vitamins and supplements

[Deleted]

What kinds of vitamins and supplements do you take and why? I think I take too many and they are getting pricey. I am going to stop taking some of them.

I take a probiotic for gut and brain health. That one I will keep taking.
Fish oil because a NP told me it would help my cholesterol levels. Quitting.
Vitamin D because I am inside all day and live in the northern part of the country. (Not much sunlight.) Keeping.
Ashwagandha for stress. Started when I was my dad's caretaker. Will quit now that he died.
Vitamin B Complex. Quitting.
DHEA and Melatonin because a functional medicine NP told me I need them. Will probably keep taking.
Glutathione because functional medicine NP told me I need it. Keeping.
Curcumin for inflammation. Undecided.

I am a sucker when I read a supplement will help a problem. Normally I don't notice a difference.

I eat fairly healthy. I feel pretty good for being mid-50s. I sleep good and do not suffer from fatigue or hot flashes.

[Sharon]

Vitamin B Complex was a godsend for me to keep the hot flashes and night sweats in check.  You may find they start up if you stop that.

Right now I'm taking Magnesium Breakthrough to help with restless legs and sleep issues.  It has multiple types of Magnesium and it is working like they said it would.

I also take Red Yeast Rice + CoQ10.  The doctor wanted me on a statin and I refused, this was a compromise.

In the past I have taken a long list of other supplements.  I also took curcumin for inflamation and am considering starting that one up again.

[seriousthistime]

DD's cardiologist told her to take magnesium glycinate to help tame her PVCs.  I also get PVCs.  I was taking magnesium oxide for nighttime leg cramps which didn't really seem to help, so I stopped.  After DD told me what her cardiologist said, I bought some magnesium glycinate and it works quite well.  I take it at bedtime. There's a noticeable difference in my leg cramps. The nighttime PVCs are less noticeable in strength and number. 

I take: 

a multivitamin
Vitamin D3
Glucosamine chondroitin
Fish oil
CoQ10
Magnesium glycinate
Calcium
Aspirin 81 mg 

The magnesium glycinate capsules are 200 mg.  A "serving" size, according to the label, is 2 capsules.   I take 400 mg, at bedtime.  Fish Oil is 1200 mg and a serving size is 2 capsules. 

The cost of supplements is daunting, but you can keep the cost down if you shop the BOGO sale at CVS. They seem to have it pretty regularly.  The Walgreens near me seem to have buy one-get one 50% off, so I tend to stalk CVS for the better deals.  

[jerseygirl]

I take D3 , worked with an endocrinologist who said this is a most important vitamin and many people are deficient
Also folate and B12 on recommendation of my eye Dr for glaucoma
Glucosamine and vitamin C
Just started strontium . Supposed to help bones, I don’t take any of the meds like fosamax cause don’t like the possible side effects
And magnesium glycinate before bed, just started 3 weeks ago. Not sure if really helping with sleep but seems innocuous
If I was limited to one, it would be D3. Needed for many physiological functions

[NastyWoman]

Vitamin D3. That's it.

[soupandstew]

I take a daily multivitamin, and a bedtime gummy with CBD and melatonin.  DH takes magnesium citrate and Vitamin C, I don't know why.  He used to take Q10 but stopped, reason unknown.  I would like to try Glucosamine chondroitin again for my knees, but it's too pricy.

[debthaven]

Interesting thread! 

I take Calcium and D3 in one tablet. I take 2 per day (one dose). I also take liquid D3 supplements once/month in winter. 

[thyme4change]

Magnesium seems to be the latest trend - reportedly helping with a vast array of health and wellness problems. It always makes me skeptical when I see something with such promises - but also makes me curious and want to try it.

I take D3 and Omega3. Omega seems like another one that was the cure-all for awhile. But every time I go off it, my depression seems to ramp up, so I keep returning to it.

[Deleted]

Apr 22, 2024 9:11:18 GMT -5 thyme4change said:

Magnesium seems to be the latest trend - reportedly helping with a vast array of health and wellness problems. It always makes me skeptical when I see something with such promises - but also makes me curious and want to try it.

I take D3 and Omega3. Omega seems like another one that was the cure-all for awhile. But every time I go off it, my depression seems to ramp up, so I keep returning to it.

Most of the supplements I try are for depression. I tried saffron but don't think it helped. I don't want to go on a prescription antidepressant.

Hmmm. Maybe I shouldn't quit omegas.

[thyme4change]

Apr 22, 2024 10:47:27 GMT -5 @blue said:

Apr 22, 2024 9:11:18 GMT -5 thyme4change said:

Magnesium seems to be the latest trend - reportedly helping with a vast array of health and wellness problems. It always makes me skeptical when I see something with such promises - but also makes me curious and want to try it.

