Vitamins Supplements: cure or con?
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Vitamins Supplements: cure or con?
I watched a programme earlier that I'd recorded the other week, which was on about how only 1% of the public needs to take a vitamin supplement and it's basically a waste of money for the majority.
I'm sure a lot of people who do take a vitamin or some other supplement have no idea whether it's helping them or not, so just wondered who of you do take one and do you think it helps?
I'm sure a lot of people who do take a vitamin or some other supplement have no idea whether it's helping them or not, so just wondered who of you do take one and do you think it helps?
Re: Vitamins Supplements: cure or con?
With the exception of Vitamin D they are a complete waste of time for the vast majority of the population
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Re: Vitamins Supplements: cure or con?
I take a zinc and vitamin C tab each day to help my resistance to the common cold, have done for a couple of decades. I works for me as I have far fewer than I used to.
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Re: Vitamins Supplements: cure or con?
most people are deficient in iron so maybe that's worth taking
Re: Vitamins Supplements: cure or con?
I take iron supplements.
I have 2 kids under 2 years, and I’ve done shift work including nights, for 13 years. I probably average 4-5 hours sleep per night.
When my second arrived, I was pretty much dead on my feet, so decided to take supplements to see if it would help.
Probably took the best part of a month for the iron to kick in, but 3-4 months on, I do feel as if I have a little more energy towards the end of the day.
I have 2 kids under 2 years, and I’ve done shift work including nights, for 13 years. I probably average 4-5 hours sleep per night.
When my second arrived, I was pretty much dead on my feet, so decided to take supplements to see if it would help.
Probably took the best part of a month for the iron to kick in, but 3-4 months on, I do feel as if I have a little more energy towards the end of the day.
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Re: Vitamins Supplements: cure or con?
There are 3 supplements that I know help. One of them even has blood tests to show it.
1. Milk Thistle
2. Fish Oil
3. Vitamin B Complex
I have blood tests every few weeks due to the medication I'm on (to test the liver, mainly) and a few years ago I read that Milk Thistle helps. Several times now I've started taking Milk Thistle again and the bloods have normalised. The GP admitted that Milk Thistle helps, but he couldn't recommend anything that hadn't passed medical trials. All he said was, "Whatever you're doing - keep doing it".
Fish Oil definitely helped with stiffness at the back of my knees and Vitamin B Complex definitely helps with mood and alertness, although it needs to be taken with food.
There's so many others that I've tried and never noticed any difference, but the above 3 definitely helped me.
1. Milk Thistle
2. Fish Oil
3. Vitamin B Complex
I have blood tests every few weeks due to the medication I'm on (to test the liver, mainly) and a few years ago I read that Milk Thistle helps. Several times now I've started taking Milk Thistle again and the bloods have normalised. The GP admitted that Milk Thistle helps, but he couldn't recommend anything that hadn't passed medical trials. All he said was, "Whatever you're doing - keep doing it".
Fish Oil definitely helped with stiffness at the back of my knees and Vitamin B Complex definitely helps with mood and alertness, although it needs to be taken with food.
There's so many others that I've tried and never noticed any difference, but the above 3 definitely helped me.
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Re: Vitamins Supplements: cure or con?
I have been suffering terribly with Restless Leg Syndrome this year and recently on advice started taking a Magnesium supplement.
After about a week it definitely helped reduce the frequency of twitching (and occasionly kicking out) and thus my sleep pattern has improved dramatically.
After about a week it definitely helped reduce the frequency of twitching (and occasionly kicking out) and thus my sleep pattern has improved dramatically.
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Re: Vitamins Supplements: cure or con?
Vitamin D is helpful if you never/barely eat meat and dairy, and especially in the autumn, winter, and early spring where in England the sun's UV rays aren't strong enough or out long enough to allow your body to synthesise it, but most other supplements are practically pointless if you eat a fairly balanced diet.
Re: Vitamins Supplements: cure or con?
Exactly, eat your vitamins don't take them in tablets. Vitamin D is the one exceptionSpiral wrote: ↑Tue Dec 17, 2019 6:28 pmVitamin D is helpful if you never/barely eat meat and dairy, and especially in the autumn, winter, and early spring where in England the sun's UV rays aren't strong enough or out long enough to allow your body to synthesise it, but most other supplements are practically pointless if you eat a fairly balanced diet.
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Re: Vitamins Supplements: cure or con?
Of course, I'm talking generally, but if your Doctor says different, then take them, my wife takes Vitamin B complex as advised by her GP
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Re: Vitamins Supplements: cure or con?
JohnMac wrote: ↑Tue Dec 17, 2019 6:27 pmI have been suffering terribly with Restless Leg Syndrome this year and recently on advice started taking a Magnesium supplement.
