This page lists our supplement recommendations with links to products at Amazon. By purchasing via links on this page, you support the blog at no cost to yourself. Thank you for supporting our work!
Supplemental Foods
We recommend eating these “supplemental foods” on a regular schedule:
- 3 egg yolks daily, 5 yolks daily for women who are pregnant or planning to become pregnant (for choline, folate, vitamin A)
- A bowl of soup made from bone, joint, tendon, foot, or hoof stock, 3 days per week (for calcium, phosphorus, and collagen)
- Fermented vegetables such as kimchi, sauerkraut, or fermented mixed vegetables (for nucleotides, probiotic bacteria, and vitamins K2 and B12), and other vegetables such as tomato, avocado, potato, sweet potato, banana, green leafy vegetables, and seaweeds such as dulse, daily (for potassium)
- ¼ lb beef or lamb liver, weekly (copper, vitamin A, folate, choline). If you like, substitute ¼ lb chicken, duck, or goose liver weekly plus 30 g 85% dark chocolate daily
- fish, shellfish, eggs, and kidneys, weekly (for selenium)
Daily Supplements
These are supplements we recommend be taken daily:
- Sunshine and vitamin D3 as needed to achieve serum 25OHD of 40 ng/ml.
- Vitamin K2 100 mcg or more
- Magnesium 200 mg
- Iodine 225 mcg
- Vitamin C 1 g
- Pantothenic acid (vitamin B-5) 500 mg
Vitamin D3
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Vitamin K2
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Magnesium
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Iodine
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Vitamin C
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Vitamin B-5 (pantothenic acid or pantethine)
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Weekly Supplements
These are supplements we recommend be taken once a week:
- B vitamins:
- 50 to 100 mg each of B1, B2, and B6
- 5 mg biotin
- 500 mcg B12
- Zinc 50 to 100 mg
- Boron 3 mg
B1 (thiamin)
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B2 (riboflavin)
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B6
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Biotin
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B12
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Zinc
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Boron
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Prenatal Supplements
The most important prenatal supplements are:
- Extra duck, goose, or pastured chicken liver.
- Extra egg yolks.
The following supplements may also be helpful during pregnancy or in the months leading up to conception. Note: We do not recommend prenatal multivitamins.
Choline
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Inositol plus Choline
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Iron (optional)
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Optional Supplements
These supplements may be helpful for a significant fraction of the population. Experiment to see if they help you:
- Probiotics
- Chromium, 200-400 mcg per week (not necessary if you cook in stainless steel pots) and (optional) vanadium, 25 mcg per week
- Lithium 5 to 10 mg per week
- Silicon 5 mg to 25 mg daily
- FOR PEOPLE WHO DO NOT EAT LIVER: Copper 2 mg per day
- FOR PEOPLE WHO DO NOT EAT LIVER: Vitamin A from cod liver oil, 50,000 IU/week
- FOR PEOPLE WHO DO NOT EAT MAKE BONE STOCK OR DRINK MINERAL WATER: Calcium up to 400 mg/day
- B-50 complex (as a substitute for individual B supplements if you prefer fewer pills
- Molybdenum 150 mcg per week
- Taurine 500 mg to 5000 mg per week (higher doses may be therapeutic for small intestinal or systemic infections)
- Selenium 0 or 200 mcg per week depending on selenium content of food (if food is produced in dry, flat areas = high selenium, no supplements; rainy, well-drained areas = 200 mcg/wk)
Probiotics
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More Probiotics
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More Probiotics
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Chromium
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Lithium
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Silicon
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Copper (Only If Liver Is Not Eaten)
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Vitamin A (Only If Liver Is Not Eaten)
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Calcium (If No Mineral Water or Bone Stock)
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B-50 complex
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Molybdenum
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Taurine
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Vitamin E
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Therapeutic Supplements
These supplements are unnecessary for healthy people but may be helpful in various disease conditions.
N-acetylcysteine
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Glycine
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Creatine
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Melatonin
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Detoxification Aids
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Miscellaneous
These items may be helpful in implementing Perfect Health Diet and Lifestyle advice.
Pill boxes
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Pill cutter
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Dear Paul,
My girlfriend just got diagnosed with Hashimoto’s disease. Can you recommend a good book or a good strategy that addresses the topic?
