Q&A with Burman’s Product Mastermind and General Manager Ted Mattews
If you’ve shopped in-store at Burman’s Health Shop (or even online) and interacted with Ted Matthews, your experience was likely educational. Ted has been the general manager at Burman’s for more than five years. With his extensive research and remarkable knowledge of natural healing, wellness, fitness, and nutrition, Ted is a goldmine of information.
I had the opportunity to sit down with Ted and learn a little more about how he became so knowledgeable and how he uses his expertise to guide Burman’s customers along their personal health journeys.
When did you become interested in natural healing and wellness?
I grew up in a typical household where our normal dinners were pizza, cheesesteaks, burgers, etc. Around 18, I found my way into a local gym and started messing around with weightlifting. Because it was such a new stimulus for my body, I responded very quickly and positively as far as my body composition goes.
The only thing I knew about dieting at that point was I needed to eat as much protein as possible to get my strength and muscle to respond favorably. As time went on, I started to look for any added edge I could get, which is when I started researching sport supplements and experimenting with those. That was my first introduction to vitamins and supplements.
What did you learn about wellness as a bodybuilder and powerlifter?
I learned that anyone can go into a gym for an hour 4-5 times a week. That’s the easy and fun part. It’s the other 23 hours of the day that determine your progress. The gym breaks down muscle, and it’s our recovery and diet that repair and rebuild our bodies to come back bigger and stronger.
This can be applied to all areas of life. Stress and work and illness break us down. It’s how we choose to offset that with nutrition and supplements that let you come back stronger. If you do things often enough, they become habits. As humans, we can create both good habits and bad habits. It’s all about balance and finding a happy medium.
Are there any Burman’s products that stand out to you now that you would have loved to have in your gym bag?
Being younger and more resilient, you sometimes don’t feel bad or you bounce back faster, but there are a few things now that would have improved my health back then.
I would have taken fish oil for cardiovascular health and for its inflammatory effects. We also have a good Vitamin D3 + K2 combination, which improves so many functions in the human body, but most notably, it is great for bone health. Vitamin K2 transports calcium into the bones and teeth. Sometimes people can get calcified arteries and blockages, and Vitamin K2 reduces these risks.
I would have also loved to have our CBD muscle rub. I use our CBD muscle rub pretty often, and it is great quality. I repeat, great quality. Quality CBD can be a game changer. I’m a huge advocate for full-spectrum CBD oil. The main purpose of a properly dosed and tested CBD is that it interacts with the endocannabinoid system to regulate any imbalances in our normal regulatory functions. It has been shown to interact with 5HT/glutamate receptors in the prefrontal cortex, providing a fast and antidepressant effect.
What is your daily regimen now (products, workouts, etc.)?
My staples for health are always a high-protein diet that consists of chicken, eggs, lean meats, and nuts. I also incorporate low-glycemic carbs: sweet potatoes, brown rice, oatmeal, and healthy fats like EVOO, nuts, and coconut oil.
I try to weight train 4-5 times a week and have been focusing a little more on cardio and endurance lately, so I incorporate some form of cardio 30 minutes a day, 4-5 times a week.
My supplements change depending on my current goals, but I always take a high-quality omega 3, magnesium glycinate, and ashwagandha. Ashwagandha is an herb that controls our body’s cortisol levels (the body’s stress hormone).
I’m always changing and trying new stuff out for performance-enhancing effects. I use a pre-workout powder for extra energy and focus. Currently I am using Rowdy by Freedom Formulations, and that’s an extremely potent energy enhancer. I also sip on a liquid EAA (Essential Amino Acid) or Intra Workout drink for my longer workouts to keep me going. Within 45 minutes after training, I drink a whey protein shake to shuttle amino acids quickly into my muscles to start the recovery process.
I’m interested in not only physical performance, but mental performance as well. I like to use nootropics (EndoCure Fuel), Lions Mane Mushrooms, and noopept (Neuropep by Pure Life). Those are just a few products I use to keep me sharp, boost my memory, and help with verbal fluency and mood. The better our moods, the better our brains can function every day.
What advice would you give someone dealing with an ailment and looking for natural healing? Or someone who wants to up their wellness game and find the right products?
Something I always tell someone dealing with an ailment and looking for natural healing: Try and identify your specific needs and goals, and of course, do your research. We have never experienced a better time to find information.
On the flip side, not all information is good information, so you have to trust your sources. Talk to someone with extensive knowledge of supplements and decide whether it’s worth exploring further. Consult with your doctor about serious medical conditions. Vitamins and supplements can support your goals, but they are not magic pills that offset a bad diet and lack of exercise. They are pieces of a puzzle, and you need all the pieces to complete the big picture.
Want to learn more about our best-selling products for health and wellness? Contact Ted and the product experts at Burman’s!
Disclaimer:
The statements made regarding these products have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. The efficacy of these products has not been confirmed by FDA-approved research. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. All information presented here is not meant as a substitute for or alternative to information from health care practitioners. Please consult your health care professional about potential interactions or other possible complications before using any product. The Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act requires this notice.