How to Shop for Supplements (Without Wasting Money or Getting Scammed)
Walk into any supplement store or scroll through Instagram for five minutes, and you’ll be bombarded with claims like:
“Burn fat fast.”
“Boost your metabolism.”
“Fix your hormones naturally.”
And here’s the hard truth:
Most of it is marketing hype.
At best, these products do nothing.
At worst, they’re holding you back from real results.
If you’re like most active adults trying to feel and perform your best, you probably have a cabinet full of powders, pills, and gummies you kind of believe are helping. But you’re not sure.
That’s because the supplement industry thrives on confusion.
Let’s clear it up.
Why Most People Get Supplementation Wrong
1. They use supplements as a shortcut instead of fixing the root problem.
You can’t out-supplement a poor diet, chronic stress, or poor sleep.
Yet many people turn to magnesium for anxiety, protein powders to replace meals, and hormone boosters without understanding the real dysfunction in their body.
2. They take the wrong form or dose.
Not all supplements are created equal.
The type of magnesium, the source of your omega-3, and whether your multivitamin contains bioavailable nutrients all matter.
Labels can be misleading—and most people don’t know what to look for.
For the highest quality supplements that are lab tested, properly stored, and dosage verified, click here.
3. They treat symptoms, not systems.
Most supplement stacks are built like medicine cabinets.
Something hurts? Take this.
Tired? Take that.
But your body isn’t a collection of symptoms—it’s a system. And without understanding how your gut, hormones, nervous system, and lifestyle work together, supplementation becomes a guessing game.
How to Actually Supplement the Right Way
Let’s flip the script. Supplements should be strategic, supportive, and secondary to real food, movement, and recovery.
✅ Focus on the Foundations First
Before anything else, your body needs the basics:
Whole food nutrition
Stable blood sugar
Consistent sleep
Daily movement
Stress regulation
If these aren’t in place, supplements become expensive band-aids.
✅ Know the Difference Between Foundational & Accessory Supplements
Foundational supplements fill in common gaps and support overall function. Think:
Omega-3s (from fish oil)
Magnesium (glycinate or threonate)
Vitamin D3 with K2
A high-quality multivitamin
Electrolytes
These can often help most people—but should still be personalized.
Accessory supplements are more targeted. These might include:
Adaptogens for stress
Probiotics for gut health
Creatine for performance
Digestive enzymes or HCL for certain gut issues
These are only helpful if your current health picture actually calls for them.
✅ Use Testing (Not Guessing) When Needed
Functional bloodwork or lab testing can reveal what your body actually needs—rather than guessing based on symptoms.
This saves time, money, and confusion.
How We Approach Supplementation in Our Coaching Program
We use a food-first, test-informed, strategy-based approach.
That means:
We don’t sell magic pills.
We use supplements minimally and purposefully.
We build your plan around what your body actually needs.
Bottom Line:
Supplements can be powerful—but only when used the right way.
If your “stack” isn’t moving the needle, it’s time to stop throwing money at the problem and start understanding your body instead.
Tired of wasting money on supplements that don’t work?
We can help you cut through the noise, build a solid foundation, and use supplementation the right way. All included in our Nutrition & Health Coaching Program.