Thank you,
Milton
Hi Milton, I looked through Paul’s posts as I too was diagnosed with Hashimoto’s in 2015. According to Paul, it is likely an infection caused by a virus. This was the case for me.
Vitamin C was instrumental in getting my thyroid working again. Check out Paul’s supplement guide and food list.
Hello Dr.Jaminet.
I’m brazilian, and amused by nutritional science, but I have a good idea of the principles that should guide a healthy alimentation, therefore I have not, yet, bought your book.
One point on I have more doubts than certainties is the one concerning supplementation, and its worthness.
I do use whey powder and creatine because of my athletic activities, but besides of them I have the doubt if I should, or not, use other vitamins, probiotics, minerals and nootropics for brain performance.
I present you 2 doubts:
a) is there a plan for a new edition of your book? the most recent one is from 2013, if I am not mistaken. Considering the costs of shipment, I don´t think its worthy to buy it now if there is going to be a new edition soon. By the way, I don´t like reading through Kindle. In such a new edition, would there be some athlete-oriented chapter?
b) This specific topic of supplements, in your website, will have an update soon? I saw you mentioned it would in some comments above, and before I go out and buy some supplements, I would like to be more sure on which of them are really essential, mainly for a good energy availability for daily activities.
Do you reccomend, besides of that, a specific test to measure mineral or vitamine deficiencies?
With sincere regards,
Micael Leão Michaelsen.
Hi Micael,
There won’t be a new edition soon. We are busy with our cancer therapy company, Angiex (www.angiex.com).
I’ve been very busy, I do want to update the web site generally and the supplements page specifically. The most important supplements are magnesium, vitamin D in the winter if you are far from the equator, and vitamin K2. There are other common deficiencies like vitamin A (if you don’t eat liver), iodine (if you don’t frequently eat seafood), vitamin C, etc.
Generally, we lack good tests for nutrient status. I think that is an area that needs further research.
Best, Paul
I believe there used to be a page with all recommended supplement brands, but I can’t find it.
Can anyone help?
This page lists supplement recommendations with links to products at Amazon. But, if you have ad blocking turned on in your internet browser, you won’t see the links.
Other than that, i don’t know about any such page on this blog.
Paul in 2013 said that he has no way of evaluating the quality of vitamin brands: http://perfecthealthdiet.com/2013/03/ask-me-anything-at-reddit-tuesday-noon/#comment-135708
You are right, I can see the link to amazon now. thanks Nick
A while back my daughter was getting rashes and had some allergy tests. It came back that she is allergic to lanolin and fragrance. Is it safe to take vitamin d3 if you are allergic to lanolin? Also she did avoid fragrance for a while and uses it now and is fine. I realized that the target brand benzoyl peroxide that she was using for pimples was the cause of the rash.
Hi Angela,
Yes, vitamin D3 is the bioidentical human compound and will be safe regardless of her allergies.
Best, Paul
Hello Paul, Can you please recommend supplements, eating pattern and vital foods for healing chronic pancreatitis and gallbladder pain – started by a series of water fasts and healthy vegetarian/lower fat diet in the past.
Have had these problems for the last 4 years even though I follow PHD now. Scans show a couple of “benign injuries” on pancreas, occasionally high lipase and normal gallbladder with occasional sludge. I am so confused whether intermittent fasting 8/16 and 2 meals per day are helping or making it worse. Will this ever resolve and get better? Any advice please will be so appreciated. Just got CGM as my h1Bc is 5.4 which seems high considering my PHD diet Thank you
Hi Renata,
The most important supplements are vitamins A and D, which are key for antimicrobial peptide production and mucosal immunity. They should always be combined with vitamin K2 as MK-7.
Equally or more important are circadian rhythm entrainment and time-restricted feeding. Try to concentrate all calorie intake between 9 am and 3 pm as much as possible; do only social nibbling after 3 pm and no calories at all after 7 pm – ideally no calories after 3 pm, and none before 9 am. For circadian rhythms, have a personal 12 hour day and 12 hour night, I use 7:30 am to 7:30 pm as my day. In the day get morning exercise, bright white light or sunlight, and all food intake, as well as all stress. At night, red/orange lights, no calories, minimal physical activity and stress, it is a time for intimacy, rest, and relaxation.
