I am a pro supplement guy but in terms of nutritional results a pyramid can only be as high as the base is wide. The base of nutrition looks like this:

At the base level no amount of supplement or prebiotic will produce any results until you eat it with a solid diet. High quality animal proteins, greens, rice, fats all need to be included first. You need the raw materials before you can make the diamond.

Next is to drop all the foods that leave you at a net negative in nutrients. A food either adds to your nutrient status or it takes away (point of view). Grains, sugars and processed foods take away. You don't need nearly as much zinc when you don't have anti nutrients binding to it taking it out of your body.

A food has an amplified impact depending on timing and quantity. For example, in an appropriately balanced diet carbs are not the enemy, your coach's lack of knowledge is. Carbs given at the right time can have their “weakness” used against them. A prime example is dinner. Adding carbs can help you fall asleep. The gut produces 90% of the body's serotonin. (the rest and relax neurotransmitter). Eating carbs causes the gut to produce serotonin and helps you get a good night sleep.

And when you have less of a need for zinc and no need for sleep aids like melatonin you can focus your efforts on supplementing with stuff that actually makes a difference. Vitamin D3 is a perfect example, there is a receptor site for it on every cell in the body as well as there is pretty much no disease out there that isn't effected by vitamin d. It's a cheap supplement that doesn't take a very knowledgeable customer to shop for-- unlike a probiotic or fish oil where you can almost guarantee shelf bought brads are such poor quality they probably fall into the net negative nutrient category.

Do the highest bang for your buck stuff first. Get all the right foods, ditch all the bad ones. Get your foods to work with you not against you. The same reason we want carbs at night is the exact same reason we don't want them in the morning. And get the handful of supplements that will bring everything up not just the ones being pushed in the latest sales trend.

Jeff Serven is a strength coach who trains NFL and NHL Professional players. He is also a former Navy SEAL who served actively for nearly a decade. Jeff specializes in GST, Nutrition and Olympic Lifting and getting clients results.