By now you know that my testosterone supplement MOFO has got some pretty awesome ingredients, like proteins, peptides, enzymes, and cofactors for “like supports like” organ support, collagen and glycosaminoglycans for skin and connective tissue support, and a pre-formed, highly bioavailable Vitamin A (aka retinol) for hormone optimization, immune support and cell repair. It also contains Vitamin D, K & E (which is very hard to obtain from non-organ dietary sources), minerals such as choline, chromium, copper, folate, hyaluronic acid, selenium, and zinc, and Vitamin B12 and the B-complex family. And the list continues: Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) for mitochondrial energy boost and antioxidant protection, a highly bioavailable heme iron, stem cells to support renewal and vitality, growth factors like IGF-1, TGFßI, and CDGF, and digestive enzymes such as amylase, protease, and lipase.
That’s a pretty impressive group! However, in order to receive all the benefits from these ingredients, you have to be mindful of the many other factors that affect your health and how your body responds to supplementation. And this doesn’t just apply to MOFO users—this approach can be applied to anyone who takes supplements.
And what if you’re not someone who takes supplements, but you’re interested in incorporating some into your life, or maybe you’re curious if supplementation is even all that necessary?
Think about it this way: do you exclusively eat fresh, whole, wild, organic, local, non-GMO food? Food that has been grown in nutrient and mineral rich soils—not transported or flown across the world, only to be put in storage for weeks and months before even being consumed?
If that’s not the case (and realistically, who can accomplish this every single day?), then it’s likely you could benefit from taking a few supplements. I certainly know I have.
Most health and fitness enthusiasts share the same primary goal: to live as “healthily” as possible, which generally means: breathing fresh, pure, unpolluted, high-quality air, drinking clean water, spending as much time outside as possible, sleeping well every night, and keeping our bodies moving as much as we can throughout the course of a day. But, even if and when we manage to do all of that, there are still many things we have to deal with in our environment that can adversely affect our health, hence the role and importance of supplementation.
Then there’s the fact that we know from countless surveys taken over the years that most Americans are deficient in (or at the very least, don’t get nearly enough of) everything from iron to zinc to magnesium to vitamins C, D, and E. Yes, the responsibility ultimately falls on the individual to make smart choices, but it’s also undeniable that modern day life poses many risks and challenges—it seems fair to say that a little supplementation can go a long way. From chronic stressors to environmental toxin exposure, we could all utilize high-quality supplements as a way to obtain some extra support.
When it comes to taking MOFO, or any supplement really, the first thing to be mindful of is your lifestyle. This is because any unfavorable habits you still practice will cancel out the intended benefits of supplementation. This could be anything from smoking, drinking an excessive amount of alcohol, being obese or basically entirely inactive, to a chronic lack of sleep. Check out Brad’s Quick and Actionable Lifestyle Tips for more info.
Important Information To Know Before Taking Supplements
If you’re going to be taking multiple supplements throughout the day, it helps to know a little bit about these different ingredients: how they interact with each other, how timing alters their effectiveness, and if they should be taken with food or on an empty stomach.
Coenzyme Q10: Oil based CoQ10 supplements will absorb better if taken with dietary fats. It is also ideal to take them with breakfast or lunch, otherwise it may negatively affect your sleep.
Iron: If you’re taking iron or any supplement that contains iron, it’s ideal to take it in the morning, and on an empty stomach. Also, calcium will inhibit iron absorption, so do not take them at the same time.
Zinc: Since this can cause nausea on an empty stomach, take it with some food, preferably in the afternoon, and preferably not at the same time of day when you take calcium or iron.
B Vitamins: Since these can help maintain energy levels, take them in the morning with breakfast.
Vitamin C: Since Vitamin C lasts for only a few hours in your bloodstream, some suggest splitting your dose and taking half in the morning and the rest later on in the day.
Vitamin E: Your body will absorb this best when taken with dietary fats.
Vitamin D and K: Take these with food, preferably with a meal that includes fat. Vitamin K can also be taken alongside Vitamin D and C, as well as calcium.
Iodine: Experts suggest taking this mid-day for an energy boost.
Fish Oil: Take this with food to help absorption.
Calcium: Experts recommend taking this in the evening.
Magnesium: Since magnesium helps sleep, take this at night shortly before going to bed.
Lastly, put your phone away and get some more sleep, MOFO! Check out my previous show, Sleep Tips From Assorted Experts if you find yourself still struggling in this area. And if you’re curious about which supplements to take, check out my article, Deciding What Supplements You Really Need And How to Avoid Supplement Fatigue.