Other things are less important but be sure to get plenty of dietary extracellular matrix for healing, and to support immune activity with zinc/copper, iodine/selenium, magnesium; and bile production with taurine, glycine, vitamin C, and choline / egg yolks.
Best, Paul
HbA1c of 5.4 is normal.
Best, Paul
Hi Paul,
I seem to react poorly to supplemental vitamins:
– A, D, or K2 supplements cause extremely low moods/energy. I’ve tried various forms for a few days now and again and always feel better after stopping.
– I consistently feel nauseous after eating chicken/beef/lamb liver or taking cod liver oil.
Any ideas what might be going on? How might you work around this?
Dear Paul,
When supplementing K2, is it important that the supplement contains a variety of Vitamin K forms (i.e. K1, MK-7, MK-4 etc.) or is it fine if it has only K-2 MK-7?
Thanks.
Hi Kendall,
No, I would avoid MK-4 which is synthesized chemically in a racemic mixture with an unnatural chirality that may be harmful. K1 is fine but that is best obtained from food (eg spinach). I supplement just MK-7.
Best, Paul
Dear Paul
I have started using MK-7 as a precaution due to your comment. However I have been unable to verify production methods and/or enantiomer content of common MK-4 supplements. Thorne simply responded mentioning their MK-7 is derived from geraniol. Do you have any more information regarding this issue?
Thanks a lot and I hope your clinical trials are going in the right direction!
Best,
Gorjan
Hi Gorjan,
You want to find MK-7 produced from bacterial fermentation in natto. I have not investigated the safety of MK-7 made from geraniol. MK-4 is synthesized in a racemic mixture and I am concerned that the wrong chirality is toxic. I don’t know what the process is for MK-7.
Best, Paul
Dear Paul,
Thanks a lot for responding! Unfortunately I made a typo. I meant Thorne mentioned that their MK-4 supplement is manufactured from geraniol. Since I find it very difficult to find any information on MK-4 synthesis methods, I was wondering where you got the information from regarding the racemic mixture of MK-4.
Sorry for the confusion!
Best, Gorjan
Dear Paul
Is there any way to reduce arterial calcification?
Thanks
José
Dear Paul
If I eat ONE egg a day my total cholesterol raise to 300 and more and LDL to more than 170.
Should I avoid eggs?
Thanks
José
Hi Dr. Jaminet, I have sleepiness during the afternoon after 3 pm, and even when I eat a very small snack after 7 pm when I get home, I feel very sleepy. Sometimes when I drive home at around 6 pm, I feel like dosing off. Most nights, I have the same sleepiness even when I don’t even eat at night. But when it comes time to sleep at around 11:30 to midnight, I am wide awake and alert like it is morning at wake-up time. I sleep well all night with good vivid dreaming. I have not heard you address this sleepiness issue in your talks and interviews. Perhaps you can help me understand what is happening to my body to cause this. Thank you.
Hi Paul, Vitamin A supplements appear to disturb my mood and I get nausea consistently after eating liver or taking cod liver oil. Any ideas why this might be the case and how to meet vitamin D/vitamin A needs otherwise?
Hi W,
Nausea is a known side effect of excess vitamin A. See https://www.mayoclinic.org/drugs-supplements-vitamin-a/art-20365945. So one thing to consider is whether your diet already has enough.
If you do supplement A, be sure to mix the supplement into a meal / take it with a meal. You don’t want supplements by themselves.
There are also nutrient interactions. Deficiencies of vitamin E, selenium, zinc, copper can make nausea more likely. Excess intake of omega-3 fats can also generate negative effects from vitamin A, see my blog posts about this, eg https://perfecthealthdiet.com/2011/04/omega-3-fats-angiogenesis-and-cancer-part-i/ and https://perfecthealthdiet.com/2011/04/omega-3s-angiogenesis-and-cancer-part-ii/. Therefore, do not take cod liver oil, and try to minimize omega-3 fats to see if that helps.
You can also try to get vitamin A precursor carotenoids from various foods and let your body make vitamin A, rather than taking pre-formed A. See if that helps.