After about a week it definitely helped reduce the frequency of twitching (and occasionly kicking out) and thus my sleep pattern has improved dramatically.
The treatment for restless legs is quinine. Gin and tonic has quinine in it. Well the tonic does so might as well add the gin
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Re: Vitamins Supplements: cure or con?
I don’t think there is any such thing as a balanced diet - there are hundreds of different vitamins and minerals, all at different levels in each food and changing based on how we cook it. It’s an impossible task.
I take a powerful multivitamin from Biocare and a fish oil containing only pure EPA. Both things you cannot get on the high street. I base it on advice from the author Patrick Holford and others.
I know that I don’t get as many bugs these days. The rest is just a judgement call. Hopefully I’ll live 10 years longer in which case it will be worth the dosh.
I take a powerful multivitamin from Biocare and a fish oil containing only pure EPA. Both things you cannot get on the high street. I base it on advice from the author Patrick Holford and others.
I know that I don’t get as many bugs these days. The rest is just a judgement call. Hopefully I’ll live 10 years longer in which case it will be worth the dosh.
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Re: Vitamins Supplements: cure or con?
No DHA?CrosspoolClarets wrote: ↑Tue Dec 17, 2019 7:42 pmI take a powerful multivitamin from Biocare and a fish oil containing only pure EPA. Both things you cannot get on the high street. I base it on advice from the author Patrick Holford and others.
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Re: Vitamins Supplements: cure or con?
Another thing Fish Oil helps with and that's Dry Eye Syndrome. But the DHA is good for the brain and eyes, so that's probably why.
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Re: Vitamins Supplements: cure or con?
Milkthistle is very good for someone that sinks a gallon a day I've heard
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Re: Vitamins Supplements: cure or con?
It also improves spelling. You should try some.Local cricketer wrote: ↑Tue Dec 17, 2019 8:34 pmMilkthistle is very good for someone that sinks a gallon a day I've heard
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Re: Vitamins Supplements: cure or con?
I take Glucosamine for Osteo Arthritis.
If I don't take it, I don't move.
I'm not recommending anything, just saying.
If I don't take it, I don't move.
I'm not recommending anything, just saying.
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Re: Vitamins Supplements: cure or con?
How long did it take to kick in? I thought it took weeks/months to take effect.
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Re: Vitamins Supplements: cure or con?
Nonsense.
Eat properly and you won't need to.
File under "Qunioa allergy" and that SAD disease...I ain't posh enough to have either!
Eat properly and you won't need to.
File under "Qunioa allergy" and that SAD disease...I ain't posh enough to have either!
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Re: Vitamins Supplements: cure or con?
You missed the smiley.tarkys_ears wrote: ↑Tue Dec 17, 2019 8:51 pmNonsense.
Eat properly and you won't need to.
File under "Qunioa allergy" and that SAD disease...I ain't posh enough to have either!
Re: Vitamins Supplements: cure or con?
The fat soluble vitamins ADEK can harm you if taken to excess as they cannot be easily removed. Vitamin D is not a vitamin as per definition of a vitamin as we make it in the skin from u/v irradiation but in temperate climates we only make it from around April to September. Vitamins B and C are water soluble and so any excess is passed out in urine but you can produce vitamin C stones if you take grams of the stuff. Taking grams of vitamin D and A would eventually kill you.Most animals can make vitamin C but primates bats and guinea pigs are a few species where it is a vitamin.
There is very little D in foodstuffs naturally-oily fish the main source but who eats cod liver where there is oodles.
Some vitamin D supplementation in winter months may be beneficial but little need in summer as casual solar exposure should produce enough but blacks and brown skin need more of the suns energy to make D compared with white skin and most D production in skin is achieved without burning-only need 50% of maximal erythemal dose to make loads of D. Glass sunblock creams stop skin production.
So as other posters have put it, most of us do not need to take supps. When I remember in winter I take vitamin D but as a single large dose
There is very little D in foodstuffs naturally-oily fish the main source but who eats cod liver where there is oodles.
Some vitamin D supplementation in winter months may be beneficial but little need in summer as casual solar exposure should produce enough but blacks and brown skin need more of the suns energy to make D compared with white skin and most D production in skin is achieved without burning-only need 50% of maximal erythemal dose to make loads of D. Glass sunblock creams stop skin production.
So as other posters have put it, most of us do not need to take supps. When I remember in winter I take vitamin D but as a single large dose
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Re: Vitamins Supplements: cure or con?
FactualFrank wrote: ↑Tue Dec 17, 2019 8:50 pmHow long did it take to kick in? I thought it took weeks/months to take effect.
Every day for twenty plus years now. But if I miss it for a couple of weeks holiday it hits me hard.
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Re: Vitamins Supplements: cure or con?
