Five supplements I include regularly in my routine (and a big GIVEAWAY)

ByAshley Hours
Comments 68 Comments

This post about supplements I include in my routine is sponsored by NOW®. I’m so excited to be working with NOW for 2022. I’ve been a customer and fan of the brand for many years. And today, I have a big giveaway from NOW for you too.

Hello, my friends! How was your weekend? I’m making my way through the list of questions I’ve received from my blog-reader survey and the subject of supplements came up quite a few times.

And here’s the deal with supplements: They are supposed to supplement what you’re already doing. They are not supposed to be the only way you approach your overall health. In fact, here’s the official definition of the word “supplement” from Google:

… something that completes or enhances something else when added to it.”

Exactly. Supplements are not the primary way to get healthy, but they can help you complete your overall health, if you’re already doing your best otherwise.

Truthfully, you don’t have to take supplements or use any type of “extra” if you feel fine, healthy and energetic and don’t think you need them. However, when you are trying to optimize your diet, supplements can provide extra support in some areas and can enhance what you are already doing. And I have a lot of areas where I feel like I need a little boost or would enjoy some enhancement. Anyone else?

Today, we’ll get into which supplements I use regularly and why, most of which are from NOW. And before that …

GIVEAWAY: Win a $300 e-gift card to shop at nowfoods.com!

Before we begin, I want to thank you for supporting NOW, which is a huge and well-respected natural foods and supplement company. I had the opportunity to attend a virtual NOW conference last year and was able to see inside their laboratories, hear from the CEO, learn about the family history of the company and more. I was impressed, and I love that you can trust the quality of their products through their very strict clinical-testing process, because that’s important to me. You can find NOW products in many major natural health food stores and grocers, you can find some of their products on Amazon, and you can access the full line-up online on the NOW site.

NOW discount code

Not only do I have an amazing giveaway for one lucky person to enjoy NOW, but I also have a discount code you can use moving forward on any order:

Use the code WEST for 20 percent off your order on nowfoods.com.

The supplements I use by A Lady Goes West

Today, in this post, I’m giving away one $300 e-gift card to NOW for one person, who is over 18 and resides in the United States. This giveaway closes Sunday, March 6th. Directions for entering are below.

Let’s get to the supplements …

Five supplements I include regularly in my routine

Five supplements I include regularly in my routine by A Lady Goes West

1. Topical magnesium spray for supporting nightly wind-down

This first one is technically not a supplement, but I feel like it’s worth mentioning here, because it’s part of my evening routine.

I’ve been using topical magnesium spray for several years, and it’s a constant in my life every night. Every once in a while, I spray it on Dave too, when I feel like he needs it. 

So, why magnesium? You’ve probably heard a lot of people talk about taking baths with magnesium flakes or Epsom salts for soothing purposes, so essentially, I do the same thing, only using topical magnesium spray. 

NOW Magnesium spray by A Lady Goes West

Here’s how I use it: Each night, I spray about 5 to 7  sprays on my bare stomach after my shower in the evening, then I rub it in and let it dry. It takes literally no time at all, and it’s an easy part of my night-time routine. 

This is a simple thing I do daily, and I can’t go without it. I’ve recommended topical magnesium to a lot of people who need some support with their wind-down routine, and that’s because it’s an incredibly easy addition.

Find the NOW Solutions® Topical Magnesium spray I use here.

2. Plant-based protein powder for replenishment

People always wonder whether you need to down protein shakes to be fit and have muscles, and the absolute answer is “no.” You don’t need protein powder. And if you eat enough protein in your regular diet with mostly whole foods, you may never need a protein powder at all. But I do need more protein, I love a good protein shake, and so I have one five days a week. Protein powder is one-hundred percent part of my overall healthy lifestyle, and I’m good with that.

For a long time, I was using a different brand, but I decided to give NOW’s plant-based protein complex a shot starting at the end of 2021, and now (pun intended), I love it. Dave loves it too. It’s a pea-protein complex (pea, quinoa and hemp) with 22 protein per scoop and BCAAs, and it tastes great mixed with nothing but water. My favorite flavor is the chocolate mocha.

NOW Plant Protein Complex by A Lady Goes West

I’ve been drinking protein shakes about 30 minutes after my workouts for forever, so my body craves them. I try to get the majority of protein in my diet from regular food, but I love a good shake and often need those extra grams of protein to round out my loose goal for the day of 100 grams of protein.