Best, Paul
Thanks very much Paul, I will experiment with your suggestions.
Hello Paul,
Do you think it’s necessary to supplement the 50,000iu vitamin A/retinol if you’re eating the 3 pasture raised egg yolks plus 1-2 tablespoons grassfed ghee/butter daily? I’m not eating liver because I don’t like it.
Also, what are your thoughts on a low oxalate diet like in Sally K. Norton’s book Toxic Superfoods, & or Paul Saladino’s Carnivore Code?
I’ve been eliminating high oxalate foods like spinach, chocolate, nuts/seeds & sweet potatoes over the last year & my aches & pains that I thought I would have to live with at my age of 46 are disappearing. I believe there’s something to it. My diet is mostly grassfed beef, egg yolks & butter, lemons, limes, & a little low oxalate veggies cooked, & honey, white rice & occasionally gluten free organic oats. Occasionally when it’s fresh & looks good, wild king salmon.
I learn so much reading your responses to people on here & appreciate it!
Thank you,
Holly
One question about selenium:
You mentioned there are more or less safe
forms of selenium – inorganic forms worst, selenmethionine better and selenocysteine best. now I found methylselenocysteine as a
supplement – this is not exactly selenocysteine – what do you think about its safety? Is it useful?
Best, Johannes
And another one about Iodine: There is kaliumiodine and I2.
Can the body change one in the other or is it better to take both?
Hi Johannes,
Generally I would recommend potassium iodide, since both potassium and iodine are nutrients, and this is a more stable form for storage. Once in your digestive tract, the iodine will behave the same.
Best, Paul
My idea: You need oxygen to survive as a human being. But you also need water to survive. It is not sufficient
to take oxygen only as O2, you also need H2O.
Could it be like that with I2 and KI?
Just my idea.
Best,
Johannes
It’s not a good analogy. Once dissolved in water, both KI and II dissociate into the individual atoms. That’s not the case for O2 or H2O which are stable.
Didn‘t knew that.
Ok, fine!
This is exactly what I wanted to know.
Thanks and Best,
Johannes
https://www.naturalmedicinejournal.com/journal/iodine-and-cancer
https://aacrjournals.org/cancerres/article/63/16/5065/510332/Nonradioactive-Iodide-Effectively-Induces
According to the first study, there is a
difference to tumors as I2 helps but not KI?
In the second, KI is used and we can see shrinking size of lung tumor in mices – as in the photos.
Best,
Johannes
Hi Johannes,
These studies indicate that I2 is more toxic to cells than KI, which is expected given its much greater reactivity. In the first one it is more potent in cells in culture. But what you care about in treatment is not potency, but therapeutic margin. You want it to kill cancer cells better than it kills normal cells. Note that in the second study they mention that I2 is very effective at killing thyroid cells (which have native NIS transporters) but they had to overexpress NIS in (genetically modify) the tumor cells in order to make I2 potent. Then KI works in vivo, in keeping with the iodine being beneficial as a nutrient, not just as a highly reactive toxic molecule.
I didn’t see any evidence there to favor taking I2 over KI – on the contrary.
Best, Paul
I agree.
Personally, I smoked tobacco for a longer time in my past – so I have a higher risk of developing lung
cancer.
In this study
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6795405/
it seems to be a bad idea taking NAC in this case. But in the upper one, it seems to be
beneficial in combination with KI.
What is your
suggestion?
Hello Johannes,
Did you ever hear back from Paul in reply to this question?
No.
Hi Paul,
What do you think about silicon dioxide in supplements?
Do you think it’s problematic?
Hi Amisu,
No, I don’t think it’s problematic.
Best, Paul
Hi Paul
I am wondering if you might have some suggestions for someone who cannot eat fermented foods due to histamine reactions?
Best, Peggy
Hi Peggy,
Be sure to eat freshly fermented foods made with fresh ingredients, and consider fermenting them yourself, so that you can minimize amine formation. Amine clearance relies on monoamine oxidase and diamine oxidase, and these are dependent on choline, copper, and molybdenum, so you can increase your egg yolks and chocolate or consider supplementation. Severity of symptoms can be aggravated by antioxidant deficiencies, mainly zinc and copper, secondarily glutathione precursors like glycine and taurine.
