Which vitamin is in your medicine cabinet

clearlydivinesounique

I'm trying to pick a good multivitamin and they're are so many choices! Gnc had their vita pac but is it overkill? Is a one a day sufficient? Uugghhh I can't choose. What does everyone here use?

raleighzia

I just ordered centrum for adults under 50 and whichever vitamins aren't provided in quantities of 100% I will supplement with my diet.

Kalikel

I take Centrum. GNC...I just don't trust that place and wouldn't buy anything from them. Their vitamins may be fine, though. I don't know.

jgnatca

As a post-bariatric patient I take a pregnancy multivitamin to get the extra folic acid, calcium citrate, iron, and vitamin D. I pick up any pregnancy multivitamin that is on the discount shelf at the pharmacy.

RodaRose

My doc has me on Folate -- brand name Solgar. Also Vit D3.

sjp_511

I take a daily prenatal multivitamin, which my doctor recommends for all women of child bearing age. My tend to buy the One-a-Day brand.

ValerieMartini2Olives

I take Aldi's brand (Wellby) multivitamin currently. I also take a fish oil and acidophilus.

lemurcat12

I take Vitamin D when it's not summer. I've thought about fish oil, but I eat lots of oily fish, so haven't convinced myself I need to yet. I eat a pretty balanced diet with lots of veggies and have never been found to have any deficiencies, so don't take anything else.

The only thing I'd caution against is supplementing iron -- you can easily overdo it (especially if you have certain conditions) and that can be serious, so I wouldn't unless I were diagnosed with an iron deficiency.

j75j75

IDLife

lalepepper

I take the supplements recommended by my doctor as far as types go - b12 (I don't get much from my diet), iron (I donate blood regularly), and fish oil. You might not even need a multivitamin - has it been recommended for you?

Horrorfox

D3, B Complex, Fish Oil, Spirulina & Chlorella.

rsclause

I keep my vitamins in the refrigerator, its produce. My mother told me long ago that if you eat good food you don't need vitamins.

lalepepper

rsclause wrote: »

I keep my vitamins in the refrigerator, its produce. My mother told me long ago that if you eat good food you don't need vitamins.

I definitely agree with trying to get as many of your vitamins and minerals directly from food. Supplements should be just that - supplementing your every day routine. Not everyone can meet all of their needs through diet due to medical issues, but most people can accomplish more with diet alone than they realize.

Horrorfox

I guarantee no one is getting all the vitamins that they should be getting daily, through just food. Eat what you normally eat, and then go get your blood work checked. I think you'd be surprised.

kk_inprogress

lalepepper wrote: »

rsclause wrote: »

I keep my vitamins in the refrigerator, its produce. My mother told me long ago that if you eat good food you don't need vitamins.

I definitely agree with trying to get as many of your vitamins and minerals directly from food. Supplements should be just that - supplementing your every day routine. Not everyone can meet all of their needs through diet due to medical issues, but most people can accomplish more with diet alone than they realize.

This. And check with your doc- if you're not deficient, then you don't need supplements. Also, all supplements aren't the same for everyone. Depending on your body and or medical conditions, you may not absorb one type of vitamin type over another.

arditarose

I like Mega Food brand for any vitamin/supplement. High quality.

clearlydivinesounique

Sadly I have low levels of vitamin d, vitamin b, and I'm ov childbearing age, and I've tried to give live 2 times and was rejected both times because my levels are low there as well soooo apparently I'm anemic too. I cramp frequently which is beginning ti indicate an electrolyte imbalance... sodium, magnesium, potassium and calcium. All of this comes up in my blood work so my doctor definitely wants me on a supplement. She prescribed a prenatal but I'm not sure it's giving me everything I need so I'm doing my research to see if there may be something a little more potent out there.

clearlydivinesounique

kkenseth wrote: »

lalepepper wrote: »

rsclause wrote: »

I keep my vitamins in the refrigerator, its produce. My mother told me long ago that if you eat good food you don't need vitamins.

I definitely agree with trying to get as many of your vitamins and minerals directly from food. Supplements should be just that - supplementing your every day routine. Not everyone can meet all of their needs through diet due to medical issues, but most people can accomplish more with diet alone than they realize.

