Supplements - what do you take/don't take?

I take Vits A - E - I was diagnosed earlier this year with a Vit D deficiency, I am really prone to mouth ulcers (including one I had in my throat recently - miserable) blood work is fine but evidence suggests could be a Vit B deficiency (I have them less now I have started taking a complex B vitamin). I also take A and E as they help with Vit D absorption and I take Vit C with Zinc as an immune system boost (although I am well aware that it's negligible that it helps) but it doesn't do me any harm. I generally alternate the Vit B and E to every other day as that's what works for me.

I'm vegetarian so haven't found a suitable fish oil alternative but used to take those.

Obviously, ideally I wouldn't take any and I would be able to get all of this from food and environment but in my experience it doesn't always work like that, sometimes your body just screws up.

Fish oil
Vit D
Cranberry (I use to get UTI's all the time and someone suggested I take cranberry right before bed and it would help, I started doing this a decade ago and I have yet to have one since)
Folic acid
Bioten
And melatonin to sleep

tayloralanj wrote: »

rainbowbow wrote: »

besee_2000 wrote: »

I've been playing around with a few.
Fish Oil
Vit D
Maca Root
Gotu Kola
L-carinthe
BCAA
5-HTP
GABA
Alpha-lipoic acid
Caffeine
Magnesium
sometimes
Garlic Oil/Green Tea/ CLA

I find it a hobby and like to monitor how I feel throughout the week.

be careful with that one.

Maca root, what gives?

This has turned into a great string, thanks everybody. I can see a wide range of uses/supps/outlooks, much appreciated.

besee_2000, how's all that working out for you?

I'm similar, I read stuff off the net/youtube,,,,so sources probably aren't objective,,,just trying to get an idea of what's out there and what works for what. I'm trying Omega 3 Fish Oil and CLA right now and sporadically use some protein powders, BCAAs, creatine and aminos here and there. I'm not sure anything really does anything for me. What has done wonders is not eating crap and training and drinking water. WTF!

Maca root is generally believed to enhance sexual desire and hormonal embalances. Some women take it to increase fertility as well.

It may act in a similar way to estrogen in the body and may cause issues with birth control and conception.

How's the CLA working for those who are taking it?

What I take depends a lot of what goes on sale at work and what customers return. I work at a health food store, and us employees get to have any and all returns for free once we get credit back from the companies whose items were returned. I got $60 worth of free protein powder this way last weekend.

That said, the supplements that I always take, and that I buy on my own when I run out are:
- a daily multivitamin
- A daily probiotic capsule
- Fish oil (I get to order three products of my choice from Nordic Naturals every quarter for free)
- Protein powder on the days that I work out
- digestive enzymes (usually only taken when I eat something that didn't agree with me)

Before workout and generally every day:
Vit C - 1000
Vit D - 1000 IU
CoQ10 - 100 or 200 mg

Whey protein isolate post workout

Chromium picolinate periodically
Melatonin periodically for sleep (BTW, ZMA also helps with sleep)

Multivit periodically

R

SarahxApple wrote: »

I'm vegetarian so haven't found a suitable fish oil alternative but used to take those.

Flaxseed oil is supposed to be a decent substitute

Multi vitamin (cheap insurance policy!).
Fish oil capsule.
Glucosamine and chondroitin (to support my various joint injuries).
Vitamin D capsule when I'm not getting any sunshine.

Whey protein once in a while to supplement on days when I feel my protein intake is low or to aid recovery from extreme exercise.

multivitamin, coq10, zyflamend, and right now sublingual b12

I'm surprised that no one has mentioned zyflamend. I'm a big fan.

tayloralanj wrote: »

besee_2000, how's all that working out for you?

Fish Oil + Vit D The oil helps absorption for Vit D and maybe a few others. I take a few of these on an empty stomach (yeah yeah yeah, eat with a meal for better absorption. Well i don't play by your rules!) In the beginning it helped my mood a lot but the effect has tapered since.
Maca Root Yes its for libido, kinda worked but over time that too has dulled.
Gotu Kola Heard on a podcast it helps skin if taken over months of time. It was cheap and if it helps tighten skin well hells yes (I know this is probably BS but its my hobby!)
L-carninthe Got this spelled wrong I'm sure, but I think it gives me an edge in my Crossfit WOD
BCAA Great help with fasting. Hunger pangs dilute nicely with it
5-HTP another mood one. I cycle on and off but on off days I can feel depression/no motivation start to sink in
GABA Don't notice much with this but I hope it helps with sleep and muscle repair. I don' take it every night.
Alpha-lipoic acid I smell this in the urine but I can't remember exact details but it helps detox body for like lactic acid build up and environment troubles
Caffeine FAVORITE
Magnesium Rest, recovery, and hope to reverse birth control residuals
sometimes
Garlic Oil/Green Tea/ CLA To buffer bad eating days

Now I will note I don't get sick. I don't use an alarm clock and wake up on time. I also feel I recover from muscle soreness well enough despite 6-7days/week workouts. I'm not an athlete but I do pretty well.

Up until about 2 months ago I took pre-workout before every session, protein shake & Aminos after every session.

As I've grown increasingly concerned to the longer term health of my organs I've pretty much dropped everything aside from pre workout when I train in a morning after an evening session the night before (once a week tops) & some protein powder mixed in with my pancake batter (ie one shakes worth over 2 days). Dropped the Aminos altogether

PRE Platinum (pre-workout drink)
Multi vitamin
Fish oil
Whey Protein powder (ON Gold Standard)
ZMA

I take probiotics and vitamin D. I have some digestive issues and the probiotics are helpful. It's hard for me to get enough vitamin D from the sun, and my levels are low.

Multivitamin.
Fish oil
Green tea extract
Whey protein

Pre workout NO3 BCAA mix

MCT or coconut oil
Fish oil
Baby aspirin
85% dark chocolate and pistachio nuts daily for heart health. I eat them as a prevention thing so I call it a nutritional supplement to my diet wether I want to eat it or not.

It works for me

110 over 60's bp

Resting heart rate around 48-52

Hard to tell how much is a result of exercise only or the addition of diet and supplements to exercise.

I don't quibble with success

It works.