What About Vitamins?

[cabinetman]

What's the pro/con about vitamins and herbs? Are they worth the expense? If you believe in them, what do you take?
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[docrowan]

I take a multivitamin, a 500 mg vitamin C, and a "fish oil" supplement (since I don't care to eat fish). I've been fairly consistent on taking them for several years now and it takes this kind of long-term consistency to note the effect. I've found that I stay home sick and go to the doctor much less often now. Also, less working days feeling under the weather. No herbs or any other stuff.

[Mr__Bill]

I use a lot of herbs and spices.....

The old lady next door took a ton of vitamins and she died.....

I take glucosamine, started giving it to the dog and it seemed to help him so I started on it. Mine are from COSTCO and cost less than his, go figure. Calcium is also on the list as I don't drink milk. I also take a Vit E thing and a B complex. I'm not sure if they help but She Who Knows Best gives them to me and I eat them. Keeps her happy so in that way they help me.

Are they worth the cost? That's a hard one, I only know that if I run out of the glucosamine for a week or so I feel the weather more in my wrists and ankles. I probably feel it all over the place but ya know, you can only feel the hurt in one place at a time.....

Don't forget that there is an interplay between supplements, drugs, vitamins and what you eat. You will need to master flow charts and set up Google Calender to map out when to take what and how much. Or you can just let SWMBO take care of it for you, she will anyway.

Bill

[LinuxRandal]

The old lady next door took a ton of vitamins and she died.....


Bill

Ain't no getting out of it alive!

I understand things like fish oil and joint supplements, but IMHO, your better off trying to adjust your diet and exercise routine FIRST. When my father was in the hospital, they gave him some specific vitamins for a bit (when they thought they had figured out why), and he had said that he takes a multivitamin. But the body will only digest so much, and water reports show that a lot of what you buy will still get flushed.
If the Doc thinks you have a deficiency, I personally would be looking for it instead of a multivitamin, except if the multi had the correct dosage and cost less.

and no I am not a Dr. nor do I play one on tv.

[Uncle Cracker]

+1 on herbs...

[gsmittle]

+1 on herbs...

Oh, you mean herbal pills!

g.

[leehljp]

Multivitamin, B-12, E, glucosamine, aspirin every other day. Just started glucosamine recently on the advice of my orthopedic doctor (here in Japan).

In my mid 30's, I kept getting tired and exhausted over long periods of time. (Keep in mind, my world view was: grin and bear it, so I never stopped or slowed down from a full work load!) One doctor suggested trying B-12 at the time. I did and in about week I began to feel more energy. After about 6 months I stopped and then several weeks later the same thing. I can tell when I get off of it for extended periods of time. I haven't missed more than a few days with B-12 in probably in 25 years or so.

I drink milk or eat calcium laden food regularly. Otherwise, I would be taking calcium. Probably will when I return to the States and have access to less expensive vits.


FISH OIL QUESTION:

I tried this two different times and two different brands in 2005. Both left a VERY fishy after taste in my stomach. I swallowed them whole of course but at the point of digesting left a terrible after taste if I had a small burp or so. Do any of you have this problem?

[annunaki]

I use liquid vitamins-chain drugstore brand, because they are absorbed better as opposed to pills & capsules that are not.

This compensates for my single lifestyle and not always eating the variety of food groups at each meal. While a spouse might offset that problem, the liquid vitamins wind up cheaper and quieter than she might be, and if I ever switch brands, there won't be any attorney fees, or shock in finding out what that marriage contract-that nobody ever gets to read prior to entering into-obligated me to upon dissolution.

Better the vitamins in solution, than the fore mentioned dissolution !

[cabinetman]

Here's my usual menu:

Vitamins - A, B-4, B-12, B-15, C, D, E

Grape Seed Extract, Green Tea Extract, Lycopene

Fish Oil, Niacin, 81mg Aspirin

Prescription Meds
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[Hoover]

Multivitamin, B-12, E, glucosamine, aspirin every other day. Just started glucosamine recently on the advice of my orthopedic doctor (here in Japan).



FISH OIL QUESTION:

I tried this two different times and two different brands in 2005. Both left a VERY fishy after taste in my stomach. I swallowed them whole of course but at the point of digesting left a terrible after taste if I had a small burp or so. Do any of you have this problem?

I use enteric coated fish oil capsules, also called burpless capsules. No aftertaste, and easy on my tummy.

[Hoover]

I also take zinc tablets, supposedly good for immune system. One good side effect it tends to clear up complexions, I had a growth under my right eye, and the doctor said to remove the growth as it was interfering with my vision. After several months of taking zinc the growth was gone.

I also take L-Lysine, which is good for healthy gums. Used to occasional gum bleeding, but no longer have any bleeding.

[Pappy]

multivitamnin (Geritol) x 1, vitamin C x 2 Other than a couple of perscriptions, that's it. Did take calcium twice a day but it was upsetting my stomach.

[cabinetman]

multivitamnin (Geritol) x 1, vitamin C x 2 Other than a couple of perscriptions, that's it. Did take calcium twice a day but it was upsetting my stomach.

GERITOL - Is that stuff still on the market?
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[leehljp]

I use enteric coated fish oil capsules, also called burpless capsules. No aftertaste, and easy on my tummy.

Thanks for this tip. I was unaware of that. Over here, fish oil burps are desired!

[Daryl]

Omega 3 fish oil. Doc said to take 1000x3 a day. I do too if I remember all three doses. It has helped with cholesterol.