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Hi @Tinkrbl44, the information I've included below is from the Supplements - which supplements do you take thread that I started last year... because someone else had a similar question. 
My supplements and Andrew Lessman journey are in the first two posts of this thread. -- The information below is part of my second post.
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Here's my suggestion for you:
* Essential-1 with 3000 IU Vitamin D -- 360 capsule size ($110) -- It's got 1500 IU more than the regular Essential-1 and should cover your Vitamin D levels as long as you aren't overweight. -- Get a year's supply since it's your basic multi-vitamin. -- Based on what Andrew includes in this supplement, it's a crazy good value. lol, sometimes I think it must be a loss leader for him because I can't figure out how he can make any money on it. -- It's got special pricing right now.
* Omega-3 -- purchase a few at a time -- buy the Nordic Naturals liquid Omega-3. It's the same Omega-3 profile (not alcohol esters) but much cheaper because it's not in capsule form. -- 8oz are $23 at iherb or vitacost.
* Calcium/Magnesium -- the 500 capsules size should cover you for 250 days ($65) -- He's got special pricing right now so you may want to purchase it. -- It was a TS last October but he mentioned that it probably wouldn't be offered as a TS again for about 18 months.
* PhosphatidylCholine -- Ultimate PC + Phosphatidyl Choline Liver & Brain Granules™ -- purchase the medium size ($50) -- Andrew thinks this supplement is really important (and it is) but he doesn't talk about it enough. -- Purchase a medium size of the granules because they are five times more potent than the capsules. -- The granules have a slightly nutty taste and there is a small portion of folks who don't like them... so that's why I suggest purchasing the medium size to try it out. -- I love the granules.
* COQ10 -- WAIT FOR OCTOBER TS -- It's just about certain that Andrew will be having his crazy value, annual COQ10 TS in October. -- For the past few years, he's offered 720 200mg capsules for $200 which is about less than half of what the regular pricing is.
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Whwerever it seemed reasonable, I've listed the medium sizes instead of the very large sizes that are a slightly better value. -- From my perspective, I think it's better to wade in rather than jump in.
Let me know if this helps give you the direction you are looking for and if I can offer any more info.
-- bebe
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from the Supplements - which supplements do you take thread (second post):
SUPPLEMENTS - my general recommendations
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BASIC KEY SUPPLEMENTS
Note: the supplements in this section are all "essential" because your body is not able to make them on it's own (it can make 5mg of COQ10 a day, but that's not enough) -- Within this first section, I've listed them in order by first choice, second choice, etc. -- That said, everyone has their own unique supplement needs. -- bebe
Essential-1 with 3,000 IU Vitamin D, alternatively Elite multivitamins
* These are two multivitamins that Andrew offers. I take the Elite but my parents take the Essential-1 (my mom hates taking pills). -- I'd recommend starting off with the Essential-1 with 3,000 IU Vitamin D because it's a lot more affordable and it's a great way to try out Andrew's line. -- The Essential-1 with 3,000 IU Vitamin D is fairly new to Andrew's line (360 capsules for $100) and I recommend it over the older Essential-1 (360 capsules for $900) because. If you are of average weight the 3000 IU of Vitamin D should give you your needed Vitamin D dose for the day (if you are overweight, you may need 4000-6000 IU of Vitamin D daily). -- The Essential-1 with 3,000 IU Vitamin D may well be Andrew's very best vitamin value. Honestly, I think he may be offering this as a loss leader because I don't see how he can make any money on this supplement. -- Usually Andrew offers an Essential-1 TS once a year, but he didn't this year.
Omega-3
* Nordic Naturals 8oz bottle of liquid Omega-3 with Vitamin D ($23) -- don't get the concentrated "Ultra" formula because they charge you extra for concentrating the Omega-3 dose. -- While the Procaps Elite includes Omega-3 capsules, the Essential-1 does not. -- Andrew offers a great Omega-3 TS in April but, until then, the Nordic Naturals is your best bet. Both Andrew and Nordic Naturals use the more expensive (and 2-3 times more bioavailable) triglyceride form of Omega-3. -- Take one teaspoon of the Nordic Naturals dairy (about 1.3 grams of EPA & DHA combined). -- EPA, in particular is concentrated in both your brain and your eyes -- Most good research recommends 1/2 gm to 1gm of Omega-3 daily. -- TS special in April
COQ10 (as ubiquinone)
* COQ10 provides the mitachondria in each cell in your body the energy ith needs to run efficiently: COQ10 is to the body as gas is to your car. -- COQ10 is fat soluble so take it with a bit of fat. Omega-3 or Phosphatidyl Choline are both fine 9as would be olive oil or coconut oil). -- I take my vitamins in divided doses in the morning and the evening. This is because the half life of most multivitamins is around 12 hours (i.e. 50% of the active ingredients are still bioavailable after 12 hours in the body). Since Andrew's COQ10 has a number of additional beneficial "multi" ingredients, I'd suggest taking the Essential-1 in the morning and COQ10 in the evening. -- Andrew also sells the much more expensive TruQ10 (ubiquinal), but recommends people go with the less expensive ubiquinone version. He says the possible better ubiquinal results do ot justify the huge price increase. -- TS for ubiquinone is usually in October.
Vitamin D
* if you are overweight you will need extra Vitamin D because Vitamin D gets trapped in omentum fat in your belly. -- Vitamin D is fat soluble. -- Frequently an October TS and sometimes bundled with Calcium / Magnesium.
Calcium / Magnesium
The guidelines for women are 1,000 mg daily, but some go up to 1,500 mg for post menopausal women. Last year Andrew started suggesting that people only take 500 mg total cal/mag supplements daily since there is so much hidden calcium in various prepared foods (e.g. orange juice and milk). -- Your body cannot absorb more that 500 mg of calcium at a time. If you give it more in a single dose... it actually absorbs less (yup, less!). -- So you need to get a good understanding of how much calcium you are eating in your food on a regular basis and supplement accordingly. -- Without Vitamin D in your system, only about 10% of calcium is absorbed. -- Frequently an October TS and sometimes bundled with Vitamin D.
Phosphatidyl Choline
* Andrew had only done a TS on this once, and that was a number of years back. I'm always puzzled about why this doesn't get included in a TS because Procaps reps have told me that Andrew takes 3 servings a day of PC and regularly talks about how important it is. -- PC comprises two-thirds of the liver cells membranes so it controls the toxins that go in and out of your liver as they are filtered by it. PC is also a key phospholipid in your brain. -- Purchase the PC granules as opposed to the capsules because they contain at least 500% more key ingredients. -- I think just starting out with one serving a day is just fine.
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@willdob3 wrote:Good list of supplements, @bebe777 ! Very close to what I take. It is nice to know there are others who research all this in great detail in the quest for optimal health. It can almost become a full time job. There is no one in my "real" life who does anything close to this...
...Though my uncle, in his 70s, does surprise me by coming up with some similar supplements & natural alternatives. He is, without a doubt, my most interesting & "cool" relative. He seems to feel the same way about me. We spend a lot of time on the phone discussing everything under the sun!
@willdob3, thank you for your kind words.
About ten years ago PBS started having all these health specials and Oprah had Dr Oz on regularly, so I slowly did a health and nutritional overview. About three years in I came across Andrew on HSN and he's become an important part of my health education. These days it's an avocation which I enjoy and it pays great dividends in better health and well being.
I really enjoy this forum and I learn a lot from everyone here.
@willdob3, congrats on taking responsability for living your best and healthiest life!!
-- bebe
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