I take D3 and Omega3. Omega seems like another one that was the cure-all for awhile. But every time I go off it, my depression seems to ramp up, so I keep returning to it.

Most of the supplements I try are for depression. I tried saffron but don't think it helped. I don't want to go on a prescription antidepressant.

Hmmm. Maybe I shouldn't quit omegas.

It might be worth quitting and carefully monitoring yourself. Taking them just in case they work is what the supplement industry wants. You have to get in touch with your health. I’m not great at that - but I try to eliminate things or add things one at a time, and cycle on and off to see if I can identify a pattern.

[Artemis Windsong]

Apr 22, 2024 10:47:27 GMT -5 @blue said:

Apr 22, 2024 9:11:18 GMT -5 thyme4change said:

Magnesium seems to be the latest trend - reportedly helping with a vast array of health and wellness problems. It always makes me skeptical when I see something with such promises - but also makes me curious and want to try it.

I take D3 and Omega3. Omega seems like another one that was the cure-all for awhile. But every time I go off it, my depression seems to ramp up, so I keep returning to it.

Most of the supplements I try are for depression. I tried saffron but don't think it helped. I don't want to go on a prescription antidepressant.

Hmmm. Maybe I shouldn't quit omegas.

Have you tried St. John's Wort?  It comes in various strengths.  I take one 300 mg in the morning which is enough.  I also became brighter when taking Brain Health supplement.  Not Prevagin since that's the expensive one.  Equate from Walmart.  I notice a marked increase in reaction and alertness on the pickleball court.  I also noticed better mood level and social interactions. 

Edit:  I do take a lot of supplements. 

[happyhoix]

Has anyone had success with a supplement for stiff joints?

[jerseygirl]

Apr 24, 2024 8:33:34 GMT -5 happyhoix said:

Has anyone had success with a supplement for stiff joints?

Glucosamine with fish oil and flax seed oil

[nidena]

Apr 22, 2024 9:11:18 GMT -5 thyme4change said:

Magnesium seems to be the latest trend - reportedly helping with a vast array of health and wellness problems. It always makes me skeptical when I see something with such promises - but also makes me curious and want to try it.

I take D3 and Omega3. Omega seems like another one that was the cure-all for awhile. But every time I go off it, my depression seems to ramp up, so I keep returning to it.

I started taking magnesium glycinate 4-5 years ago after reading Undoctored by Dr. William Davis.  He's very anti-Big Pharma and discusses numerous vitamins and minerals that can help PREVENT issues that Big Pharma would rather TREAT.  I'm not a big fan of doctors who want to throw medicine at everything.  Example: I had to take a stress test during the height of COVID.  In a damn mask.  I had a panic attack because of the compromise to my breathing.  The doctor saw it as "something" on the reading and wanted to put me on some 6-syllable-named beta blocker.  Nevermind that my migraine meds make my heart rate slow down when I take them.  That didn't even come up in the conversation.  We're talking down to the 40s when I'm sleeping and this dude wants to put me on beta blockers.  Uh, no thank you.

I see a functional health doctor and he tailors a plan for me.
Currently:
Liquid probiotics
Vitex
Vitamin D 5000 IU daily
PhytoMulti (mostly for the Bs)
Kelp (for thyroid health because I don't eat enough ionized salt)
Magnesium Glycinate (200 in the morning/200 at night)
Black Currant Seed Oil
DHEA
Melatonin

[The Walk of the Penguin Mich]

Apr 22, 2024 9:11:18 GMT -5 thyme4change said:

Magnesium seems to be the latest trend - reportedly helping with a vast array of health and wellness problems. It always makes me skeptical when I see something with such promises - but also makes me curious and want to try it.

I take D3 and Omega3. Omega seems like another one that was the cure-all for awhile. But every time I go off it, my depression seems to ramp up, so I keep returning to it.

Magnesium (strangely, NOT potassium like from bananas) was instrumental in getting rid of the severe muscle cramps I got following my surgery.  There was a time that they were so severe that I thought I’d lose my mind (did you know your abs can cramp like a Charley horse?).  

I take nothing.  TD takes melatonin and Vit D for osteopenia.  

[The Walk of the Penguin Mich]

Apr 24, 2024 8:33:34 GMT -5 happyhoix said:

Has anyone had success with a supplement for stiff joints?

Did not find them helpful at all.  Tried most of them on the market.  

[NastyWoman]

Apr 24, 2024 20:35:44 GMT -5 The Walk of the Penguin Mich said:

Apr 22, 2024 9:11:18 GMT -5 thyme4change said:

Magnesium seems to be the latest trend - reportedly helping with a vast array of health and wellness problems. It always makes me skeptical when I see something with such promises - but also makes me curious and want to try it.

I take D3 and Omega3. Omega seems like another one that was the cure-all for awhile. But every time I go off it, my depression seems to ramp up, so I keep returning to it.

