The Smarter Way to Supplement

In partnership with

Issue #17: November 3, 2025

💊 Supplements That Actually Move the Needle

Most people supplement backwards.

They chase trends, stack bottles, and hope something sticks — then wonder why their energy’s still flat and their labs haven’t changed.

I did the same for years. I tried every “longevity stack” I could find, convinced I’d feel the difference. Sometimes I did. Usually I didn’t.

What finally changed everything was blood work.

When I ran comprehensive labs through Function Health, the picture became clear: elevated homocysteine and cortisol.

Fixing those gaps moved more biomarkers in 90 days than five years of generic multivitamins ever did.

That’s when I stopped supplementing more and started supplementing smarter.

🧠 A Smarter Way to Think About Supplements

The supplement industry is built on the promise of optimization — but most people are supplementing blind. They don’t test, they don’t track, and they end up paying for placebo effects.

You don’t need twenty bottles on the counter. You just need the right ones — matched to what your biology actually needs.

That’s why Function Health has become my baseline. Their panels cover micronutrients, hormones, inflammation, and detox pathways— and the dashboard makes it easy to see what’s working.

It’s also humbling. Some supplements I thought were helping…weren’t. Others made a measurable difference I didn’t expect.

Two years ago, my homocysteine (a marker tied to heart and brain health) came back high — about 20 μmol/L. After testing, I realized I was missing key methylated B-vitamins that regulate that pathway. Once I switched to an active B-complex with methylcobalamin and 5-MTHF, my levels dropped to a 6 within months.

That’s the difference between guessing and knowing.

🎯 My Philosophy

I supplement for longevity and disease prevention, not quick fixes.

The rule is simple: fix deficiencies first, optimize second.

Supplements should support a foundation built on sleep, nutrition, movement, and stress management — not replace them.

I view them as nutrient insurance and biochemical leverage, not magic bullets. When used intentionally, they can close the small gaps that make a big difference over decades.

🧩 A Quick Word from Our Sponsor

The daily health habit you’ll actually stick with…

This time of year, it’s so easy for your daily routine to be thrown off.

When it starts getting dark before you’re home from work and the Halloween candy is taunting you, it’s important to find something that’s easy to do daily for your body.

That’s where AG1 Next Gen comes in.

With just one quick scoop every morning, you’ll get over 75 ingredients that help support your immune health, gut health, energy and help to close nutrient gaps in your diet.

Click here and you’ll get a free AG1 welcome kit with your first subscription including a:

✔️ FREE Flavor Sample Pack
✔️ FREE Bottle Vitamin D3+K2 Drops
✔️ FREE Canister + Shaker

It’s one of the easiest things you can do for your body every day.

Click here

_{*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration.}

🧱 The Core Stack That’s Earned Its Place

These are eight supplements that consistently show up in my Function Health data and how I feel daily. They’re foundational, and have earned their spot over time.

1️⃣ Probiotic

Your gut runs the show: immunity, inflammation, even mood.

Why it matters: Around 70% of your immune cells live in your gut. A healthy microbiome stabilizes everything from digestion to inflammation.

2️⃣ Methylated Multivitamin / B-Complex

Active forms of B12 (methylcobalamin) and folate (5-MTHF) keep methylation pathways clean and homocysteine low.

Why it matters: B-vitamins regulate energy, neurotransmitters, and detox — the backbone of metabolic longevity.

3️⃣ Creatine Monohydrate

Supports muscle, brain energy, and mitochondrial health. I take 5 g daily, no cycling.

Why it matters: After 30, both strength and cognitive sharpness decline. Creatine buffers that slide by fueling ATP production.

4️⃣ CoQ10 (Ubiquinol Form)

Drives ATP (cellular energy) and protects mitochondria.

Why it matters: Every heartbeat, every neuron firing — powered by CoQ10. Especially critical if you’re aging or taking statins.

5️⃣ Liposomal Glutathione

Your body’s master antioxidant. Makes measurable improvements in inflammation and recovery.

Why it matters: Glutathione supports liver detox, immune defense, and oxidative stress control.

6️⃣ Magnesium (Glycinate or Malate)

Cofactor for 300+ biochemical reactions — sleep, stress, energy, insulin sensitivity.

Why it matters: Most people are deficient. Repletion improves sleep, reduces anxiety, and stabilizes energy.

7️⃣ Vitamin D3 + K2

I aim for 40–60 ng/mL D3 on labs and always pair with K2 (MK-7) to direct calcium into bones, not arteries.

Why it matters: D3 modulates immunity and gene expression; K2 keeps it safe.

8️⃣ Omega-3 (Fish or Algae Oil)

Target 1-2 g combined EPA/DHA daily.

Why it matters: Modern diets skew 15:1 toward omega-6. Rebalancing that ratio supports brain, heart, and joint health.

🧭 My Rule of Thumb

1️⃣ Test, don’t guess
2️⃣ Fix deficiencies before chasing optimization
3️⃣ Keep what moves the needle, drop what doesn’t

Supplements aren’t about adding complexity — they’re about building resilience.

Until next week. Stay vital.

-Jordan Slotopolsky

🔬 Study Sources

• COSMOS-Mind Trial (2022): Multivitamins improved cognition in older adults (Alzheimer’s & Dementia).

• McCully et al., Am J Pathology (2020): Homocysteine reduction via methylated B-vitamins.

• Avgerinos et al., Exp Gerontology (2018): Creatine and cognitive performance.

• Hernández-Camacho et al., Front Physiol (2018): CoQ10 and mitochondrial health.

• Richie et al., Eur J Nutr (2015): Glutathione supplementation review.

• Abbasi et al., J Res Med Sci (2012): Magnesium and sleep quality.

• Martineau et al., BMJ (2017): Vitamin D & immune modulation.

• Calder, Nutrients (2022): Omega-3 anti-inflammatory effects.