How to choose the right supplements in functional care

Walk into any health store or scroll wellness TikTok for 30 seconds, and you’ll find:

• Ashwagandha for stress
• Magnesium for sleep
• Greens powders for bloating
• Fish oil for everything

And while supplements can be powerful tools in functional medicine, most people are taking the wrong ones — at the wrong time — in the wrong dose — for the wrong reasons.

At YFS (Your Form Sux), we don’t guess. We test. We assess. And when we recommend supplements, it’s based on your body, not a trend.

Here’s how to choose the right supplements — and skip the expensive shelf clutter.

🔍 Step 1: Know Your “Why”

Don’t just ask, “What supplement should I take?”
Ask: “What am I trying to fix, support, or optimize?”

Different goals = different protocols.
Are you dealing with:

• Low energy or burnout?
• Hormonal swings or PMS?
• Brain fog, poor focus, or mood dips?
• Digestive issues like bloating, reflux, or irregularity?
• Joint pain or inflammation?
• Recovery issues post-training?

Once we know the why, we can start choosing ingredients that actually move the needle — instead of playing supplement roulette.

📊 Step 2: Test, Don’t Guess

In functional care, labs come first — not the supplement aisle.

At YFS, we use advanced testing to assess:

• Nutrient deficiencies (like B12, iron, D3, magnesium, zinc)
• Gut imbalances (like bacterial overgrowth, low stomach acid, poor absorption)
• Hormone function (cortisol, thyroid, sex hormones)
• Inflammation and detox markers
• Blood sugar and insulin regulation

Why does this matter? Because someone with high cortisol might need adaptogens — while someone with flatlined cortisol could crash harder with the same protocol.

Your biology drives the protocol — not a blog post or influencer’s stack.

🧬 Step 3: Address Root Causes First

Supplements are support, not substitution.

They’re most powerful when used to:

• Bridge short-term gaps
• Kickstart stalled systems (like gut repair or adrenal recovery)
• Enhance what’s already working (like training, sleep, or detox)

They’re not a license to skip meals, avoid movement, or ignore stress. And if you’re constantly “needing” supplements just to function, something deeper is off — and that’s what we’ll uncover at YFS.

⚠️ Step 4: Avoid the Most Common Supplement Mistakes

Let’s keep it real — most people are doing at least one of these:

• ❌ Taking low-quality products from big-box brands: Poor absorption, unnecessary fillers, and under-dosing are major issues with many over-the-counter supplements.
• ❌ Doubling up without realizing it: Taking multiple products with the same ingredient (e.g., magnesium or zinc) and accidentally overdosing.
• ❌ Taking the wrong form: Not all supplements are created equal. For example:
  • Magnesium oxide = poor absorption
  • B12 cyanocobalamin = low bioavailability
  • D3 without K2 = incomplete delivery
  • Probiotics with random strains = wasted money
• ❌ Not cycling off: Some supplements are great short-term but become unnecessary or even disruptive long-term. Your body adapts. Protocols need to evolve.

🧠 Step 5: Personalize It — Like We Do at YFS

Here’s what choosing supplements looks like in our clinic:

• We run labs (when needed) and do a full intake
• We prioritize food and lifestyle first
• We identify gaps or overloads in your system
• Then we build a targeted supplement strategy that fits your phase of care

Examples:

• Fatigued and inflamed? You might need mitochondrial support (CoQ10, B vitamins), plus anti-inflammatories like curcumin.
• Stressed and wired at night? We might use magnesium glycinate, phosphatidylserine, and adrenal adaptogens.
• Post-antibiotic gut issues? That might call for a short-term gut repair stack (L-glutamine, probiotics, digestive enzymes).

And we always explain why you’re taking each one — so you’re empowered, not dependent.

🧾 A Functional Supplement Strategy Should Be:

• ✅ Targeted
• ✅ Backed by lab data or clear symptoms
• ✅ Based on form, dose, and timing
• ✅ Re-evaluated every few months
• ✅ One part of a bigger system (not a solo act)

Ready to Build a Supplement Strategy That Actually Works?

No more guesswork. No more wasted money.
At YFS, we combine movement, nutrition, and functional testing to build your custom wellness roadmap — including the exact supplements that fit your biology.

Book your wellness consult at YFS, and we’ll show you how to go from scattered pills to a smart protocol that supports the way you train, move, eat, and live.