The Health Huns
The Messy Side of Health and Fitness!
Your favourite amateur athletes keeping it real, discussing the messy side of health and fitness
The Health Huns
Ep.19 Supplements
Hype sells. Health doesn’t need to. We invited the supplement aisle into the light and asked the only questions that matter: does it work, is it safe, and is there a simpler way to get the same benefit? Between gym stories, a fresh rowing PB, and a big 2026 fitness goal, we break down what everyday people actually need—and what’s just expensive hope.
We start with the confusion: influencers, sleek labels, and bold claims make powders feel essential. Then we separate signals from noise. Magnesium can help if you’re deficient—but that’s a blood test call, and food-first sources often cover the gap. Creatine monohydrate earns a rare, evidence-backed gold star for strength, performance, and potential cognitive benefits, especially helpful for vegetarians and vegans—just hydrate well. Lion’s mane? Still early, mostly hype, and not one to take if you’re pregnant, managing chronic conditions, or allergic to mushrooms. Collagen promises glow and bounce, but digestion turns it into amino acids; results are modest at best compared to daily SPF, sleep, and consistent skincare. And electrolytes are salts—great for long, hot, hard sessions, unnecessary for most casual workouts and desk days.
We also talk money, marketing, and mindset. Protein bars can help in a pinch, but most people can meet protein needs with simple meals—yoghurt, eggs, beans, tofu, fish, chicken—without paying the brand premium. The pattern repeats: when you look past the lifestyle packaging, the biggest wins come from habits you can repeat—training you enjoy, varied foods, proper sleep, regular fluids, and sunlight without the burn. Supplements have a place when they fill a proven gap; they’re not a shortcut to a life you haven’t built yet.
If you’re curious, sceptical, or just tired of paying for promises, this one’s for you. Hit play, save your budget for good food and a plan you’ll stick to, and tell us your take: which supplement stayed—and which one’s out? Subscribe, share with a friend who needs a de‑hype, and leave a review so we can keep building this community together.
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Hey, before we get to this week's episode, uh we would just like to let you know that we are really trying to grow the Health Horns podcast and our community, and we would really, really appreciate any kind of engagement, likes, listens, shares, subscribes, um rate and review us. Tag us when you're listening to us. Yeah, answer our questions. We we just want to be able to bring you more and we you know we want to know what you're thinking and know that we're doing it right, really. So yeah, come on board and join the Health Huns journey with us. Hello and welcome to the Health Huns, the pod where we discuss the messy side of health and fitness.
SPEAKER_01:From gym fails to newfound communities.
SPEAKER_00:We're here to help you feel like less of a failure and find your place in the messy world of health and fitness.
SPEAKER_01:Hello and welcome to episode 19. 19 of the Health Huns. Say this every week, but that's a lot of episodes. And we both struggle with consistency. But we're not with this, we are doing it. It was really nice when we were at the market at the weekend when people were coming up to us and being like, Oh, I really like listening to you guys, and or people were interested and taking the little business cards you made, and it just any sort of feedback or acknowledgement that you're enjoying the episode like boosts us and makes us like want to keep going. And the more you talk to us and the more feedback we get, the better we can serve you all.
SPEAKER_00:Absolutely, absolutely. We are nothing without you. We really we're stars in our own right. When it when it comes to this podcast, we do need our listeners. Exactly.
SPEAKER_01:So before we get into this week's episode, which is all about supplements.
SPEAKER_00:Yes, and this was a topic that we had a listener pick. So we actually we had a prize, didn't we, for the person who came up with this one and we chose it. Um, and that is Sara. Sara Davy? Sara Davy from Pixels and Pearls. She suggested um supplements and yeah, so Sara, I will send you the code for your cookie co voucher.
SPEAKER_01:Oh, how exciting! And thank you for engaging with us. Yes, we appreciate it, we do. How has your week been, Amber Green?
SPEAKER_00:It's been all right. Uh yeah, so we had the market that was absolutely exhausting, and I was so tired afterwards. But it was really fun talking to people. Um spending two days with you. We really got to know each other, didn't we? We did. Um, and yeah, it's it's been alright. I went to the doctors about my wrist, which has been painful. He said he doesn't think it's carpal tunnel, he thinks it's tendinitis. And also I've got a UTI, which is a bit annoying. Did you get your results? Well, they said I did call the doctors and they said the results are in, but they need to be reviewed. But I mean, I know, I'm sure that this is a UTI.
SPEAKER_01:Yeah.
SPEAKER_00:You were in a bit of a bad way during our session this morning, weren't you?
