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14 Signs Your Supplements Are Working

By Ethan Boldt

June 10, 2025

You don’t take supplements just to take them. You hope to see some kind of improvement in your health and body, including to simply feel better and experience general wellness. Perhaps you also seek to reach specific goals, such as weight loss or better joint health. Or you’re simply addressing a common nutrient shortfall.

As a reflection of these goals, you’ve likely built a supplement routine that ideally can help you reach them. For example, maybe it’s a multivitamin for overall wellness, collagen capsules for your skin health and ashwagandha for stress relief.

Before you assess how well they’re working for you, it’s important to say that any worthy supplement needs to be taken routinely for it to be effective. Therefore, make sure it’s part of a daily routine, such as always taking most of your supplements with breakfast (the easiest way to make sure you don’t skip your supplements).

In general, how long does it take for supplements to be effective? While some supplements can show minor improvements in health outcomes after just a couple of weeks, the general suggestion is to wait at least a month and up to three months to determine how well a supplement is working for you.

But how can you tell your supplements are working for you? Signs may include more energy, improved gut health, a leaner physique and a boosted mood. Maybe improvements in your skin, hair and nails.

Let’s examine the many signs of effective supplementation along with the related supplements.

Before starting any new supplement, consult with a healthcare professional to make sure the supplement is suitable for your needs.

1. Positive changes in skin, hair and nails

The most common supplement taken for skin, hair and nail health is collagen. For example, collagen loss and reduced elastin can lead to premature wrinkles as we age.

Since the body generally starts naturally producing less collagen in your 30s (and beyond), it’s a good idea to supplement with collagen since it’s a protein-related building block of healthy skin.

Ancient Nutrition’s Multi Collagen Protein features a key clinically validated ingredient that gives multiple results,, including reducing the appearance of crow’s feet around the eyes in as little as four weeks, healthy hair thickness and growth promotion with reduced hair breakage, skin elasticity and skin tone support, and stronger nails.

Hydrated skin is also a goal for many. Ancient Nutrition's Multi Collagen Advanced Hydrate Powder (lemon lime or mixed berry flavor) supplement helps you achieve rapid hydration for your skin and body. It carries many of the same claims of regular Multi Collagen Protein.

Ancient Nutrition’s Hair Growth + Collagen capsules use a proprietary blend which includes key clinically validated superfoods plus collagen to help one get visibly thicker hair. This supplement also reduces hair breakage and supports a healthy hair growth cycle. It also supports skin and nail health.

Checklist of signs your skin-related supplement* is working:

• Improves the appearance of crow’s feet after 4 weeks

• Greater skin elasticity, radiance and smoothness

• More firm, glossy and moisturized skin

• Healthy hair thickness and growth

• Less hair breakage

• More shiny, glossy hair

• Glossy, stronger nails

*Typically, it’s recommended to use a new product for at least 90 days to give your body time to adjust and respond.

2. Joint support

Collagen is also a popular supplement for joint health, as it helps to support joints, ligaments, tendons and cartilage, which all facilitate normal mobility, flexibility and strength.

Consuming certain collagen supplements such as Multi Collagen Protein and Multi Collagen Advanced has been shown to help reduce stiffness (such as knee stiffness) in as little as one week, making it easier to stay active.

Multi Collagen Joint & Mobility was designed to support more comfortable, mobile joints. It also decreases exercise-induced joint discomfort.

Meanwhile, Ancient Nutrition’s Organic Turmeric was also designed for more comfortable, mobile joints and can reduce joint discomfort by day five.

Checklist of signs your joint-related supplement is working:

• Improves joint mobility

• Reduces joint tenderness

• Less exercise-induced joint discomfort

• Less knee stiffness

• Speeds up joint recovery

3. Improved digestive health

Gut health is a major point of health emphasis for many of us. Signs of a healthy gut include efficient digestion, regular bowel movements, less bloating and gas, balanced gut microbiota, a strong intestinal barrier and normal immune system function.

To help accomplish this, probiotic supplements are a common choice. Probiotics are beneficial bacteria that can help to populate the gut with “friendly” microorganisms, thereby promoting overall gut and immune system health and functions. Probiotics can be found in fermented foods, too.

SBO (soil-based organism) probiotics supplements contain hardy microbial strains that are capable of making their way to the right place in the gut. Ancient Nutrition's SBO probiotic formulas help reduce occasional constipation, gas and bloating. You may also want formulas for women or men, or even once dailies.

Fiber supplements are also relied upon by some to aid with occasional constipation. Ancient Nutrition's Organic Fiber (available in pineapple mango and raspberry lemonade flavors) is a gentle-acting, easy-to-mix fiber powder that helps reduce occasional constipation, gas and bloating. It also promotes proper digestion, a feeling of fullness (satiety) and intestinal well-being.

Bovine colostrum supplements support the gut by promoting a healthy intestinal barrier function and encouraging beneficial bacteria to grow. Promoting gut lining health alongside healthy microbial balance (the balance of “good” bacteria to “bad” bacteria) gives your body an extra layer of benefits, including reducing occasional constipation, gas and bloating.

