Which vitamin is in your medicine cabinet

clearlydivinesounique
clearlydivinesounique Posts: 43 Member
in Food and Nutrition
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?
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Replies

  • raleighzia
    raleighzia Posts: 129 Member
    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
    Kalikel Posts: 9,603 Member
    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
    jgnatca Posts: 14,464 Member
    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
    RodaRose Posts: 9,562 Member
    My doc has me on Folate -- brand name Solgar. Also Vit D3.
  • sjp_511
    sjp_511 Posts: 476 Member
    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
    ValerieMartini2Olives Posts: 3,024 Member
    I take Aldi's brand (Wellby) multivitamin currently. I also take a fish oil and acidophilus.
  • lemurcat12
    lemurcat12 Posts: 30,886 Member
    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
    j75j75 Posts: 854 Member
    IDLife
  • lalepepper
    lalepepper Posts: 447 Member
    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
    Horrorfox Posts: 204 Member
    D3, B Complex, Fish Oil, Spirulina & Chlorella.
  • rsclause
    rsclause Posts: 3,103 Member
    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
    lalepepper Posts: 447 Member
    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
    Horrorfox Posts: 204 Member
    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
    kk_inprogress Posts: 3,077 Member
    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
    arditarose Posts: 15,573 Member
    I like Mega Food brand for any vitamin/supplement. High quality.
  • clearlydivinesounique
    clearlydivinesounique Posts: 43 Member
    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
    clearlydivinesounique Posts: 43 Member
    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
    SharpTeeth Posts: 22 Member
    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
    kk_inprogress Posts: 3,077 Member
    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
    Christine_72 Posts: 16,049 Member
    I see a lot of women take prenatal multi's. What's the difference between those and regular vitamins?
  • kk_inprogress
    kk_inprogress Posts: 3,077 Member
    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
    conqueringsquidlette Posts: 383 Member
    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
    Christine_72 Posts: 16,049 Member
    Thanks guys. I've noticed prenatals are a lot more expensive here too.
  • 970Mikaela1
    970Mikaela1 Posts: 2,013 Member
    Flintstones
  • Jacqui_Runs
    Jacqui_Runs Posts: 68 Member
    Gummy vitamins for adults. I'm a kid at heart. And I don't swallow correctly, so swallowing pills is difficult for me.
  • GreenTeaPotato
    GreenTeaPotato Posts: 40 Member
    edited August 2015
    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
    Horrorfox Posts: 204 Member
    @GreenTeaPotato incorrect.
  • PixelPuff
    PixelPuff Posts: 902 Member
    @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
    CheriAlpers Posts: 2 Member
    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
    kk_inprogress Posts: 3,077 Member
    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.

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