I'm often asked, "What are the best supplements to support my health and fitness goals?" People ask for one of three reasons. They:



* Have never used supplements, and are utterly confused about where to begin.* Take handfuls of supplements every day, and have pill fatigue* Hope there's a shortcut to their fitness goals by popping some pills.



Some want to know the best weight loss supplements. Others look for the best muscle building supplements. And still others are hoping there's a cure for...you name it.



Before I take people down the path of finding the perfect natural product for a specific goal, I first help them understand the importance of building a solid base of nutrition, and complement it with the right exercise and lifestyle choices.



As I often say...



No supplement is so good it can offset the effect of a poor diet. No diet is so good that it can't benefit from supplementation.



Of course, diet alone won't get you to your goals. You also need to consistently follow a good workout program, and get good quality sleep.



Anyway, before I recommend supplements for weight loss, muscle-building, brain health, or any other goals, I always start with what I call The Foundational Five. Here they are.



Article Shortcuts* 1. High-Quality Multivitamin* 2. Fish Oil* 3. Magnesium Glycinate* 4. Vitamin D (Cholecalciferol)* 5. Probiotic* Summary



1. High-Quality Multivitamin



A high-quality multivitamin tops my list of the best health supplements.



Imagine building your dream home without using any screws, nails, glue, or caulk. You could use all the best wood, granite, and glass available. But if you don't have the materials to tie it all together, your home won't stand very long.



It's the same thing with the value of a high-quality multivitamin. You could buy the best quality meat and fish, eat organic vegetables, and drink raw milk straight from a grass-fed cow. Yet, if you still lack the micronutrients necessary for a healthy metabolism, your body won't hold up the way it could.



Keep in mind that when I recommend a high-quality multivitamin, I mean high-quality. Here's what to look for in a high-quality multivitamin:



* Natural folate, not folic acid (labeled as Metafolin®, L-5-methyltetrahydrofolate, or methylated folate)* Methylcobalamin instead of cyancobalamin* Mineral glycinate chelates (i.e. magnesium bisglycinate, magnesium glycinate)* Both K1 and K2* Exceeds Daily Value (DV) for most micronutrients* Efficacious doses of any extra ingredients to enhance the formula



Those are starting points to help guide you away from crap, and toward quality. It's not an all-encompassing list of what it takes to make the best multivitamin.



I use and recommend:



* Thorne Multi-Vitamin Elit...