Also, for me: I lean on protein powder for convenience. The way my schedule works, I don’t have a chance to eat a meal for about two hours after my workout, so drinking a protein shake gives me enough replenishment to last until I can sit down for lunch. This is a good use of a supplement right there. And this protein powder from NOW® Sports is really well priced, tasty and has a decent line-up of ingredients, with a just a little bit of stevia for sweetness. It’s also vegan and free of other artificial sweeteners. 

Find the NOW® Sports Plant Protein Complex powder I use here.

3. Collagen peptides for skin, gut and joint support*

There’s a lot of talk about whether taking collagen as a supplement works or not. My stance is that I think it works for me, and so I use it regularly. I add two small scoops of collagen to my morning tea latte every single day, and I’ve been doing that for years. I like the powdered or peptide version, rather than a pill, and it dissolves into my morning beverage without a trace.

So you may be wondering: What is collagen? Collagen is actually the most abundant protein found in the human body in your bones, tendons, muscles and even skin.* As you age, you produce less collagen, so that’s why I think it makes sense to take it as a supplement, especially as you get older.

NOW Collagen by A Lady Goes West

I rarely have any joint issues or gut issues, and I’m very pleased with my skin too. While I can’t be sure that taking collagen is the reason, I have a good feeling that the extra collagen I’ve been taking for years is certainly supporting my healthy function and systems overall.* And I’ve heard from other people who start taking collagen that they notice the benefits very quickly.

Once again, collagen is such a simple part of my routine, because I just add a couple of scoops to my morning tea that I’m already drinking. I recently switched over to the NOW’s Collagen Peptides Powder, and I’ve been very pleased with it. It’s non-GMO, soy free, dairy free, corn free, nut free and egg free. And the price is right too.

Find the NOW® Collagen Peptides Powder here.

4. Omega-3 with vitamin D-3 for immune health and cardiovascular support*

I take a lot of vitamins daily. And I’ve been taking some of them for a long time, but others I added during the pandemic, when I was trying to really support my health and immunity.*

When I had a physical a couple of years ago, my doctor said that while my vitamin D levels were in the normal range, they were on the lower side. And even though I think I get a decent amount of natural sunlight, I decided to add vitamin D-3 into my arsenal and have been taking it since. Vitamin D supports your immune system and is also a big part of having healthy bones.* You can get vitamin D from some foods, like fatty fish and egg yolks, but to be on the safe side, I supplement.

NOW Omega3s by A Lady Goes West

I’ve also been taking some sort of fish oil or omega-3s for a long time. Fish oil has been shown to support your cardiovascular health, and it can also support your overall immune system too. When I found a combo vitamin from NOW with both omega-3s and vitamin D-3, I loved that I could take only one of those a day, rather than two different pills, so that’s what I do now. The pill isn’t the smallest, but I can down it easily with a big gulp of water.

Find the NOW® Ultra Omega-3 Fish Oil and Vitamin D-3 softgels here.

5. Zinc and vitamin C for immune support*

I know I’m not the only one using vitamin C and zinc these days, right? Even Dave takes these ones with me, because we’re all trying to stay well.

Taking vitamin C can provide added assurance that you’re doing everything you can to maintain optimal health.* You know what I mean?

NOW Zinc by A Lady Goes West

And what about zinc? Zinc is an essential mineral that you can get from food, but you can also supplement. You need zinc to support your immune system and it can even help in healing wounds and more processes in the body.* I was surprised to see how many functions are compromised when you are deficient in zinc, even things like reproduction — yikes.*

I like this combination pill from NOW that has a ton of vitamin C and zinc too in one small vegetarian capsule. It’s an essential part of my supplement routine. And although this may be designed for seasonal wellness, I plan to take it all year long.* Also, zinc is one of those supplements that you don’t want to take too much of, and this pill has just the right amount to avoid overdoing it.

Find the NOW® C-1000 Zinc Immune capsules here.

And those are my favorite tried and true supplements from NOW.

NOW supplements by A Lady Goes West

Other supplements I include in my routine …

  • For the last maybe 10 years, I’ve been taking a prenatal vitamin daily. 
  • I sometimes take an iron pill, but I’m actually out right now and need to get a new one, and I’ll likely order one from NOW.
  • For the last few months, I’ve been taking a targeted hair growth supplement from another company, and I truly can’t tell if there’s a difference yet, but I’ll report back in a few months, when I’ve given it more time to work. We shall see.

And that concludes the list of supplements I include regularly in my routine. I hope you found it helpful.

But I also hope this post gives you a little push to assess where you are and where you may need support. You don’t have to take a million supplements to be healthy. But you may be able to enhance certain areas of your health that need a little extra boost with some smart supplementation.

Enter my NOW $300 e-gift card giveaway!