SPEAKER_01:It was in a bad way. It wasn't fun. It wasn't we uh went through your flat out uh exercises, I guess.
SPEAKER_00:Yeah, we kind of did, didn't we? I forgot to wear my run-in trainers, so I couldn't do the runs because I had Converse on. Uh then we done about two and a half minutes on the bike, which is definitely not two and a half K, but it's probably around about 175. Yeah, and then we did the rowing machine.
SPEAKER_01:I actually was quite impressed with the rower. Yeah, yeah. Once you got rid of your T-Rex arms, you were really going for it. Yeah, like 1200 metres without stopping.
SPEAKER_00:In five minutes 39 seconds, I believe. Yeah, and when I done it on Tuesday, I think it was like six minutes, so I'm pleased with that. No, you should be proud of yourself. Yeah. I mean, I just physically couldn't do it any quicker. But I mean, God, if there's people that are doing that in like two minutes, how? I don't know. I don't know what the average like 1200 meter row time is if you're not a professional rower, but I I was quite proud of that. Yeah, you should be.
SPEAKER_01:Um how's your week? My week has been really good. Got back from Wales last Friday, went straight out to a Gate to 5K social. We went bowling, we spent the whole weekend together, didn't we? Yeah, how did I forget about that? It's just been a lot. It's been a lot, which was really fun. The first proper social that we've thrown. Um, and then Saturday, all weekend, Sunday as well, at the Market Review talking to everyone about Gate 5K and health funds. This week I I've got an itch. I put a story about this on my personal account. And I think slightly you have inspired me by putting yourself out there and doing a competition. Whilst I don't think I'm competition ready.
SPEAKER_00:I don't think I'm competition ready.
SPEAKER_01:I have this urge to be like, can I how strong, fast, and fit can I get before 2026? Okay. Because a lot of people wait until January, don't they, to start their their goals. Never wait, just do it.
SPEAKER_00:If you want to do it, do it now.
SPEAKER_01:And I have this big goal in my head. So my son starts school next September, so 2026. And ideally, I would like to be the fittest mum in the playground. Okay. Don't know why, but I just How are you gonna measure this? Well, I feel like I'll be able to tell. Just a feeling. It'll be just a feeling. Watch them all flock to me. No, yeah. Um, and I thought I haven't really pushed myself this year. We've done a few runs and it's been fun, but I don't think I haven't done anything where it's actually been like a big fitness-related goal for a long time. Okay. So I think I might go balls to the wall for the next three months. But with me, I have to do all or nothing, so it might become a bit extreme. Well, that's okay. I want to do it without becoming unbearable.
SPEAKER_00:Yeah. And like I think. It's okay, I'll keep I'll keep you in check, don't we?
SPEAKER_01:You'll keep me humble. So I'm gonna try and do it without being like a higher ups knob. Okay. And maybe, maybe you might see me at Hyrux near you in 2026. Oh my god. I mean, there's so many Hyruxes, you could do it anywhere. I'm not sure that will be me, but we'll see. Okay. We'll see.
SPEAKER_00:So yeah, my week's been good. I mean, to be fair, don't sign up to a HIROX because then you'll do no training. We know how this works.
SPEAKER_01:I feel like someone should like so like sign me up without me knowing. Yeah. And then be like, happy birthday, you're doing a high rox tomorrow. So yeah, that's how my week's been focused. I want to be focused. Good. Right. Enough last. Let's talk about supplements. Yeah, this is a big topic. Big topic. I think the main driver of why this topic is so big is the confusion around all these different types of supplements and powders and potions and lotions.
SPEAKER_00:Yeah. Well, I'm just trying to, you know, get the rot the light in right. Uh yeah, no, I I do agree. Um because I mean, we've said before there's so many like influencers that are promoting like brands or their own supplements, and ultimately, can you really just trust them because it's all about money?
SPEAKER_01:Yeah, it is all about money, and it's easier and easier to create products without thorough testing, and there's these margins of like what you can put on a packet of something, and along as long as it's within these parameters, you can label it high protein or low fat or this or that or the other, and most of them, in my opinion, are A, not essential for the general population of people, people like me and you, people who listen to this podcast, you aren't athletes, yeah. And B pretty pointless in terms of how much money you're spending on them to the results you're gonna see.
SPEAKER_00:And also some of them actually can be a bit dangerous if you have too much of them. What I've found from my research. Oh, go on. Well, I mean, I thought I've I've I've researched a few and I've got you know, so I thought we could just go through them and I'll tell you about the dangerous ones then.
SPEAKER_01:Okay, right. Well, let's get let's get started on the list.