Best, Paul
Hi Paul,
My brother, who is 26 and fairly tall but not overweight, has been facing ongoing joint issues. Despite having surgery, his shoulder frequently dislocates, and now he is dealing with bone spurs in his knee.
Until now, he hasn’t led the healthiest lifestyle, but he is eager to turn things around. Could you suggest some strategies or recommendations to help him improve his joint health?
Thanks a lot.
Hi Carlson,
For joint issues, he should eat lots of extracellular matrix (soups and stews made with bone and joint material, skin, shellfish), optimize vitamins A/D/K2, get extra vitamin C, and tend to circadian rhythm entrainment. Eat a natural whole foods diet with balanced nutrition like PHD.
The same tactics will help heal the bone spurs. Often a lack of vitamins A and K2 and poor circadian rhythm entrainment are key causes. He should be sure to eat 3 eggs per day, supplement A and K2, and exercise and get sunlight and bright white light during the day, and avoid white/blue/green light at night, or wear blue blocking glasses.
Best, Paul
Hi, Paul.
Is your dosage recommendation for vitamin C still 500-1000 mg.?
Thank you.
Mary
Hi Mary,
Yes. 500 mg/day can be obtained from food only by eating sweet peppers and citrus fruits. 1 g/day requires supplementation. Vitamin C itself is safe to supplement but there may be concerns about other compounds in the pills.
Best, Paul
And, also, Chris Masterjohn has recently done a few posts about oxalate (a problem that I, too, had with high dose Vit C supplementation).
Hi Rachel,
My understanding is that vitamin C becomes oxalate only if other antioxidants are deficient, especially zinc, copper, and glutathione-related nutrients (selenium, taurine or cysteine, glycine).
However, it is reasonable to get C entirely from food by eating sweet peppers and citrus fruit daily.
Best, Paul
Hi Paul,
I tried searching your website for anything related to diarrhea after eating liver. Before I had no problem with it, but after a break and some life changes I can’t seem to tolerate it. Two times, relatively fresh and very well cooked after being soaked in lactose-free milk, only ate ~100 grams first time and 50 grams second time.
I eat alot of omega-3s, a reaction with vitamin A? I seem to tolerate other copper foods.
Thanks
Hi David,
I suggest doing a few experiments. First, see if chicken liver, which is high in vitamin A but low in iron, causes it. If not then it is probably the iron. See https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6416531/#:~:text=Iron%20supplementation%20and%20fortification%20could,inflammation%20(17%E2%80%9320).
Best, Paul
Interesting, thanks!
I would add Vitamin B Complex to the list of daily supplements! It really helps to keep the energy going and also supports brainwork which is important for office work
Hi Christian, yes, I actually take one weekly myself now. The supplement page is long overdue for a revision.
Hi Paul, can we expect any sort of revision to the supplement page in the near future? I’d love to know your updated recommendations, but I know you are very busy with your cancer company and such
Would love an updated supplement protocol
Would love to see an updated supplement protocol!
Cy landry, this is an excellent suggestion. Thanks for posting. 😀
Hi Paul,
My wonherful doc passed away last year from covid. He struggled with Parkinson’s for most of his adult life, so covid was a challenge. Today I had an appointment to establish care with our local clinic of medical folks. I have mixed opinions about them. This dr seemed okay but pretty standard. Told me that I should have a lipid panel done. They drew blood, but the results don’t look like a panel. All it says is that LDL is 184. I have gone back and read through old posts and comments and realize that I have not been taking iodine. I had read that taking it with ascorbic acid is not a good thing; and since I am following Doris Loh’s melatonin/AA protocol, it seems I’m forever taking AA. I’ll figure out a way to take iodine away from the AA. The notice I recieved from the doctor directed me to make a follow-up appointment and I KNOW the purpose of that will be to talk me into a statin prescription. I am more than resistent. In fact, several years ago one of their neurologists advised me, “Don’t let them talk you into a statin!” However, recently I have heard highly respected “alternative” health folks comment about benefits of statins.
My question to you — have you heard some of these more recent comments/opinions about statins?