Are you ready to enter to win this huge giveaway for a $300 e-gift card to NOW?

I’ll choose one lucky winner, over the age of 18, who resides in the United States for the $300 e-gift card, which you can use on anything on the NOW site. And you can even use my discount code, WEST, at check-out for 20 percent off. And if you don’t win, you can still use my discount code on the site here. May I recommend any of the items I’ve suggested above as a great place to start? (But let’s remember that supplementation is definitely a personal commitment, and you should check with your healthcare practitioner before adding anything new to your routine.)

To enter, do each of the following:

  • Leave a comment on this blog post below. Your email will not be shown publicly.
  • Leave a comment on my latest Facebook or Instagram post or do BOTH. Any comment will do.

Requirements:

  • You must be at least 18.
  • You must reside in the United States.
  • You must be following A Lady Goes West on FB and IG, or at least one of them. If you’re not on social media, you can tell me that in your comment though, and I’ll still consider your entry.

This giveaway closes this upcoming weekend on Sunday, March, 6th.

Supplements by A Lady Goes West

(Here is my sweater, and here are my jeans.)

That’s it! Thanks for supporting A Lady Goes West and a great company like NOW and reading my post on the five supplements I include regularly in my routine.

Have an awesome week, my friends! 

Disclaimer: Thanks again to NOW for sponsoring this post. While I was compensated, all of these opinions are totally my own, but I think you know that. Thanks, NOW! #NOWWellness

Questions of the day for you …

What is one supplement that you can’t live without?

What is one supplement that you’ve been wanting to try?

What do you want to buy from NOW if you win the gift card?

*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.

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68 Comments

  1. I follow a mostly vegan diet with the exception of cheese occasionally if I eat out. I take a multivitamin but know I need to be more consistent, because I often forget. The last time I checked my iron was low, so it is time for me to get that checked again! Have a good week Ashley!

    Reply

    1. Yes!! Something I learned, which I’m sure you know already, is that it’s best to take an iron pill with vitamin C or with orange juice to help the absorption too. Women often have low iron, so I’d certainly get that checked. Have a great day, Shelby! 🙂

      Reply

  2. Hi Ashley! Great post. I’ve heard of this company but don’t think I’ve tried their products. I take lots of the same supplements as you do. I also take CoQ10 and a probiotic. If there is a supplement on hair growth I’d be up for that! I used to be so good about making a protein shake daily and including a scoop of collagen to my coffee. I’ve been meaning to start that up again so if I win the prize I’d love to try their protein and collagen powders!
    *I don’t have Instagram.

    Reply

    1. Hi Joanna! Thanks for sharing! I was taking CoQ10 long ago when I was trying to get pregnant. And yes, a probiotic can often be a good idea, but I have never been consistent with one. Thanks for reading the post and have a wonderful day! 🙂

      Reply

  3. The one supplement I can’t live without is a good, clean protein powder. I’d love to try this brand! I appreciate that it is dairy free, because sometimes it’s hard to find a tasty, dairy-free version.

    Happy Monday!

    Xoxo

    Reply

    1. I agree — I’ve always loved a good protein powder — I look forward to that cold beverage after a workout. 🙂 Happy Monday to you too, Courtney. Have a great start to your week!

      Reply

  4. Thanks for the helpful post on supplements! I take a few different supplements but the only one I’m using from NOW right now is magnesium so I’m definitely interested in checking out more of the brand.

    Reply

  5. Any tips on staying consistent? When things get crazy busy my priorities are not my supplements which I need to be better about. Especially my vitamin D and zinc!

    Reply

    1. Yes! I do all of my vitamins at once, every morning, right before I head upstairs to brush my teeth after breakfast, and I keep them all in the kitchen. I take a big gulp for each vitamin of water, so that I can finish a whole glass of water with all of them. Basically, I keep them in the kitchen and do it every morning as part of my get ready process. Give it a go! Have a great start to your week, Jen!

      Reply

  6. I’ve been making sure to take plenty of Vitamin C to help get us through winter. I’ve always wanted to check out this brand. Thanks for sharing!

    Reply

  8. Awesome giveaway! I’m really curious about that magnesium spray and I literally told my partner yesterday that I’m interested in getting protein powder again (after a good 5 years off of protein powders) because I know I need more protein in my diet. Your recommendation seems great because I want a plant based powder! I also don’t have Facebook but I’ll leave a comment on your IG 🙂

    Reply

    1. Thanks, Liz! I feel like protein powders can be very helpful to up your protein intake — so worth considering adding one back in. Have a great week! 🙂

      Reply

  9. I love reading post like these. Thanks for dropping your knowledge on all the different supplements you take. Best giveaway ever!