Ancient Nutrition’s Colostrum comes in unflavored powder form, lemon bar flavor as well as colostrum collagen capsules. The latter takes a three-in-one approach to helping gut health and decreasing bloat with nourishing colostrum, a clinically validated collagen ingredient and SBO probiotics in every serving.

Checklist of signs your gut-related supplement is working:

• Healthy digestive function

• Less occasional constipation, gas and bloating

• Healthy bowel transit time

• Healthy elimination

4. Healthy weight management, including increased metabolism

Seeking to lose weight or manage a healthy weight requires a combination of exercise and diet, with supplements potentially part of the mix.

It’s important to recognize that sustainable weight loss typically means losing about 1 to 2 pounds a week. Unrealistic expectations can also set you up for failure, such as abandoning your supplement routine before you’ve given it a chance to work.

Featuring collagen from 10 food-based sources, Ancient Nutrition’s Multi Collagen Advanced Lean Capsules is a supplement with a weight loss ingredient that helps you burn calories and boost your metabolism. The key clinically validated ingredient can cause six times more weight loss than diet and exercise alone. The Multi Collagen Advanced Lean powder (cinnamon flavor) is another healthy weight management supplement and also helps combat cravings.

Meanwhile, Ancient Nutrition’s Whey Protein + Fat Loss* Blend supports a healthy, lean body composition, reduces body fat percentage, and also helps burn calories and boost metabolism.

These two powder supplements use a fat loss superfood blend of organic ashwagandha and organic Ceylon cinnamon. These clinically studied ingredients work together to boost metabolism, support a healthy appetite and help reduce body fat percentage.

Checklist of signs your weight loss–related supplement is working:

• More weight loss than just with diet and exercise alone

• More weight and hip reduction than with diet and exercise alone

5. Boost lean muscle mass

Muscles serve a lot of function beyond just boosting one’s physique goals. More muscle tissue means your body burns more calories at rest, plus can help with balance, athletic performance and just everyday life.

To help boost lean muscle mass, many of us turn to protein supplements. Among many options, whey protein is considered one of the most effective protein supplements because it can be a more absorbable source of high protein than nearly any other type of food or supplement. Muscles can simply recover, rebuild and remain strong better with whey (in addition to a healthy diet and lifestyle, including regular muscle-building exercise).

Impressively, studies show that whey protein benefits include helping individuals maintain muscle mass even when under calorie restriction, plus promote healthy, strong muscles as one ages.

Ancient Nutrition’s Whey Protein combines high-quality whey protein, plus added organic regenerative A2/A2 milk protein and a key clinically validated eggshell membrane collagen into one supplement. Each scoop delivers 23 grams of protein, and it’s available in vanilla bean, milk chocolate and chocolate peanut butter flavors.

Meanwhile, Multi Collagen Advanced Muscle capsules use a key clinically validated ingredient to boost lean body mass. It features a proprietary muscle building blend, and it should be used with regular, muscle-building exercise.

Checklist of signs your muscle-building supplement is working:

• Getting stronger

• Increased lean muscle mass

• Improved muscle endurance

6. Recovery from exercise

If you're a hard-charging exerciser, you are a candidate for a recovery supplement in order to help your muscles and joints recover. For example, post-workout is a good time for protein supplements, for they can promote the replenishing (with amino acids) of muscle fibers that are typically and normally broken down during exercise.

The best protein powder for workout recovery is whey protein, in part because it’s absorbed more rapidly than other types of protein. It works to build muscle while speeding up the recovery of stressed muscles after exercise.

Meanwhile, Bone Broth Protein powder is a superfood protein that supplies essential minerals and compounds, including glucosamine, chondroitin and hyaluronic acid. These components work together to support your muscles and joints, helping to support healthy muscle recovery.

Multi Collagen Protein also helps with exercise recovery, including up to 56 percent, while reducing joint stiffness and discomfort.

Checklist of signs your exercise recovery supplement is working:

• Better flexibility

• Improved exercise recovery

• Less joint discomfort and stiffness

7. Hormone balance

For women, whether or not your hormones are “in balance” can affect your overall outlook, energy, metabolism, libido, menstrual cycle and much more. Hence hormone balance supplements are popular today.

Ancient Nutrition’s Hormone Balance + Collagen capsules work by targeting key areas of hormonal health, including promoting hormonal balance during perimenopause. It helps balance estrogen levels, modulates cortisol (the stress hormone), and supports female sexual health. The powder version features a light vanilla flavor.

Ancient Nutrition's Women’s Hormone Balance supplement provides targeted support for female reproductive health, healthy energy levels, a healthy response to stress, a positive mindset, mental clarity and restful sleep.

Checklist of signs your hormone balance supplement is working:

• More energy and less fatigue

• A more positive mindset

• Better mental clarity

• Better sleep

• More control over stress-related food cravings

• Adapting better to stress

• Improved sexual well-being

8. Bone health support

As we get older, our bodies naturally become less efficient at producing new bone tissue. This can lead to a gradual decrease in bone density, which is normal.

This is especially true for women (compared to men), who can typically see bone density impacted after menopause.

