratio of pepper, and bought empty capsules to make my own. It can take some time but I just listen to videos while filling the capsules. Really helps save money and I know exactly what I’m getting.