Magnesium (strangely, NOT potassium like from bananas) was instrumental in getting rid of the severe muscle cramps I got following my surgery.  There was a time that they were so severe that I thought I’d lose my mind (did you know your abs can cramp like a Charley horse?).  

I take nothing.  TD takes melatonin and Vit D for osteopenia.  

And did you k ow you can get a Charley horse while trying to push an almost 9lb baby out of your body? That was something else I tell you!

[thyme4change]

Apr 24, 2024 18:20:20 GMT -5 nidena said:

Apr 22, 2024 9:11:18 GMT -5 thyme4change said:

Magnesium seems to be the latest trend - reportedly helping with a vast array of health and wellness problems. It always makes me skeptical when I see something with such promises - but also makes me curious and want to try it.

I take D3 and Omega3. Omega seems like another one that was the cure-all for awhile. But every time I go off it, my depression seems to ramp up, so I keep returning to it.

I started taking magnesium glycinate 4-5 years ago after reading Undoctored by Dr. William Davis.  He's very anti-Big Pharma and discusses numerous vitamins and minerals that can help PREVENT issues that Big Pharma would rather TREAT.  I'm not a big fan of doctors who want to throw medicine at everything.  Example: I had to take a stress test during the height of COVID.  In a damn mask.  I had a panic attack because of the compromise to my breathing.  The doctor saw it as "something" on the reading and wanted to put me on some 6-syllable-named beta blocker.  Nevermind that my migraine meds make my heart rate slow down when I take them.  That didn't even come up in the conversation.  We're talking down to the 40s when I'm sleeping and this dude wants to put me on beta blockers.  Uh, no thank you.

I see a functional health doctor and he tailors a plan for me.
Currently:
Liquid probiotics
Vitex
Vitamin D 5000 IU daily
PhytoMulti (mostly for the Bs)
Kelp (for thyroid health because I don't eat enough ionized salt)
Magnesium Glycinate (200 in the morning/200 at night)
Black Currant Seed Oil
DHEA
Melatonin

Unfortunately, pharmaceutical are tested, proven and regulated.

Supplements have no double blind studies, no peer reviewed studies and no quality control regulations. It feels like a snake oil scam to me sometimes. How do I know these supplements do what they say they do? And how do I know what the bottle says is inside is really what is inside?

[nidena]

Apr 26, 2024 12:16:41 GMT -5 thyme4change said:

Apr 24, 2024 18:20:20 GMT -5 nidena said:

I started taking magnesium glycinate 4-5 years ago after reading Undoctored by Dr. William Davis.  He's very anti-Big Pharma and discusses numerous vitamins and minerals that can help PREVENT issues that Big Pharma would rather TREAT.  I'm not a big fan of doctors who want to throw medicine at everything.  Example: I had to take a stress test during the height of COVID.  In a damn mask.  I had a panic attack because of the compromise to my breathing.  The doctor saw it as "something" on the reading and wanted to put me on some 6-syllable-named beta blocker.  Nevermind that my migraine meds make my heart rate slow down when I take them.  That didn't even come up in the conversation.  We're talking down to the 40s when I'm sleeping and this dude wants to put me on beta blockers.  Uh, no thank you.

I see a functional health doctor and he tailors a plan for me.
Currently:
Liquid probiotics
Vitex
Vitamin D 5000 IU daily
PhytoMulti (mostly for the Bs)
Kelp (for thyroid health because I don't eat enough ionized salt)
Magnesium Glycinate (200 in the morning/200 at night)
Black Currant Seed Oil
DHEA
Melatonin

Unfortunately, pharmaceutical are tested, proven and regulated.

Supplements have no double blind studies, no peer reviewed studies and no quality control regulations. It feels like a snake oil scam to me sometimes. How do I know these supplements do what they say they do? And how do I know what the bottle says is inside is really what is inside?

Just because they're tested and regulated doesn't mean they're not OVERPRESCRIBED in the name of $$.

As for supplements, they certainly make me feel better than the FDA approved food items of grains, most dairy, oats, and rice.  All of which I'm allergic, possibly due to most of them being franken-engineered to get most bang for their buck.

[nittanycheme]

I take:

-multivitamin

- fish oil (my eye dr recommended it for my dry eyes, it seems to help).  I don't like any seafood except shrimp, so I don't eat any actual fish.  Not even fish sticks....

- calcium with vitamin D.  My mom, most of her family, and my dad all have osteoporosis.  I know my mom, dad, and grandmother all had compression factures in their backs, and my grandmother would break her ribs if she coughed too hard.  So, I drink my milk and take about 1/2 the dose of calcium via calcium citrate since I do drink milk and each cheese.  I don't want to overdo the calcium either.

- vitamin D - I take 1000 IU 4 days a week.  My dad is on calcium with vit D, plus a really large dose of vitamin D that he takes 4 times a week, so I'm patterning a smaller dose after his.

