Nutritional Supplements in Costa Rica.
There was a study done years ago where a group of nutritionists were tasked to create a 24-hour meal plan that was edible and complete within the RDA guidelines. Despite their best efforts these nutritionists could not meet both goals.
This was my basic pitch for over ten years working in the Fitness Industry, convincing my clients they needed a daily multivitamin, and then eventually other supplements. Most of the time it worked, and I would even say that without exception, everyone I put on a multivitamin probably needed it. Even past Surgeon Generals have decreed Americans need to take their “multis.”
That said, I knew multivitamin was a gateway supplement. Once I got you taking one, especially in the Western tradition of popping pills, I knew I could get you to take most of what I suggested. Most of the time [stress: most] I felt good about what I told others to take.
In the long run, however, I found the results did not meet the cost with most supplements and in the last few years I was very frank with customers about my experience and feelings; not the strongest sales tactic but I couldn’t help it. I’m not a good liar and I needed to sleep at night. That said I still think highly of taking a multi.
There’s no two ways about it. Americans (the U.S. variety) love their pills. We take pills for everything, pharmaceutical or supplemental, sometimes medical, sometimes abusive. I panicked some time back, when my supply of Excedrin-Migrane whittled to nothing, and I ran out of allergy medication.
It’s been over five months and my life has suffered no loss except for the loss to my spending so much on regularly taking those pills with disregard. I am free from them.
All that said, personal bias aside for the moment, the question came up recently about where could expats find their trusted enzyme treatments, vitamins, minerals, and workout routine boosters? The reality is many actually do need the pills they take and the prospect of living in a place where they may not find what they need is a sticking point on their decision to jump.
Never fear. There are several options throughout Costa Rica for keeping with your nutritional regimen, albeit you may find that once you live here and get on a better diet, your need for all those pills may decrease.
For starters, many are familiar with the chain GNC, found worldwide. GNC even has a page dedicated to finding locations worldwide where I found locations throughout the Central Valley and elsewhere… You can find the GNC Store Locator here.
For the expats living in the central valley, Alajuela, and even in beach towns like Jaco, Tamarindo, and Coco they will find most of what they need here. The great thing about GNC is their network. If they don’t have it in their shop they can likely get it for you if you tell them what you want, but you may have to know the Spanish name for your supps.
I find the locations here pretty much resemble what we have at home. If there is a specific item you want to make sure they carry here before buying your plane ticket, you can search their Costa Rica site to make sure it’s already something they stock. If not at your location, it may be across town at another location.
GNC is not, however, on the Caribbean side of the country. If Limon, Puerto Viejo, or Guapiles is your destination paradise then you will not be shopping at GNC locally. Never fear! GNC has a partnership with a local farmacia, much like they do in the states, where they shelve GNC products.
There are many others, but Fischel is the one I familiar with, and they are everywhere with multiple locations in every province: San Jose, Alajuela, Heredia, Carthage, Guanacaste, Puntarenas and Limon.
If Spanish still isn’t your strongest hobby, I would suggest getting a translator for your browser. Google has a nice one as a stand-alone or browser feature. Even though I speak Spanish I use Chrome which has a built-in translator setting. It translates whole internet pages into English as they load.
Muling is a third option. This is done commonly, through known parties, and networked ones. There is nothing illegal about having somebody bring a few legal items through customs. The customs people may prefer that they were claimed, but if the stash is personal supply sized, then they will say nothing. That said, chub-packs of pill bottles may draw a raised eyebrow and incite a tax.
If you don’t have many friends who plan to come to visit you in your new home you can work through sites like this one and Facebook to connect with mules. Many expats know the value of bringing goods back and will do it for either a small fee or for free.
Where my wife and I live there is an online Facebook community page called “Tamarindo Garage Sale” a place for selling and buying goods or services. Listings on the page about “looking for someone coming back” are frequent and effective.
The option to have things shipped via UPS, JetBox, Aerocasillas, Mailboxes Etc, or any other service is possible but not without hang-ups: expensive and time-consuming. I don’t recommend shipping into Costa Rica.
Beyond the general lack of addresses, the taxes associated with any package that draws attention can be ridiculous, and because of this, in our short time here my wife and I have had several packages get stalled for prolonged periods of time.
If GNC is not your supp-of-tea, because they are just so much corporate America, if pharmacies make you sick, if social networking for mules makes you feel like Pablo Escobar, and if you really must live in the sticks away from all that is developed and comforting, don’t worry… you are not totally stuck-on-a-line.
As a developing country Costa Rica is full of Mom and Pop stores which can be found anywhere there are people. Although usually found in only areas of commerce, I am never surprised of what I find here, many times run by the very people who moved here from parts unknown to find a better life, people such as yourself. You may find yourself the new Marquis of Supplements for the pueblo known as: Anywhere, Costa Rica.
On the other hand, in the long run you may find, as I have found, that the things you once took are less needed in this place; maybe not needed at all. Before leaving the States, my wife took every pill and cream she could get her hands on to reduce the random bruising that used to randomly appear on her arms and legs.
Since living here the bruising has all but stopped and she is popping less pills than ever. It’s no secret my opinion on diet is that your intake is most of the picture.
Written by VIP Member Damon Mitchell who spent over 10 years in the fitness industry before he moved to Costa Rica in search of a better work/life balance. Currently he lives in Playa Tamarindo in Guanacaste, where he and his wife Cristina are owner-operators of Pizza&Co pizza express, located in Plaza Conchal 2.
Daily, Damon runs on the beach or works out at Tamarindo Fitness Center, keeping fit by doing a combination of old-school weight lifting, calisthenics, TRX, stability ball work and just about anything he can do to create new and fun exercises. Most recently he is learning to surf.
You can email Damon here if there is anything specific about staying fit and healthy in Costa Rica you would like him to cover in his next article.
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Nutritional Supplements in Costa Rica.
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Andrew Makarik
to@welovecostarica.comAndrew Makarik is the main editor of WeLoveCostaRica, a fan of this sunny country. He is also a loving husband and a has a lovely daughter. By being a devoted family man and the biggest Costa Rica fan, he wants to make more people feel at home there. WeLoveCostaRica unites people and helps them find new home or a new travel destination. This website is a friendly community where everyone can find not only information, but also new friends and travel pals. Andrew is also passionate about IT and programming, so he himself maintains a friendly atmosphere in this cozy environment of WeLoveCostaRica.com.
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