Vitamins What do you take and why?

smp0723 · October 2013

Vemma. It's a liquid vitamin supplement. I can't take multi vitamins-my stomach can't handle them. This is first vitamin I have been able to take in 30 years that I don't get sick on.

I started using the BODE products after watching Extreme Weight Loss edition - amazing results so I thought, if they can do it, so can I!

I definitely feel better!

gigglesinthesun · October 2013

I am looking for true life testimonies on what you take and why it helps. Thanks in advance.

I am due for bypass surgery in a few months and want to know how they have helped other than just giving me the nutrients.

I currently take potassium because my diet doesn't have a lot of high potassium foods. I have also noticed that when i do take it regularly i don't have the leg twitches at night due to poor circulation. So in that way it's helping me and i can see it.

I also am fighting a battle with my thyroid , to which i have a hard time with the Synthroid i take.

why don't you just tested whether you have any actual deficiencies, before you start taking pills? Also be aware that some supplements do interfere with medications, so check before you take it.

there are guides on the web, the University of Maryland has a comprehensive one, but I am not sure on how good it actually is.
http://umm.edu/health/medical/altmed

HeadsPoppingOutOfCups · October 2013

Multivitamin, calcium, fish/flaxeed oil, and glucosamine for the grinding in my knees.

Cherimoose · October 2013

Several recent studies have shown that taking a multivitamin may be bad for you long-term and may even reduce life expectancy because of the increased stress on your liver & kidneys to process it (studies done on people taking mutli-vitamins for years).

Since you're in med school, i'm sure you've heard the phrase "correlation does not imply causation". It's entirely possible that, for example, some of them took multivitamins to self-medicate an underlying health issue, and that it's the health issue causing the mortality, not the vitamins.
This physician explains in more detail the flaws with the studies you're referring to:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/dr-mark-hyman/vitamin-dangers_b_1018430.html

Studies are frequently in disagreement. Multivitamin usage was associated with reduced cancer risk in this study (double-blind, placebo-controlled):
http://jama.jamanetwork.com/article.aspx?articleid=1380451

My take is that a multivitamin can be useful for those in a calorie deficit, since that can increase the chance of a nutrient deficit. Eating healthy 100% of the time sounds great in theory, but it isn't always feasible for some. Besides, there are different perceptions of what constitutes a "healthy" diet, and the jury is still out on who's right.

Plus, vitamins aren't regulated whatsoever, and tests have been done on reputable vitamin brands showing they contain anywhere from almost zero grams of what they claim to

Most vitamins are measured in micrograms, so i should HOPE they contain "almost zero grams"!

My understanding is that mainstream brands tend to be produced by pharmaceutical companies, and those facilities are inspected by the FDA.. so i would think their supplements are fairly high quality. Can you post links to the tests you're referring to?

laele75 · October 2013

I do not take suppliments. I try to eat as balanced of a diet as possible. You really need to consult your physician, especially pre-op, for suggestions if it is really necessary.

YaGigi · October 2013

I take a multivitamin and biotin daily. I bought some calcium and will start taking those soon. It's hard for me to get enough calcium because of my lactose interolance. The biotin is for hair, skin, and nails. I've noticed better skin, hair growth and shine with taking that one.

Thanks for the Biotin tip.

I take biotin 5000, have been taking it for years. It helps hair and nails but not to the skin. Also omega3-6-9 and vitamin D give great result to hair growth!

In addition to it i take multivitimins too. As was mentioned before natural vitamins are told to be better than the synthetic ones. I take multivitamins for skin care now, when I'm done ill start taking just multivitamins for overall health.

alisonlynn1976 · October 2013

I'm taking a multivitamin for vegetarians. I'm not certain that I actually need to, but I may not be getting enough iron and B12 through my diet, so I figure it can't hurt to make sure that I get those one way or another.

santd · October 2013

Because I suffer with arthritus as I'm now over 50, and been over weight for most of my life, my joints now pain me. Even though I've now lost all of my weight (198 pounds ). Its true that you can be very over weight, and your body is still starving of nutrients. Usually due too poor choices in food. A healthy diet with plenty of raw veggies in will give you what you need, plus a small portion of walnuts, pecan nuts, and almond nuts for omega 3. Your salmon, any oily fish for omega 6.