SPEAKER_00:Okay, so I mean, first on my list is magnesium.
SPEAKER_01:Okay, the sleepy one.
SPEAKER_00:Yes. So basically, from my research magnesium can be helpful if you are low in magnesium. Yes.
SPEAKER_01:And you would have to have a blood test to find that out.
SPEAKER_00:Yes. And actually chances are a lot of people probably are not low in magnesium.
SPEAKER_01:Yeah.
SPEAKER_00:So, I mean, the things that they're saying, you know, research shows that if you are low in magnesium, you these are the things that it can help with. So reduced muscle cramps and twitching, less fatigue, better sleep, less anxiety, and it can support your blood pressure.
SPEAKER_01:Support your blood pressure.
unknown:Okay.
SPEAKER_00:But there are some downsides to it. Um, it can interfere with some medication. So obviously, really, if you're on medication, you should probably consult your GP before taking it.
SPEAKER_01:Yeah.
SPEAKER_00:Um, it can cause digestive issues. If you have excess magnesium in your system, um, it can cause kidney function issues and impaired kidney function, um, which can be really, really dangerous. And actually, that's that's something that I've seen in a lot of the research is that if you are having excessive amounts of anything, um it can affect your kidney, which makes sense because your kidneys do a lot of work.
SPEAKER_01:Yeah, they filter out a lot of the stuff in the body and all that kind of stuff, yeah. Yeah. Um, I know magnesium a lot. Well, I I used to be really into bodybuilding, guys. Okay, so I used to like watch a lot of the bodybuilders on YouTube and stuff, and they have their like supplement stacks, and a lot of them would take it to aid recovery and improve sleep. Now, a lot of the supplements that people are taking, like walk from the high street, Holland and Barrett kind of stuff. There are other shops available, but if Holland and Barrett wants to throw us a sponsor, we're not gonna say no. Um, one, it's the absorption, like how well is it absorbed into the body, and that is dictated by the quality of the product and how you're taking it and the form you're taking it in. Um I've lost my train of thought completely. What was I saying?
SPEAKER_00:Um, about the absorption of magnesium bodybuilders, stack.
SPEAKER_01:Yeah, so a lot of these things, like your body might not even be taking that much of it in at all.
SPEAKER_00:Yeah.
SPEAKER_01:I think what we're gonna come across with a lot of these supplements is the placebo effect. So you could give two people, one has actual magnesium, one doesn't, and they both sleep better at night, right? Yeah. So I think with a lot of these things, they're not super harmful if you take them. They're probably not harmful at all in the normal doses. But if they make you think you're better, sleep better, they make you feel like you recover faster, then like sure, take them, but you don't necessarily need magnesium.
SPEAKER_00:Well, and what um the research that I did on magnesium was that before taking a magnesium supplement, you should actually include magnesium-rich things in your diet. And actually, by having a balanced and good diet, you probably are getting all the magnesium you need. Um, so the kind of things that are rich in magnesium are pumpkin seeds, almonds, cashews, like dark leafy greens, like kale and spinach, black beans, chickpeas, avocados, and bananas. So all really kind of normal things that you can easily include just in your day-to-day life.
SPEAKER_01:Yeah, that's a salad. Like, yeah, have that in all in a salad, maybe not the banana, but you're good to go.
SPEAKER_00:Yeah. And it also says if you have any kind of kidney disease, you should not take it and you should speak to your GP. Yeah.
SPEAKER_01:So magnesium isn't necessarily in or out, it it just is. And if you can get it from your diet, it's probably gonna be a bit more beneficial because you're not just getting magnesium, you're gonna get a whole host of nutrients and minerals and vitamins and all that kind of stuff.
SPEAKER_00:Yeah. What's next, Amber? Well, next I have creatine. Oh, I didn't read I'm creatine's like jam. Well, of all the things that you've ever suggested to me, the only thing that you've suggested is creatine. And I hear that from like a lot of like fitness professionals, PTs.
SPEAKER_01:Yeah. So creatine monohydrate is what you want to look for, and they sell them literally in most supermarkets now, will have some variation of it. Um, in all the supplement things like creatine is actually relatively cheap in terms of the amount of uh portions you get per hundred grams or whatever. Yeah. Um, and basically what it ha what it does is it increases the production of ATP within the muscles, okay? And we produce that naturally, but creatine just bumps it up. So if you're training, it has been shown time and time again that it will increase strength, your output, it can help with recovery. And more recently, studies are showing that it actually is really good for brain function, really good for women as they age, um, helps with some of the symptoms of menopause, and it has been so rigorously is that the right word tested, and there's been so many studies, and that keep producing the same results, which is a really the thing that I said it is the most studied and the most safe supplement.
