Nulevel Wellness Medspa

Essentially Healthy Protocol

+77 more items in Essentially Healthy Protocol

As part of the "get healthy" initiative from Nulevel Wellness Medspa, please review this information as these vitamins and supplements support metabolic health in a variety of ways. We always recommend that an individual undergo Micronutrient Testing as the primary means of developing a plan for supplementation. If you cannot undergo testing at this time, I would recommend these "essential" vitamins and supplements that should be taken daily. 1. Alpha-lipoic acid Metabolic benefits: Alpha-lipoic acid (ALA) is an antioxidant compound produced in the mitochondria (or energy production centers) of cells, where it assists enzymes in glucose metabolism and energy production —but poor dietary and lifestyle habits, as well as exposure to environmental chemicals and pollutants, may increase a person’s demand, making supplements potentially beneficial. As an antioxidant, ALA helps combat oxidative stress by neutralizing harmful free radicals in the body that might otherwise damage cells and contribute to inflammation, insulin resistance, diabetes, diabetic neuropathy (nerve damage), and overall metabolic dysfunction. 2. Vitamin D Metabolic benefit: Vitamin D receptors are found in nearly all cells in the body, which means this essential nutrient has incredibly widespread effects on health, including metabolic processes. Specifically, vitamin D appears to have anti-inflammatory effects throughout the body, including on pancreatic beta cells that produce insulin, so it may support normal insulin production . Low vitamin D levels have been associated with obesity, insulin resistance, heart disease, and diabetes. 3. B-complex vitamins Metabolic benefits: B vitamins play a vital role in metabolism, including breaking down carbohydrates into sugars, including glucose, and helping the body use fats and proteins. So a daily B-complex, which provides all eight B vitamins, may be an efficient way to support metabolic health (particularly for pregnant individuals , vegans , older adults , and people with digestive conditions such as celiac and Crohn’s disease—all of whom may struggle to obtain or absorb adequate B vitamins from dietary sources). The following are included in a B-complex: thiamine (B1), riboflavin (B2), niacin (B3), pantothenic acid (B5), pyridoxine (B6), biotin (B7), folate (B9), and cobalamin (B12). 4. Curcumin Metabolic benefits: At their core, metabolic diseases are inflammatory diseases. For example, inflammation contributes to insulin resistance (which can lead to diabetes) and blood vessel damage (which ups your risk for cardiovascular disease). 5. Magnesium Metabolic benefits: Magnesium is an essential mineral that activates enzymes needed for hundreds of biochemical reactions in the body—including the enzymes that metabolize vitamin D . Research also suggests magnesium plays a vital role in improving insulin sensitivity, which allows your body to process glucose efficiently. 6. Omega-3 Metabolic benefit: Omega-3 fatty acids are essential polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) that are incorporated into the cellular membranes of every tissue in the body, where they enhance cellular communication, influence gene expression, and help build the cell’s structure. Among their many benefits: Omega-3s have anti-inflammatory effects (acting, in part, by downregulating the pro-inflammatory NF-κB pathway and reducing the secretion of several proinflammatory molecules, including cytokines), and they have been associated with several favorable metabolic changes, such as a reduction in triglycerides, blood pressure, and body fat levels, as well as improved insulin sensitivity . 7. Selenium: Metabolic benefit: Selenium is an essential trace mineral that supports normal thyroid function and packs an antioxidant punch , both of which are crucial for optimal metabolic health. Within the body, selenium is incorporated into the structure of specific proteins, creating around two dozen selenoproteins , which influence various processes. For example, several selenoproteins help neutralize free radicals and protect cells from the oxidative damage that often underlies insulin resistance and metabolic dysfunction. 8. Zinc Metabolic benefit: Zinc is an essential mineral that activates enzymes needed for hundreds of vital biochemical reactions in the body, including those that regulate vitamin D activation and thyroid function. Zinc also serves as an antioxidant by influencing enzymes that neutralize free radicals or reactive oxygen species that might otherwise trigger cellular damage and insulin resistance. 9. Vitamin C Metabolic benefit: Vitamin C is often touted for its immune benefits, but it’s also an important antioxidant that limits the damaging effects of free radicals that promote oxidative damage, inflammation, and metabolic dysfunction. In addition, it helps regenerate other antioxidants, like vitamin E, in the body. In one study , supplementing with 1,000 mg of vitamin C per day significantly reduced fasting blood glucose, along with the inflammatory proteins interleukin-6 and CRP, in obese patients with diabetes or high blood pressure. 10. CoQ10 Metabolic benefit: Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) is a powerful antioxidant found in cells throughout the body, most abundantly in the heart, liver, and kidneys. It’s vital for energy production and serves as an essential component of the electron transport chain—a series of reactions within the mitochondria of cells that synthesize energy in the form of ATP. As an antioxidant, CoQ10 also helps neutralize free radicals that might otherwise contribute to metabolically damaging oxidative stress. Thanks, Chris Morris PA-C Nulevel Wellness Medspa