Thanks so much!
dale
Hi Dale,
I am not a believer in statins for LDL. High LDL indicates something wrong that is causing the high LDL, and statins treat the symptom without removing the cause. As discussed in our LDL series blog posts, high LDL is usually due a small intestinal bacterial overgrowth that leads to excessive circulating levels of microbial cell wall components, and is secondarily often due to hypothyroidism. Often SIBO causes hypothyroidism, so usually hypothyroidism is accompanied by digestive issues.
I am not aware that there is any problem taking iodine and vitamin C together, especially in the doses of iodine we recommend. I would reduce the C before I would stop the iodine.
Statins may have some beneficial effects along with their adverse effects, but there are other ways to get the benefits, so I would not be enthusiastic about them.
Best, Paul
How nice to hear back from you, Paul. Thank for sharing your thoughts. After many months of eczema nearly everywhere, and finding resolution by working remotely with an ND in Kansas City, I certainly hope my gut is still in better shape, although I suppose a follow-up test would be prudent. Wondering if you ever provided a suggested schedule of tests and when to do them. Standard clinics won’t order those tests, which is one reason I so valued my former doctor. I will get back to a daily iodine schedule. Busyness was my only excuse, but I am now retired so no excuses. Thank you so much, again, for your kind reply. Best to you and your people. 🙂
Dale
Paul, would taking a binder be a reasonable short- or medium-term solution to the SIBO-induced high LDL problem if one has recalcitrant SIBO? Or would it cause micronutrient deficiencies as it binds to those too? Thank you!
What do you think about PQQ (Pyrroloquinoline Quinone) as a supplement?
Hi Paul,
as it comed to boron – as a supplement – after a quick
google research finding this pubmed study (went quickly over it a few times)
I would be positive to calciumfructoborate but not natriumborate as it is genotoxic following the authors.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9409115/
I liked hearing your opinion!
Best,
Johannes
The
authors of this study also clearly favor organic forms of boron.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6373344/
Best,
Johannes
Hi Paul –
I’ve been a long-time follower of PHD – it greatly improved my health :).
I’ve developed chronic pericarditis, cited as idiopathic, but I’ve also high LDL, bloating and acid reflux.
I wonder if these issues are connected and am committed to treating both. Could you provide any advice on how to talk with doctors about exploring the causes of my intestinal and digestive issues?
Hope a 10-year revision of PHD is coming :). i’m happy to help in anyway – the book changed my life.
Hi Alex,
Yes, I would bet the issues are connected. The upper digestive tract infection / microbial overgrowth that generates acid reflux and bloating will also cause high LDL (which results from microbial cell wall components modifying LDL so that it can’t be taken up by the LDL receptor and instead has slower uptake by RAGE receptors on macrophages). The cause of the pericarditis is unclear but the most likely hypotheses would be (a) some pathogens from your upper digestive tract have infected the pericardium or perhaps more likely (b) you have formed IgE antibodies against some foreign thing that commonly enters your body via the upper digestive tract and they are binding mast cells on mesothelial tissues and causing a chronic mast cell degranulation, with release of histamine/cytokines/growth factors.
You need to address the upper digestive tract issues to fix the problem, in the meantime you can try to relieve the pericarditis with antihistamines (eg Benadryl, Claritin, Allegra).
For the upper digestive tract be sure you are getting plenty of vitamin A, D, extracellular matrix, and magnesium; and appropriate amounts of iodine, selenium, zinc, copper, calcium, vitamin C, NAC, glycine. Time-restricted feeding with food intake concentrated early in the day (eg 9 am to 3 pm) and a long overnight fast will help. Circadian rhythm entrainment.
Let me know how it goes.
Best, Paul
Hello,
I’m myself was recently diagnosed with Pericarditis and was prescribed with NSAID (Ibuprofen, currently 400mg twice a day) and Colchicine.
Mine was also described as idiopathic.
I’ve been taking these drugs for 6 weeks.
After a cardiologist advised to stop the NSAID (after doing a thorough physical examination, including an echocardiogram test) I had to restart taking them after a week off, that ended with high fever and high heart rate.
@Alex,
I was wondering if you’ve implemented Paul’s advice and if it helped.
Anyway, I’m doing it myself, Paul’s advice is typically precious.