SPEAKER_00:Yeah, I've seen lots of research recently around people using it for like people with Alzheimer's and how it can improve like cognitive function with people with Alzheimer's.
SPEAKER_01:Yeah. I think there's some myths around the effect side effects of it. Like there was one where it causes baldness. There has been no clear study that has shown that to be an outcome of creatine. Um it's what is the other myth? That it's a steroid, it's not a steroid at all, it's a completely different chemical makeup to well, and it's something that your body produces naturally, isn't it? And the other thing is people worry that it causes water retention and bloating. Now, it will take more water when you take creatine, the muscles are able to take more water in. This is very basic, like I'm not claiming to be a scientist. So your muscles may hold more water, but you're not going to be like bloated like around your face and your stomach and all that kind of stuff. So if you take it every single day, and I just need to put asteroid in her bed.
SPEAKER_00:Okay. Are you in? There you go. There you go, sit down. She just needs a little hand.
SPEAKER_01:That's alright. Um, if you take it every day and it's part of your routine, and maybe at the beginning you do see you feel like you're a bit more bloated, or you're the the scale goes up a pound or two, that will balance itself out eventually. You're not going to just be walking around like a water balloon taking creatine. I think anyone who wants to and is interested, not even just for training, just for health, creatine, do it.
SPEAKER_00:Yeah. I um some of the things that I got from my research is that actually, so if you are vegetarian or vegan, apparently you have a lower base level of creatine and it's really helpful for you. Um, you need to drink more water and make sure you are hydrated when you're taking it. Yeah. And um, yeah, so basically, if you are someone that is chronically dehydrated, it probably isn't best to take it until you can make sure that you can drink enough fluids.
SPEAKER_01:Yeah, because basically you won't be able to do its job without the water. So yeah.
SPEAKER_00:Yeah. So yeah, I we're saying creatine is a thumbs up.
SPEAKER_01:But caveat that you don't have to take it. No, you're not gonna suffer greatly if you don't take it because it is another expense, another thing to remember, another thing to worry about, but it is a big tick on the safe and worthwhile list.
SPEAKER_00:Yes, for sure.
SPEAKER_01:What's next?
SPEAKER_00:Lion's mane.
SPEAKER_01:Yeah, the mushroom. Hmm. Lion's mane gives me connotations of Andrew Tate.
SPEAKER_00:Yeah, it's definitely um in the wellness grifter kind of category.
SPEAKER_01:Yeah.
SPEAKER_00:So I mean, I I've got so basically lion's mane, um, the compounds may stimulate nerve growth factors which can help maintain and repair neurons. But the big caveat there is may.
SPEAKER_01:Yeah.
SPEAKER_00:There has been very little research on it. Um, there is not enough research to say whether it actually is any good or not, and a lot of the research has been done by companies that sell it because they obviously want the research to show that you should take it.
SPEAKER_01:Yeah.
SPEAKER_00:Um, there is some early signs that possibly it can help with your cognitive function, your mood, anxiety, your nerve health, and your immune and gut health. But it is very, very early days and they don't really know. Um, you shouldn't be taking it if you're pregnant, if you want to get pregnant, if you have any kind of like chronic diseases, because there's just not enough research in it, so they don't know what it's going to do. And also if you're allergic to mushrooms, yeah, don't be taking lion's mane. No, no, like because there is a risk of having an allergic reaction, and I think sometimes people, you know, probably don't think about where that supplement comes from. You might not even know that lion's mane is a mushroom.
SPEAKER_01:Yeah. I I remember it being a like I saw it a lot on TikTok. There was like loads of different products on TikTok shop, which again I think if you're buying supplements off there, then maybe you want to just rethink that for a second.
SPEAKER_00:Yeah, and there's you know, there's been a lot of like people saying that it's good for people with ADHD because it can help with your cognitive function and focus. But again, yeah, I mean I've not taken it, um, so I couldn't tell you, but I don't know. I feel like I feel like lion's mane is a bit of a farce. It's just a just a punch that I have.
SPEAKER_01:Yeah, I think until there's been more research and not funded by the companies who want to sell it, I'd probably hold off on anything like that. And the other thing with those studies is the types of people who are going to be taking lion's mane are probably very much into the wellness and and you know, looking after themselves and doing all the protocols. So the results that you get from these studies, I know obviously there's control variables and all that kind of stuff, but is are they just getting those results from those people because they just look after themselves, look after in quotation marks anyway, you know?