I do take supplements for my joints, as I've just had another knee operation.

I don't eat meat, so I also take iron and folic acid. I also take vitimin c in high doses, as it helps to guard against cancers.

Hope all goes well having your bypass......I'm presuming gastric ? They will put you on vitamins in any case, as you'll be living on soups for the first month. Good luck.

MMBoeck · October 2013

I don't take anything. I make sure to eat plenty of veggies, leafy greens for calcium, and lots of healthy fats, and I don't have any health conditions, so there's no reason I need any supplements. Several recent studies have shown that taking a multivitamin may be bad for you long-term and may even reduce life expectancy because of the increased stress on your liver & kidneys to process it (studies done on people taking mutli-vitamins for years). Plus, vitamins aren't regulated whatsoever, and tests have been done on reputable vitamin brands showing they contain anywhere from almost zero grams of what they claim to, or almost 100x the amount they claim to. Not worth the risk to my health of overtaxing my body, or the expense! If you take a multivitamin but you're already eating a balanced diet, you're pretty much peeing money down the toilet. I'm in med school and this is a growing philosophy among doctors. Not condemning anyone; just putting my research-based opinion out there!

thank you for your input. I like all types and appreciate you taking the time to reply when it's especially adverse to most replies.

MMBoeck · October 2013

Because I suffer with arthritus as I'm now over 50, and been over weight for most of my life, my joints now pain me. Even though I've now lost all of my weight (198 pounds ). Its true that you can be very over weight, and your body is still starving of nutrients. Usually due too poor choices in food. A healthy diet with plenty of raw veggies in will give you what you need, plus a small portion of walnuts, pecan nuts, and almond nuts for omega 3. Your salmon, any oily fish for omega 6.

I do take supplements for my joints, as I've just had another knee operation.

I don't eat meat, so I also take iron and folic acid. I also take vitimin c in high doses, as it helps to guard against cancers.

Hope all goes well having your bypass......I'm presuming gastric ? They will put you on vitamins in any case, as you'll be living on soups for the first month. Good luck.

Thank you for sharing your experiences. Yes Gastric and thus the reason i am asking about vitamins, because they say i will be on them the rest of my life and I find that hard to swallow. I know i will have to use them to supplement in the beginning but I plan on overall not having to be on them if possible. The nutritionist i am working with is about changing my eating habits not just putting me on a diet. I actually am enjoying the new food choices. Now that i am an empty nester i don't feel the guilt of trying to eat just for me and am enjoying the things i want. Although i can't get my husband to eat spinach or squash with me LOL

MMBoeck · October 2013

I take a multivitamin and biotin daily. I bought some calcium and will start taking those soon. It's hard for me to get enough calcium because of my lactose interolance. The biotin is for hair, skin, and nails. I've noticed better skin, hair growth and shine with taking that one.

Thanks for the Biotin tip.

I take biotin 5000, have been taking it for years. It helps hair and nails but not to the skin. Also omega3-6-9 and vitamin D give great result to hair growth!

In addition to it i take multivitimins too. As was mentioned before natural vitamins are told to be better than the synthetic ones. I take multivitamins for skin care now, when I'm done ill start taking just multivitamins for overall health.

Thank you for the additional advice!

MMBoeck · October 2013

I am looking for true life testimonies on what you take and why it helps. Thanks in advance.

I am due for bypass surgery in a few months and want to know how they have helped other than just giving me the nutrients.

I currently take potassium because my diet doesn't have a lot of high potassium foods. I have also noticed that when i do take it regularly i don't have the leg twitches at night due to poor circulation. So in that way it's helping me and i can see it.

I also am fighting a battle with my thyroid , to which i have a hard time with the Synthroid i take.

why don't you just tested whether you have any actual deficiencies, before you start taking pills? Also be aware that some supplements do interfere with medications, so check before you take it.

there are guides on the web, the University of Maryland has a comprehensive one, but I am not sure on how good it actually is.
http://umm.edu/health/medical/altmed

I am constantly tested and my question to you all is so i educate myself ahead of surgery, so that i have some sense of knowledge when it comes to whatever may be needed after surgery.

Vitamins What do you take and why?

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