@Paul
1. To me, my case sounds more like option B you’ve described above.
How should I address the upper digestive tract issue?
Is there any blood test that can show if this is the case?
2. Do you really think antihistamines can replace NSAID’s in keeping my state in check?
I’m not very keen on keeping using NSAID, as they damage the kidneys and I would be very happy to ditch them.
3. In the future, when I’ll stop again the NSAID’s, should I restrict my food intake to some safe foods?
4. Any other advice would be much appreciated.
Tal
One other thing i forgot to mention: after stopping the Ibuprofen for a week, my CRP spiked to 15, from ~3 (ontop of the fever and increased heart rate).
And to be clear, I’m not seeking medical advice, I have a great doctor, but I’m looking for tools other then drugs.
Hi Paul,
What is your take on the healthfulness of using sunscreen, as part of a daily skincare routine. A lot of people swear by it and say that it is the most crucial aspect for maintaining good skin. Does sunscreen fit into the PHD picture?
Thank you
Hi Theo,
Generally sunscreen is harmful rather than helpful, but it’s important not to be sunburned, so if you are going to be spending too much time in the sun, it’s better to use it than be burned. However, at exposure levels that would lead to tanning rather than burning, it’s better not to use it.
Best, Paul
I am so confused with ur 500mg of Vitamin B-5 (pantothenic acid or pantethine) per day.
When I google it most health orgs recommend 5 mgs per day or so … what am I missing here ?
Hi Bruno,
I’ll have to update that page, I no longer take that much. 5 mg is about the RDA. It is quite safe so you can take much more, but it is not clear what is optimal.
Best, Paul
Hi Paul,
How are you doing? I hope you are doing fine!
First of all, thank you so much for your work. PHD has been a valuable reference for me for nearly the past 10 years, and I truly love the book.
I’ve always been interested in nutrition and its impact on our health. However, my level of concern has varied over the years. A few years ago, I was diagnosed with MS, and since then, I’ve been increasingly focused on improving my health, in hopes of achieving better outcomes.
I’ve noticed that certain foods, particularly vegetables and seeds, including nuts and cocoa, don’t agree with me, maybe due to their defense chemicals or antinutrients. Previously, I used to have a large salad and vegetables daily, along with nuts and cocoa. However, I’ve recently reduced my intake of these foods as I experienced issues with digestion, such as loose stools and undigested parts. Instead, I’ve shifted my focus to foods like red meat, organs, eggs, and dairy (mainly fermented dairy and raw milk), I also include fish in my diet weekly for Omega-3s and obtain most of my carbohydrates (around 100-150 g per day) from fruits, honey, and dairy. Additionally, I incorporate homemade sauerkraut and raw or fermented tubers like carrots or ginger, as they seem to be better tolerated. Despite this, I think the majority of my calorie intake comes from fat, approximately 50%.
I’m no longer as concerned about sugar in fruits or honey as I used to be, particularly because they are sources of fructose. However, I do complement them with safe starches and cooked zucchinis or squashes on weekends. I believe I should be concern about processed sugars like high fructose corn syrup or white sugar (perhaps they bear a significant portion of the responsibility for this fear surrounding sugar), rather than naturally occurring ones. I would appreciate your opinion on this matter.
I feel that my current dietary choices have improved my digestion, but I would value your opinion on any recommendations or concerns you may have. Should I include more vegetables or any other foods in my diet, or can I continue without of with fewer of them? Additionally, should I be concerned about obtaining a significant portion of my carbohydrates from honey, fruit, and dairy?
I also adhere to your recommendations regarding supplements, including magnesium, D3, iodine, B vitamins, zinc, boron, and occasionally taurine, NAC, and red palm oil. What are your thoughts on B vitamins in their active forms (B2, B6, B12 and Methyl Folate)? I believe your recommended form of B12 is in this manner.
Thank you for your continued support.
I regularly check your website and look forward to one day receiving your feedback.
Wishing you all the best with Angiex!
Best regards,
Gonzalo.
Hi, Paul.
In regard to vitamin C supplements, do you recommend a whole food variety or plain ascorbic acid? Are there any particular brands you favor? Are the two kinds equally effective? Thank you.