-probiotics

- Vitamin B - I'm experimenting to see if it helps with hot flashes.  I might move on to black cohosh based on a friend's experience if this doesn't help.  I'm hoping once I make it through they will stop.  I know my mom seemed to go back to her always cold nature after a while; I'm hoping that happens to me.  Thank goodness for my Chilipad so I can at least sleep at night.

[Cheesy FL-Vol]

I take a women's daily vitamin and consume yogurt for probiotics. I am on no prescriptions. Even Tylenol is taken sparingly.

I try to get as much needed from whole food consumption. I do keep quick meal stuff on hand if I/we are super busy. However, I almost always end up being grossed out because the sodium is really high, or it just tastes gross.

That being said, I am a plain potato chip junkie. Chip addiction is a real thing. If I have a large bag on hand I will plow through it like there is no tomorrow. I keep nuts and popcorn on hand and try to avoid buying chips. When I do get a craving, I try to stick with the smallest single serve bag. Most of the other stuff in the snack aisle isn't my thing. 

[daisylu]

Woman's daily vitamin
Vitamin D (script & OTC - OTC is liquid form as suggested by doc for better absorption)
Iron (my body has issues processing iron)
B Complex
Magnesium (not taken consistently)

Have been meaning to add fish oil, but have not yet.

[thyme4change]

Apr 27, 2024 12:41:02 GMT -5 nidena said:

Apr 26, 2024 12:16:41 GMT -5 thyme4change said:

Unfortunately, pharmaceutical are tested, proven and regulated.

Supplements have no double blind studies, no peer reviewed studies and no quality control regulations. It feels like a snake oil scam to me sometimes. How do I know these supplements do what they say they do? And how do I know what the bottle says is inside is really what is inside?

Just because they're tested and regulated doesn't mean they're not OVERPRESCRIBED in the name of $$.

As for supplements, they certainly make me feel better than the FDA approved food items of grains, most dairy, oats, and rice.  All of which I'm allergic, possibly due to most of them being franken-engineered to get most bang for their buck.

Prescription drugs might be over prescribed- but you listed off a dozen supplements you take every day. If you were on a dozen prescriptions, doctors would pull you back. But you can keep upping yourself on all the supplements you want.

I’m not against supplements. I just think it is weird that people will say that tested and regulated pills are overprescribed while spending hundreds of dollars on untested, unregulated pills. Do you at least see the question I raise?

[pulmonarymd]

There are thousands of supplements out there. Do some work, probably. Which ones work? I have no idea, and no one else does, because they do not need to be tested to be sold. They skirt the rules when it comes to making health claims. Prescription medications at least have to have some data to support their use. Medicines are neither good or bad. It depends on why they are used if it is a good or bad use. Are they overprescribed, undoubtedly. But the ones that are most overprescribed are the ones people frequently ask for, antibiotics.

For those of you who take high doses of niacin and other B vitamins, a study just suggested that the may be associated with an increase in heart disease. Time restricted eating just was associated with an increased risk of heart disease as well. The human body is incredibly complicated and simple answers are usually wrong

[NancysSummerSip]

Vitamin D (prescription) for low levels.

One good overall supplement to ensure that I get everything.

I have been reading about the powdered greens like AG1 and wondered if I should start those. Very pricey, some of them.

[soupandstew]

My doctor is cool with a one-a-day type supplement but, other than that, he feels it's a waste of $$ unless you have been diagnosed as deficient and potentially dangerous as not all excesses are excreted. He is okay with my use of melatonin for sleep and says things like Glucosamine Chondroitin are okay if used within the recommended quantities.  

[NomoreDramaQ1015]

A lot of what is in supplements we pee right out because it's more than what our bodies need. We can't digest a lot of it either it needs to be bound up with other nutrients.

[trimatty471]

Currently Vitamin D + K because my Vitamin D is at a dangerously low level due to me not getting outside.

[trimatty471]

May 11, 2024 12:27:15 GMT -5 NancysSummerSip said:

Vitamin D (prescription) for low levels.

One good overall supplement to ensure that I get everything.

I have been reading about the powdered greens like AG1 and wondered if I should start those. Very pricey, some of them.

I am on Vitamin D.  Had been taking Magnesium.  I was wondering about AG1 also.

[Deleted]

May 11, 2024 12:27:15 GMT -5 NancysSummerSip said:

Vitamin D (prescription) for low levels.

One good overall supplement to ensure that I get everything.

I have been reading about the powdered greens like AG1 and wondered if I should start those. Very pricey, some of them.

I started drinking some powdered greens in March. I can't remember the brand but it was an MLM. Instead of probiotics, I was told to drink the greens. No difference for me. Once the greens are gone, I will go back to probiotics.