SPEAKER_00:Yeah, they're eating whole foods, they're making sure they hit their macros and they eat this and they have that and they're hydrated and they move their body, you know. Maybe if you gave it to like a regular person, is it gonna do anything? Because is it doing anything anyway? Exactly.
SPEAKER_01:I do think the world of like mushrooms and all that kind of stuff is an interesting area, but again, a lot more research needs to be put into these products, yeah.
SPEAKER_00:And anything where like if you are doing your research and it basically says that like the long-term safety is unclear because there has not been enough human research, I would probably stick clear of it. Yeah, yeah.
SPEAKER_01:It's just I mean, it is just a mushroom, but and with a lot of these supplements, it is literally if it's gonna have an impact, it's gonna be like marginal one percent gains. I need to go and let my cat in for fuck's sake. Anyway, he is noisy, so noisy. So yeah. Unless you're an athlete who is who needs those possible 1% marginal gains, it's probably not worth your money, a few of these.
SPEAKER_00:And I don't think athletes are particularly falling over themselves to get lion's mane. Probably not, no. No, I feel like this is just a health and wellness spin to make money. I mean, if you can buy a lion's mane mushroom, which are very hard to find, just they actually in Sainsbury's now they do sell these chunks of lion manes mushrooms. I've tried it, I didn't really like it that much, but you're probably better to just eat it than have a supplement.
SPEAKER_01:Yeah, but you definitely, and also how do they even know how much in like milligrams of these products you actually need for it to be that effective? And I don't know. No way moving away from mushrooms. What's the next?
SPEAKER_00:This this is a big one, and I feel like this is I mean, the next two that I've got are pretty big. Um, so this one is collagen.
SPEAKER_01:I did a little bit of research on this. Oh, what did you find?
SPEAKER_00:Well, I mean, I've got so collagen is the main structural protein that is present in like skin, bone, tendons, ligaments, and cartilage. So that is what it is, and um, your body produces it naturally, but as you age, uh, if you have a poor diet with sun damage, and if you smoke, it can stop being produced so effectively. So that's why it's really being sold. I would say it's really, really being pushed for women of like perimenopause age. Like you're getting older, your skin's not producing as much collagen, you know, you need to take this supplement, it's gonna make your hair grow, it's gonna make your skin better, it's gonna make you blah blah blah, it's gonna make you beautiful and better because spend some money. So that's who I feel like it's really being pushed at. It is also being pushed at people who do exercise because it's like it can help you repair quicker and blah blah blah. Um, so I mean, I haven't got loads of research on this because there's so much out there that is like it's all over the place. Um, I have heard from a real life scientist that actually by consuming it like orally, um, your body doesn't actually really absorb it very well. And then I did some research today, and it's like your body does, or your body can absorb it orally, but it's not it doesn't go in and doesn't work as it's not like it goes into collagen and it goes straight to your skin. Yeah. No, it like breaks it down into like amino acids and it goes to the parts of you where it feels like you need collagen. But again, uh like I'm not sure how scientific, not a scientist, not sure how scientific that is. It sounds it, but I don't I don't feel like anybody I know that's taken it. Because they say you have to take it for three to four months. I've got like clients and friends that have taken it, and none of them are like, oh my god, like you know, I'm I look so much better, I've you know, my skin's better, my hair's growing, I'm this or that. They just seem to be taking it, spending a lot of money on it, and nothing really seems to be any different.
SPEAKER_01:So I had the same conclusion. There's so much almost like there's no clear conclusions except that I I don't think it can like spring back your skin. Like if you're aging and you've lost some, you know, elasticity in your skin, you're getting some wrinkles, which is natural as you get older. I don't believe any amount of collagen is gonna rejuvenate you. I think I I mean I was I was reading like an actual study, so my comprehension skills on that was a bit rusty. But I think there is stuff that can that allow like hydrates you and hydrates your skin. And I know there's some treatments like is it hydrochloric? Oh, that doesn't sound right.
SPEAKER_00:I mean, high look there's hyaluronic acid that hydrates your skin. You can have injections and stuff in your under your eyes. Yeah, yeah, and things like microneedling makes your skin produce more collagen. Like, there are loads of like beauty treatments that definitely I would say probably are more effective because they are actually targeting the areas of you. Yeah, micro needling is supposed to be really good for collagen like production, and yeah, hyaluronic acid, your skin naturally produces hyaluronic acid. So when you put it into your skin, it plumps it up because what's keeping you hydrated.