Therefore, many of us select a bone health supplement, such as a calcium supplement. This mineral is one of the most important nutrients to support healthy bones, for it's the building block of bone.

Ancient Nutrients Calcium uses a body-ready, food-sourced form of calcium that’s made without dairy. It also features vitamin D3, which, in general, acts as a supporting role in the body’s absorption of calcium. (Calcium does not appear in a significant amount in any multivitamin because it’d make the multi size too large.)

Checklist of signs your bone health–related supplement is working:

• Have your bone density monitored by a healthcare professional

9. Increased energy levels

No matter your age, having high levels of energy makes an enormous difference in the quality of our life. Who doesn’t want to be more alert and less tired during the day?

As a result, supplements that can aid our energy levels are very popular, and this can include energy drinks that may include high levels of caffeine and perhaps many other unwanted ingredients.

Using Ancient Nutrition's Organic SuperGreens is a nutrient-packed way to help increase your daily greens intake and support ongoing energy. There are even mango and berry flavored super green varieties.

Ancient Nutrition’s Clean Energy contains 74 milligrams of caffeine per serving — less than a typical cup of coffee — and comes in two flavors: cherry limeade and strawberry kiwi. It’s designed to promote alertness, focus and cognitive health, plus physical performance and endurance.

Meanwhile, Testosterone Support for Women + Collagen capsules helps to balance your hormones to boost energy and stamina, improve sexual health, support a positive mood and help decrease occasional irritability.

Checklist of signs your energy-related supplement is working:

• Higher energy levels

• Improved mental alertness and focus

• Helps physical performance and endurance

10. Immune system health support

Immune system health remains a top concern for most people. Ancient Multi Immune was formulated specifically for anyone seeking to support a healthy immune system, as it features 100 percent or more Daily Value of 21 essential vitamins and minerals along with some of history’s most respected superfoods for healthy immune system support.

Checklist of signs your immune system health–related supplement* is working:

• You sustain your good health

• Higher levels of general well-being

11. Addressing a nutrient shortfall

According to some sources, it’s believed that around 30 percent of all women come up short in one or more of the most important vitamins and minerals, and for many women the risk only increases with age. In fact, some studies indicate that up to 75 percent of women would likely have nutrient shortfalls if supplemental multivitamins didn’t exist.

If you are short in a specific nutrient, you may notice not having enough energy, for example. Therefore, it can be a good idea to make sure you’re addressing common nutrient shortfalls. Check with your healthcare professional to determine what nutrient shortfalls, if any, exist.

The most common nutrient shortfalls for women are the vitamins B12 and D as well as the minerals calcium, iron, folate, iodine and magnesium. For men, it’s the same vitamins (B12 and D) and three of the minerals (calcium, iron and magnesium) but also potassium.

Most multivitamins will usually cover one’s daily requirement for those shortfalls, with the exception of calcium and magnesium.

Checklist of signs your supplement to address the nutrient shortfall is working:

• Improved energy levels

• Healthy hair and skin

• Good cognition

• Healthy immune system function

12. Stress relief

Stress doesn’t just feel bad, it’s also a major health concern when it goes unchecked. As a result, stress relief supplements are becoming more common.

Ashwagandha has long been prized for its stress-relieving effects. Ancient Nutrition’s Organic Ashwagandha offers benefits such as supporting a healthy response to physical, emotional and mental stress, supporting restful sleep, boosting energy, reducing fatigue and enhancing focus and stamina.

Ancient Nutrition’s Stress and Sleep Support supplement brings together several botanical and adaptogenic ingredients that help reduce stress, promote more restful sleep and mental relaxation.

Checklist of signs your stress-related supplement is working:

• Better sleep

• Handling stress better

• Less overeating

• Less fatigue

13. Cognitive health, including the ability to focus

As one ages, the human brain begins to lose some of its thinking and memory abilities as well as other cognitive skills. Therefore, an investment in cognitive health supplements is often a sound one.

Ancient Nutrition’s Lion's Mane Mental Clarity and Concentration supplement is a combination of organic lion’s mane and ashwagandha designed to help clear your mind and keep you focused.

Multi Collagen Protein Brain Boost includes a superfood blend that combines organic fermented ashwagandha root, ginkgo leaves and bacopa brahmi leaves, plus organic ashwagandha root and leaf extract and organic lion’s mane extract. These powerful botanicals have been used for centuries to support concentration, focus and positivity.

Checklist of your cognitive health–related supplement is working:

• The ability to clearly think (less "brain fog")

• Remembering information more easily

• Communicating more effectively

• Having a positive outlook

14. Improved sleep quality

Falling asleep easily, sleeping soundly and waking up feeling rested are critical to good health. But for many, this is not what’s happening so one may turn to certain sleep supplements.

Ancient Nutrition’s Stress and Sleep Support supplement brings together several botanical and adaptogenic ingredients that help reduce stress, promote more restful sleep and mental relaxation.

Multi Collagen Protein Beauty + Sleep supplement features botanicals like organic ashwagandha and astragalus root for restful sleep support. Ashwagandha can help alleviate the effects of stress and tension.

Checklist of signs your sleep-related supplement is working:

• Better sleep

• Feeling more mentally relaxed