    Reply

  10. This is such a great giveaway!! Over the weekend my husband and I committed to really starting to a daily plan of supplements. Doing a little research. I am fairly good at all my core/basic vitamins, but him not so much. This would be a good kickstart!

    Reply

    1. Same, Wendi! Dave doesn’t take anything but a multivitamin and protein powder, and I’m sure he could use some supplementation. I love that you and your husband are committed to making some healthy additions together!

      Reply

  11. I use most of these supplements and love a good Epsom salt bath! I’m interested in trying the plant based protein powder as some have given me issues in the past.

    Reply

    1. Hi Casey! Yes, I do think some people have trouble digesting plant-based powders, but I’ve never had that issue. It’s likely the additives, and this one has a good line-up, so hopefully it would work for you. Also, three cheers for Epsom salt baths — a must for a fitness instructor. Thanks for reading and saying hi! 🙂

      Reply

  13. I have been out of my collagen for a little bit and noticed my nails breaking more with this cold dry weather – maybe this is the perfect time to try a new brand. Thanks.

    Reply

    1. Hi Hannah! Sounds like a great time to get some collagen in your life. I believe biotin can also be beneficial, so you may want to look into that too! 🙂

      Reply

  14. I’ve tried drinking magnesium powder at night, but I end up inevitably forgetting. I’ve never heard of topical magnesium spray, I’m so intrigued. Love this idea!

    Reply

    1. Hi Ava! I know it can be hard to remember these things daily! Try pairing it with another activity — like every time you go to brush your teeth at night, have the magnesium out next to your toothbrush, you can do them both. 🙂

      Reply

  15. I am not on FB . I follow on Insta. I use C , zinc and D with a Calcium, Magnism and Vit D powder at night in water. If I won I would buy these and protein powder. Thank you for the opportunity Ashley.

    Reply

  16. What a great post!! I love learning more about vitamins and supplements for my kids and myself!
    I can’t live without my protein powder- it’s a life saver to throw in my smoothies after a workout! I’m wanting to try the zinc you take, and will definitely be purchasing that as one of the items if I win. Working in the schools right now, I would love all the extra vitamins I can get!

    Reply

    1. Hi Beth! Totally! That’s where you have to look at your life and see what you need — definitely all things immunity boosting for you being in the schools. Hope all is well and happy Tuesday! 🙂

      Reply

  17. Great post!! I have taken a probiotic for years and even have my kids taking one now. I also take spirullina and my MIL was just here showing me the kind she takes (from NOW) and I was thinking of switching brands! I also take Vitamin D and C and I have a magnesium powder that is berry flavored and it is like a post dinner treat for me.

    Reply

  20. Thanks for this chance to win with NOW Foods. Have used their various supplements for years. If you’re ever running low on something and need to replenish quickly, you should check out Charlotte Supplements off of South Blvd near Scaleybark. He stocks a lot of NOW products and you can get near internet pricing.

    Reply

  21. I can’t live without a probiotic! I didn’t know what I was missing! Love my magnesium spray too!

    Reply

  26. Just recently started taking magnesium to support heart health. I recently had emergency heart surgery because, as it turns out, no amount of healthy eating and exercise could prevent my genetics from causing problems😭 I am also so interested in your heart rate article, as I will likely have to limit activities that elevate my HR too much. Just curious what your article says since this is all I’m thinking about lately😊

    Reply

  27. I have used now foods supplements on and off in the past. Thanks for the reminder to add them to my routine. I am intrigued to try the magnesium spray and I remember you talked about that product before. I learned that you have Facebook so I liked and commented, but I don’t have instagram. Thanks for the opportunity and have a beautiful weekend!

    Reply

  28. Hii! Another great post- thank you for that.

    I’m currently using NeoCell Super Collagen powder supplement. I would like to incorporate some daily vitamin c with that as well- I read that collagen is absorbed better with vitamin c, although I don’t have enough information to know how true that is, I just know that I don’t get enough. I would definitely buy a vitamin c supplement and some plant based protein powder if I win!

    Stay awesome!

    Reply

    1. Yes, Eve! There are definitely some supplements that are best absorbed with vitamin C, glad you are aware. Thanks for reading! 🙂

      Reply

  29. I use NOW l-glutamine powder pretty much every day! I’ve been wanting to try melatonin gummies or liquid melatonin. If I win the giftcard I would use it on NOW essential oils and stock up on protein powder and l glutamine supplements! I followed you on instagram under helloworlditsmecat.

    Reply

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