Taking Supplements to Extend Your Career as a Performing Saxophonist
Taking Supplements to Extend Your Career as a Performing Saxophonist
by Rex Djere
2020 Nov 24
Summary
We each have only one body, and we each have only one life. It is therefore imperative that we take very good care of that one body if we want to have a long career as a performing saxophone player. We need to eat healthy, get plenty of exercise, and it may be helpful to take dietary supplements to maximize our health. In this article, I am going to shine a spotlight on 3 supplements:
Quercetin
Omega 3 Fish Oil
Vitamin D-3
Part 1: The Potential Benefits of Taking Quercetin
Quercetin is a very powerful flavonol that is found in many fruits and vegetables, leaves, seeds, and grains. Kale and red onions both have relatively high quantities of Quercetin. What is a flavonol? A flavonol is part of a class of chemicals called flavonoids that are commonly occurring in plants. You can learn more about flavonols here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flavonols
I take quercetin every day, in part because I have a family history of colon cancer. It has not been proven with 100% certainty, but some theorize that quercetin may be helpful in preventing and treating different kinds of cancer. For example, this article from March 10, 2020 explores the potential benefits of quercetin in treating ovarian cancer: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7063794/
I take one capsule of quercetin every day in this form: naturebell Quercetin, 1000 mg per serving, 240 Capsule.
Part 2: Why I Take Omega 3 Fish Oil Every Day
I reviewed several studies and articles from reputable institutions to figure out whether it is worth it for me to take omega 3 fish oil every day. I decided to add daily omega 3 fish oil to my regimen based on the benefits cited in this article posted by the Mayo Clinic on October 24, 2017: https://www.mayoclinic.org/drugs-supplements-fish-oil/art-20364810
The Mayo Clinic article states that omega 3 fish oil may be beneficial in preventing heart disease, reducing blood pressure, reducing high triglyceride and cholesterol levels, and reducing the severity of rheumatoid arthritis.
I take omega 3 fish oil every day in this form: Dr. Tobias Omega 3 Fish Oil, Triple Strength, 180 Softgels (90 Day Supply)
Part 3: The Vitamin D3 Regimen
There are two kinds of vitamin D: vitamin d2 and vitamin d3. Vitamin d2 and d3 are basically equivalent, so when I refer to vitamin d below, it doesn’t matter whether it is d2 or d3. Vitamin d2 comes from plant sources; vitamin d3 comes from animal sources. Vitamin d3 is closer to the kind of vitamin d that the human body produces. For this reason, vitamin d3 is the form that people most often take as supplements. Why is vitamin d3 good for you?
Potential cancer prevention and treatment. In February of 2006, a paper was released in the American Journal of Public Health that studied the potential benefits of vitamin d in cancer prevention. That paper is here: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1470481/
The paper cited that many studies have concluded that having sufficient levels of vitamin d in the body lowers the risk of cancer.
Bone health. A study released on March 5, 2014 concluded that healthy levels of vitamin d in the body are important to bone health. That study is here: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4015454/
Insulin levels. A study released on July 25, 2015 concluded that more study is needed, but that vitamin d may play a positive role in controlling the body’s insulin levels and treating/preventing diabetes. That study is here: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4515445/
I take vitamin d3 in two forms: a skin cream, and a capsule:
For my skin: Now Solutions, vitamin d-3 cream, 1,000 IU per gram, 4 fluid ounces, 118 mL)
naturewise Vitamin D3, 125 mcg (5,000 IU), 360 softgels
Conclusion
It is really best that you do your own research, but hopefully, this article will be your starting point to becoming an even healthier saxophonist than you already are. Cheers, and happy practicing!