Mary
All the supplement links have sad faces.
Dear Paul,
You have shared a concern regarding the chirality of Vitamin K-2 Mk4, but isn’t it true that the predominant form in certain foods, especially cheeses, is actually Mk4, not Mk7? Are you concerned about Mk4 in general or just the synthetically derived Mk4? Thanks.
Hi Milton,
Any naturally generated K2 is fine, it is only synthetically produced K2 that is problematic. Cheese has a mix of forms of K2, but MK-9 is most abundant and MK-4 second, according to https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5946231/.
Best, Paul
How does selenium glycinate compare to selenocysteine as a selenium supplement?
Hello Paul
In your book you recommend chromium vanadium and molybdenum every week, but in the website it is listed as optional. What do you recommend as today?
Hi Gian,
I’m much more cautious about supplements now. I wouldn’t take chromium or vanadium, although chromium could be considered in diabetes or immune deficits; molybdenum I would take it only for symptoms of amine sensitivity. In other words I would treat these as medicines to be taken therapeutically, rather than as routine supplements.
Best, Paul
that makes sense. Thank you for your response
Paul,
As a long-time reader of your site and follower of the PHD, I’m curious to know why you’re now cautious re: supplements. I’ve gradually been taking fewer of them, getting down to those that seem most essential, but if you think that routine supplementation is counterproductive, I’d love to hear more.
Thanks,
James
Hi James,
I still take vitamin K2 and magnesium. Occasionally zinc or iodine, and creatine monohydrate.
Best, Paul
Hi, Paul.
Do you still recommend taking vitamin C and D3? And do you recommend taking choline (for those who can’t eat eggs}?
Thank you.
Mary
Paul
It would be great if the supplement page would be updated with your updated recommendations.
I agree with Gian. Please update. Thank you for taking the time. -Jack
Even with all ad blockers and extensions disabled I can’t see the recommended products on any of your recommendations pages. Some of the rectangles have the error message “Hmm. We’re having trouble finding that” and some are just blank. This happens in both Firefox and Edge in Windows.
Does anyone know how to fix this? TIV
Hi, Paul.
What do you recommend for helping with healing spinal fractures?
Thank you.
Mary
Paul’s failure to update his supplement recommendations, despite expressing more caution in the comments, is irresponsible.
Leaving outdated advice up puts others’ health at risk.
If he won’t update it, he should take it down.
Hi Lewis, it’s on my to-do list, I’ll get to it when my Angiex (www.angiex.com) obligations free up a bit. Best, Paul
How about you just not follow these recommendations if you feel they are not safe karren. He is a busy man with im sure lots of things going on.
Cy, I get that you’re trying to defend Paul—he’s done valuable work, and I respect that too. But this isn’t about attacking him personally. It’s about the reality that many people come to his site looking for trustworthy health guidance. When recommendations stay up for years without updates—even after Paul himself has acknowledged the need to revise them—it can lead to confusion or harm. Raising that concern isn’t disrespectful; it’s about protecting readers. A simple disclaimer would be a responsible step while he works through other priorities.
You absolutely are attacking him personally. You called him irresponsible. And incredibly you are actually suggesting he could cause harm. Everyone is responsible for themselves. Paul owes nobody anything.
Jason, you’re right that I used strong language—and yes, it was meant to apply some pressure. Not out of malice, but because I believe this matters. Paul’s work has influenced a lot of people, including me, and that influence carries weight.
Sure, everyone is responsible for their own choices, but when someone publishes health advice, they’re influencing those choices. That influence carries a certain responsibility, even if it’s not an obligation.
As for the risk of harm—Paul himself has said in the comments that he no longer takes some of the supplements he once recommended, due to reasons he hasn’t fully explained yet. That alone suggests there might be safety concerns or second thoughts. Leaving the old guidance up without any disclaimer could lead people to follow advice even Paul no longer follows himself.
If a little criticism helps push an update or at least a disclaimer, then I’m okay owning that.
If you’re so worried about Paul’s advice then go somewhere else to get health advice. Paul owes you, me or anybody disclaimers, updates or anything.
Sorry – was reply to Lewis and I meant Paul does not owe Lewis, me or anybody disclaimers, updates or anything.