This. And check with your doc- if you're not deficient, then you don't need supplements. Also, all supplements aren't the same for everyone. Depending on your body and or medical conditions, you may not absorb one type of vitamin type over another.

Thankfully no medical conditions...just crappy nutritional levels.

SharpTeeth

I have a medical condition, so I took Super B Complex for years + vitamin D3, but recently my doc recommended I switch to prenatal because of the iron. Still also take the D3. Very cost effective compared to the B.

kk_inprogress

clearlydivinesounique wrote: »

Sadly I have low levels of vitamin d, vitamin b, and I'm ov childbearing age, and I've tried to give live 2 times and was rejected both times because my levels are low there as well soooo apparently I'm anemic too. I cramp frequently which is beginning ti indicate an electrolyte imbalance... sodium, magnesium, potassium and calcium. All of this comes up in my blood work so my doctor definitely wants me on a supplement. She prescribed a prenatal but I'm not sure it's giving me everything I need so I'm doing my research to see if there may be something a little more potent out there.

I applaud you for doing your research! With that, I caution straying from your docs recommendations because again- they likely recommended a prenatal that has an appropriate combination for YOUR body. Prenatal covers a LOT of bases and oftentimes cheaper supplements have vitamin compounds that are harder or less efficient for uptake in the body so know what you are taking! Good luck!

Christine_72

I see a lot of women take prenatal multi's. What's the difference between those and regular vitamins?

kk_inprogress

christinev297 wrote: »

I see a lot of women take prenatal multi's. What's the difference between those and regular vitamins?

This is a generalization, but usually they have higher levels of folic acid, calcium and iron which are important for growth and prevention of neural defects. With that said, you'll find multi vitamins with 100% of your daily iron in them, sooooo....

conqueringsquidlette

I'm on a prenatal vitamin (because I'm actually TTC) and take a calcium supp too because I'm starting to get up in years enough to worry about it. Bonus: one of my meds can cause a B12 deficiency and calcium apparently keeps that from happening.

christinev297: The prenatals have more folic acid to prevent neural tube defects, for sure. I'm not sure what else is different. Mine also has DHA which supports fetal brain and eye development.

Christine_72

Thanks guys. I've noticed prenatals are a lot more expensive here too.

970Mikaela1

Flintstones

Jacqui_Runs

Gummy vitamins for adults. I'm a kid at heart. And I don't swallow correctly, so swallowing pills is difficult for me.

GreenTeaPotato

Multi-vitamins may be a waste of money at best, harmful at worst. New evidence going mainstream the past few years:

Forbes: The Top Six Vitamins You Should Not Take
http://www.forbes.com/sites/stevensalzberg/2014/01/13/the-top-six-vitamins-you-shouldnt-take/

Slate: Medical Journal Study Finds Multivitamins Are a Complete Waste of Money, Why Do We Keep Taking Them?
http://www.slate.com/blogs/the_slatest/2013/12/16/a_medical_journal_on_multivitamins_stop_wasting_your_money.html

Horrorfox

@GreenTeaPotato incorrect.

PixelPuff

@GreenTeaPotato Annddd what do you say to people like me, who are severely anemic [yoooo, iron deficiency], and take vitamins per doctor recommendation so I don't pass out?

CheriAlpers

I am actually a thriver. 3 steps in the morning and I am set foot the day. Premium high grade vitamins and feel amazing!

kk_inprogress

GreenTeaPotato wrote: »

Multi-vitamins may be a waste of money at best, harmful at worst. New evidence going mainstream the past few years:

Forbes: The Top Six Vitamins You Should Not Take
http://www.forbes.com/sites/stevensalzberg/2014/01/13/the-top-six-vitamins-you-shouldnt-take/

Slate: Medical Journal Study Finds Multivitamins Are a Complete Waste of Money, Why Do We Keep Taking Them?
http://www.slate.com/blogs/the_slatest/2013/12/16/a_medical_journal_on_multivitamins_stop_wasting_your_money.html

I think they are vastly over utilized and utilized inappropriately. That doesn't mean someone with a single deficiency or multiple deficiencies won't benefit from supplementation, as above posters alluding to.