SPEAKER_01:I think again with collagen, it's like there's not conclusive evidence to suggest that it's going to work and it works for everyone. It's uh, well, you can give it a go, but again, with this, the people who are taking however they're taking it, collagen are probably doing another 101 skincare regime steps or looking after themselves in different ways. That could also be making their skin brighter, or they could literally just if you feel better in yourself because you believe that something you're taking is working, you're naturally going to give off a more confident energy. You're probably gonna look brighter in yourself anyway. So it's just really difficult to determine this caused this. And if the research can't show that, we should probably listen to the scientists maybe take these creams and supplements of maybe a pinch of salt.
SPEAKER_00:Yeah. And also when it comes to things like skin, a lot of it is down to genetics. Yeah, like sorry, go on. Well, like, you know, I know that I am actually quite lucky because like my mum is 76 and she's barely got a wrinkle, her skin is really good, she doesn't have any treatments, you know. She uses she takes her make well, I don't even know if she wears makeup now, but she'll wash her face with soap and she uses a day and a night cream, and that's it. And like my sister's skin are all quite good, so I think naturally, like genetically, I've got all right skin. I don't do much to it, but then you might have people that also I haven't spent loads of time in the sun, and I'm not a smoker, and I don't really. Drink alcohol, so I guess that probably adds to it as well. But if you are someone that loves spending time in the sun, you're a smoker, you're a drinker, or you just genetically have skin that ages a bit more than somebody's whose doesn't, what like taking a collagen supplement probably isn't gonna help that. You probably are gonna need to go down the aesthetic route to maybe see more of a difference.
SPEAKER_01:Yeah, and um, oh my god, my train of thought today is just not where it needs to be. That's usually me. Yeah, I completely know you need some lion's mane. Yeah, and I definitely need some some sort of substance. Oh yeah, I also think of a lot of these things, it's I don't know much about skincare, but what I do know and have been told it's about prevention rather than cure. So looking after your skin from a young age, you know, start trying to stay out of the sun, putting SPF on, moisturizing, finding a routine that works for you. That's that's what's important. If you get to like 60 and maybe you haven't done all that, yeah, I don't think no amount of powder or tablets or supplements are, like you said, gonna produce these magical results. But I don't think they're necessarily harmful for you, they might be harmful for your bank account. Yeah, collagen is very expensive, yeah.
SPEAKER_00:Really expensive, you know.
SPEAKER_01:Take it if it makes you feel better, I guess. But is it a miracle supplement? Probably not. None of them are.
SPEAKER_00:No, I don't, I don't think so.
SPEAKER_01:Nothing's a magic pill.
SPEAKER_00:No, not yet, anyway. And also, like, I mean, I've seen like in the I'm saying like a lot again. I was supposed to be trying not to sweep. Um, I've seen in the supermarket bottles of water that say collagen water. I'm sorry, drinking a 500ml bottle of water that maybe has some collagen in it, that's gonna do nothing for you.
SPEAKER_01:No, and also I don't know why, but it makes you feel of like lumpy water.
SPEAKER_00:Yeah, a lot of collagen is um from either fish or cow, so there's very little vegan vegetarian collagen. There is one brand, but I mean, I had a look at it because I was researching it. It's about like 60, 70 pounds a month or something. It's like if you subscribe, it's a bit less. Yeah, it's so expensive.
SPEAKER_01:I feel like it's kind of on the same level as greens powder. Yeah, like how much of what you're taking is actually collagen?
SPEAKER_00:Yeah, I don't know, but I'm it's a no from me. I've never taken it, and I it's very unlikely that I would take it.
SPEAKER_01:Yeah, I mean, I'm young still, so you're so young.
SPEAKER_00:My skin is naturally producing all your collagen.
SPEAKER_01:If anyone needs any.
SPEAKER_00:Got some to spare.
SPEAKER_01:You know, like donating blood.
SPEAKER_00:Yeah. Yeah. Maybe I'll like collagen donation. No, you don't want to you don't want to lose any. Keep it for as long as possible.
SPEAKER_01:Okay. Right. Have we got anything else on supplements? Electrolytes. Yeah, well, I just don't think most of the everyday people need them. I don't think you need them if you're just waking up in the morning.
SPEAKER_00:No, no. So I did do some research on this because I mean my targeted ads on Instagram are electrolytes, electrolytes for women, electrolytes, electrolytes, electrolytes. Honestly, so many. I think I sent you a WhatsApp the other week. I had four in a row, just different electrolyte brands. And then as I carried on scrolling, more and more. They I feel like electrolytes are what every single collagen brand at the moment, collagen, every single like supplement or sports fitness brand at the minute, that is what they are trying to make us buy.