What are your thoughts on Braincell who suggests "Eat properly and you won't need to." - that nobody, regardless of illnesses, medication, etc, needs to take anything.mdd2 wrote: ↑Tue Dec 17, 2019 9:10 pmThe fat soluble vitamins ADEK can harm you if taken to excess as they cannot be easily removed. Vitamin D is not a vitamin as per definition of a vitamin as we make it in the skin from u/v irradiation but in temperate climates we only make it from around April to September. Vitamins B and C are water soluble and so any excess is passed out in urine but you can produce vitamin C stones if you take grams of the stuff. Taking grams of vitamin D and A would eventually kill you.Most animals can make vitamin C but primates bats and guinea pigs are a few species where it is a vitamin.
There is very little D in foodstuffs naturally-oily fish the main source but who eats cod liver where there is oodles.
Some vitamin D supplementation in winter months may be beneficial but little need in summer as casual solar exposure should produce enough but blacks and brown skin need more of the suns energy to make D compared with white skin and most D production in skin is achieved without burning-only need 50% of maximal erythemal dose to make loads of D. Glass sunblock creams stop skin production.
So as other posters have put it, most of us do not need to take supps. When I remember in winter I take vitamin D but as a single large dose
Re: Vitamins Supplements: cure or con?
Really hard to get sufficient vitamin D in the diet but of course it isn't needed if you get out in the sun in April to September.
There is a band wagon on Vitamin D and because if you measure Vit d levels now in mid winter and through to March you will find low levels in many folk feel a need to give the vitamin.
Braincell has a point if he says eat to maintain an ideal body weight, 5-7 a day of fruit and veg, plenty of fibre, exercise and sunshine (no need to burn) and probably no alcohol, certainly no tobacco or recreational drugs. Do all this and you may not live for ever but it could feel like it especially if you go vegan.
There is a band wagon on Vitamin D and because if you measure Vit d levels now in mid winter and through to March you will find low levels in many folk feel a need to give the vitamin.
Braincell has a point if he says eat to maintain an ideal body weight, 5-7 a day of fruit and veg, plenty of fibre, exercise and sunshine (no need to burn) and probably no alcohol, certainly no tobacco or recreational drugs. Do all this and you may not live for ever but it could feel like it especially if you go vegan.
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Re: Vitamins Supplements: cure or con?
Love how you carry on with 'Braincell' ha. I know that certain medications can deplete the body, so know he's talking poppycock. Methotrexate is a prime example. Folic acid and other B vitamins should be taken. Prednisone can deplete the body of several nutrients. He'll have never heard of either, yet comes out with that.mdd2 wrote: ↑Tue Dec 17, 2019 10:06 pmReally hard to get sufficient vitamin D in the diet but of course it isn't needed if you get out in the sun in April to September.
There is a band wagon on Vitamin D and because if you measure Vit d levels now in mid winter and through to March you will find low levels in many folk feel a need to give the vitamin.
Braincell has a point if he says eat to maintain an ideal body weight, 5-7 a day of fruit and veg, plenty of fibre, exercise and sunshine (no need to burn) and probably no alcohol, certainly no tobacco or recreational drugs. Do all this and you may not live for ever but it could feel like it especially if you go vegan.
Re: Vitamins Supplements: cure or con?
I take turmeric tablets for an arthritic knee have done for three years now and it certainly seems to have helped it so much so that more often then not I don't notice my knee. Doctor prescribed neproxin but after a few months it didn't seem to help so I went the supplements route and haven't had a neproxin since.
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Re: Vitamins Supplements: cure or con?
I tried that and never noticed any improvement.bfcjg wrote: ↑Tue Dec 17, 2019 10:26 pmI take turmeric tablets for an arthritic knee have done for three years now and it certainly seems to have helped it so much so that more often then not I don't notice my knee. Doctor prescribed neproxin but after a few months it didn't seem to help so I went the supplements route and haven't had a neproxin since.
If you ever get stiffness behind the knees, try Fish Oil.
Re: Vitamins Supplements: cure or con?
Alas it's one of the few places I get stiffness these daysFactualFrank wrote: ↑Tue Dec 17, 2019 10:33 pmI tried that and never noticed any improvement.
If you ever get stiffness behind the knees, try Fish Oil.
Seriously it shows people react in different ways. A contractor I use swears by rosehip tablets for his arthritic knees told me his GP suggested he try them.
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Re: Vitamins Supplements: cure or con?
I just knew you were going to fire back with that.
There is, of course, the placebo effect but when you have no expectations I think you can rule that out.
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Re: Vitamins Supplements: cure or con?
I take a cod liver oil capsule every day, not even sure why, I just heard it was good for you. I keep the bottle of them on my desk at work, it's just a habit now to take them.