supplements that help and you notice!

I take B-12 and it makes me feel more alert and have more energy. I also take green tea extract but I am not sure if it helps any, some people claim it helps speed up your metabolism

I just started taking Flaxseed since it is 3, 6, & 9 instead of plain old Omega 3 Fish Oil. I like it!

Good question! BUMP!

Surely you should only be taking supplements if you're not eating a healthy diet?

In my view, the whole supplement industry is a huge rip-off. Eat a varied low fat diet with plenty of fruit and (unless you have a specific medical condition) you shouldn't need any supplements.

There's a book called "Bad Science" by Ben Goldacre (he writes a column for The Guardian in the UK) - recommended reading for anyone tempted by pseudoscience.

A varied diet doesn't give you everything you need. For example you get very little vitamin D from your foods, and unless you spend a great deal of time outdoors your not going to get enough of it per day.

Some of the omega 3 oils are the same way, unless your eating fish daily your not going to get what you need.

DHA found in krill or wild fish oil. This is an omega 3 fatty acid; most people are deficient in it because our diet overwhelmingly provides mostly omega 6 fatty acids--the ratio of 3 to 6 should be 1:1 whereas it's typically 1:15 We not only have to increase consumption of omega 3 but have to decrease the omega 6 fats.

This blogger compares sources--note that while ALA is an omega 3 good for infants and children, the best for all ages is DHA:

http://weightoftheevidence.blogspot.com/2006/10/omega-3-and-omega-6-food-sources.html

For instance ... http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12442909
Yes, Grandma was right about taking your cod liver oil!

ASTAXANTHIN @ 8mg daily (start with 4mg first 30 days)

SPIRULINA @ 9g daily (start with a low dose, working your way up to 10g over a two-month period)

MEGA-ZYME (Taken on empty stomach to strenghten immune system; take with food to help with digestion)

For mental health: LITHIUM OROTATE, DHEA, ST. JOHN'S WORT, and 5-HTP.

In addition to the above, I take B9, B12, B-Complex, Calcium Orotate, Magnesium Orotate, Potassium Asporotate, Zinc, Omega Plus, CoQ10, D, K2, Ester-C, Liquid Iron, Glucomannan, Krill Oil, Biothin.

I'm going to add MSM (methylsulfonylmethane): a potent antioxidant.

I would recommend readying about supplement and vitamins, regarding best combinations. I spread my supplements throughout a 12-hour period (before meal, with meal, after meals). For example, don't take B12 with your other B vitamins, don't take Iron with calcium, etc.

I weaned myself off of prescription medicine two years ago. (I was on various anti-depressants for over 20 years!) I now feel tons better. I don't feel tired. I don't take marathon naps. (On meds, I could easily sleep away weekends.)

Most important: WATER -- Stay hydrated. Let the color of your urine be your guide. It should be almost clear.

A great place to learn about supplements is MERCOLA.COM -- extremely informative web site!

I take a good multi because I know I don't always eat what I should. I take a B complex and it keeps me going, I don't have that "2:30" feeling anymore. I also take a D, it seems to keep the "blahs" away in the winter months. I am thinking about adding one of those 3-6-9 omega caps because I know I don't always get the healthy fats I should.

Last week my doc gave me some blood tests, I was low on D3 and he explained how important it is. So he gave me 1000mg of D3 twice a day to take for one month and then wants me to continue to take 1000mg once a day after that.

I have lost more this week than I have in a long time, so I hope this is that I really needed.

In the United States, it's legal to sell a supplement without proving it does anything, at all.

I take a glucoseamine/chondrotin sulfate pill for my knee - it's amazing how much it helps my joints feel better!

I also take a multivitamin because sometimes I don't get enough from my food for the day and I like to make sure I hit 100%...