SPEAKER_01:Yeah.
SPEAKER_00:So basically, what electrolytes are is like salts. So they're like sodium, potassium, um, like calcium, and actually from my research, you can they can be really detrimental to your health because if you don't need them, you can be taking in too much sodium, sodium, salt, which is bad for your heart. We're all told we shouldn't have too much so salt. But I don't think when you think of electrolytes, you don't think that they're salt, do you? You just think they help you, you know, they help you be hydrated. Um, you can take in too much potassium, too much calcium, and they can be really bad for you. Um, so uh from from my research, you should be having them basically if you are doing excessive exercise, like really hard exercise, but if it's 60 to 90 minutes, or you're doing endurance. So when when Matthew Green done his 100k, he was obviously sweating a lot, so he did have electrolyte blends in his water because he had to, but your general person going to the gym for doing a spin class, I mean I did have electrolytes after Run Norwich, but that was excessively hot, yeah. And I I was getting like really bad muscle cramps, so I probably did need some sodium back in my system. So I did have some electrolytes afterwards, but um, I mean, I was driving home and I stopped at the roundabout, and like I was worried I wasn't gonna be able to drive again because I got cramped in my calf, it was awful. So I did have some, but um yeah, they're I don't think they're needed, and the amount of people that are just basically having them as an everyday drink, I think now, just have some water.
SPEAKER_01:Yeah, if you're someone who like even just like a diet coke, they're gonna get a level of hydration, a red pulsar. Like, okay, we're not saying drink these two things all the time, but like milk, I know I like I like a bit of cow juice.
SPEAKER_00:Yeah, you are a weirdo.
SPEAKER_01:I'm a weirdo, I know, but just having normal water, having a some a squash or whatever, even your coffees and your teas, even though they've got caffeine in, there's still water, there's still normally milk in there. Like, you will be fine. I don't, but when you look at these uh electrolyte adverts, much like any supplement, they're selling you the lifestyle.
SPEAKER_00:Because it's just like if you have this supplement, you'll be better.
SPEAKER_01:Yeah, there's this normally these toned, athletic men and women, you know, in their nice matching gym set, doing their morning routine and going to their class and then doing this and doing that. That's what they're selling you. No one gives a fuck if they're hydrated or not. They think taking these things will equal that. And yeah, worry, guys, it's just not gonna happen unless you actually do all the other things.
SPEAKER_00:I am terrible at drinking water, so I probably am quite chronically dehydrated, but I don't think taking an electrolyte is gonna cure that. I just need to drink more water, yeah.
SPEAKER_01:So anything they can be detrimental to you if you have them in excess and you're not hardcore working out. I do and they're expensive. Like I got for Ron Norwich, I got that a tube, like a I think they're called fizz with pH, because and they were like eight pounds. And I was like, that's a lot of money, like just to have like you know, buy one of those every week. That's a that's adds up.
SPEAKER_00:Yeah, so I know that like when Matthew was when he did that run, and like when he's done marathons and stuff as well, because I guess you are you know running quite hard for quite a long time. Um he doesn't just get an electrolyte, he gets an electrolyte carb caffeine blend. So it's it is more of a sports solution, it's not just an electrolyte, it gives you carbohydrates, so I guess that replaces gels in a way or adds to them, and so yeah, I mean, and I think things like that probably are more. He has one called Tailwind, and I think they are tested in a endurance sport way rather than the high five fizzy tablets, or all these ones that you see on what are they like liquid IV, high, high humantra, something like that. Honestly, there's just so many of them. They come in these little tiny strips now, so much single-use plastic, you tear it open, you pour it in, like it's just excessive, really.
SPEAKER_01:Yeah. So electrolytes probably don't need them. If you're listening to this podcast, I'm gonna assume you don't need them.
SPEAKER_00:I mean, I'm not saying that athletes don't listen to us, but I don't think that is quite our target audience. Um, okay, have we got any other ones? I flip. They're they're probably they were just the main ones that protein was one, wasn't it?
SPEAKER_01:What? Protein was one. Yeah, protein. Well, I mean wicks in the protein, kill the protein bar.
SPEAKER_00:Joe Wicks, you predicted this. You said when he cut out sugar and he did that whole thing about Jaffa Cakes, he was trying to get a reaction to get more eyes on him because he was gonna be launching something. And he is.
SPEAKER_01:He's a grifter, he is in the grifter pile now, and I do think he's going down that kind of alt-right wellness, doesn't wear shoes, walks in all fours, perineum, yeah, you know, doesn't ever like have any fun. I do think he's gonna go down you know that route.
SPEAKER_00:Yeah. He's already got the hair for it. Sad times because he said he has done some good things, but I don't like him anymore.
SPEAKER_01:He gives me daily mail vibes. Yeah, 100%. Actually, if you think about his target audience when he back in the day, which were like mums, middle-aged women, a lot of them middle-aged men, that demographic is also going down the extreme right, Daily Mail, the sun, Facebook, AI ads they keep falling for. So really his he is his demographic is where he's heading. That's just a theory.
SPEAKER_00:Well, yeah, and like actually, I would say like people that take health, sport, fitness seriously are probably not going to be buying Joe Wicks's protein bar thing. Because they I don't think people really, people that are serious about that kind of this kind of stuff, I don't think they take Joe Wicks seriously.
SPEAKER_01:No, he is a grifter, and I think he was really good at what he did in like lockdown and stuff, but he was talking to the everyday person, and he was that kid who kind of grew up on a council state or whatever and overcame hardships. He's now not talking to the everyday person. He's he's a he's coming across very privileged.
SPEAKER_00:Yeah, I mean, just all of his like you know, on his social media, when you see in his house and protein bars, you do not need protein bars, like and they are so expensive, they you know, and there'll be all these people buying them when they don't need them, and they'll be expensive, they'll be like at least two pounds a bar.
SPEAKER_01:Yeah, but wasn't he going on about one of that the all the others are really bad for you?
SPEAKER_00:His will be bad. They're just I mean, if you want a protein bar, have a protein bar. But actually, if you are worried about your protein, look at your diet first. Amen.
SPEAKER_01:And on that, we have finished our supplements episode.
SPEAKER_00:And it did get a little bit ranty.
SPEAKER_01:Oh well, but that's what people come back for. Do you take any supplements? The only supplement I take is creatine and steroids. No joking. Just creatine.
SPEAKER_00:I don't take anything. I have got some creatine that I did start to take, but I don't have the memory to remember to take it. Maybe if I took creatine I would, but I don't remember to take it, and I I don't feel like it particularly impairs my physical capability, and I have no plans to really take anything.
SPEAKER_01:Yeah, I th I'm such a big believer in unless you have like a chronic illness or a deficiency for whatever reason, you can get most of what you need from a varied, balanced diet. Yeah. And I'm I'm a big believer in that. I think that's kind of the healthiest, like mental approach as well. Is it's not like I don't think food is medicine that can cure you from all these things, but if you're just someone who wants to make sure you're covered, the more varied you can get your diet, lots of different colours, things you haven't eaten before on a regular basis, you probably will be okay. And if you're really concerned about something you're suffering with, go to your GP, get some blood tests done, and they'll be able to tell you what you need.
SPEAKER_00:Yes, absolutely. If you have your blood test done and your GPs don't really explain it, if you have the NHS app, you get your test results through, you can copy and paste it and put it into Chat GPT, and it will give you a really like detailed, kind of like simple breakdown of what it means. Because when you look at your blood test results on the NHS app, it doesn't really make any sense. And all it will say is like normal or I mean the doctors only contact you if there's any issues, they don't even contact you if it's fine, they probably don't even contact you if there's any issues most of the time. Um, so yeah, you can put it in chat GPT. I mean, I'm not saying it I don't know if that's a hundred percent accurate, but I did that with my um from my last diabetes like checkup, and uh they you do there's loads, so I'd done them all individually, and it did it told me basically what you know exactly when I did have my appointment with the doctor, what they said, and you know, it sort of explained it.
SPEAKER_01:You just giving your data away to chat GPT.
SPEAKER_00:I don't care.
SPEAKER_01:The robots aren't gonna get you, are they?
SPEAKER_00:No, I mean god, who cares? Like, oh your blood sugar is this. I mean, I whatever.
SPEAKER_01:All right. Okay, so that is everything on supplements this week. If you have any further questions, we'll try and answer. But again, we're just everyday people doing everyday research. Yeah. That's all we're doing. We don't have all the answers.
SPEAKER_00:We're not we're not professionals, we're not doctors, we're not scientists. We're just looking as an everyday, everyday person, what is out there and making our own informed decisions. Exactly. Right.
SPEAKER_01:We will see you. Oh we'll see you sooner than you think. We'll see you Tuesday. Yes. We are now doing two episodes a week, aren't we? Tuesday and a Friday release. Because people just can't get enough of us. So make sure you like all of our posts. Review, subscribe, share. Right. Bye.