Interested to hear the consensus on here regarding supplements.
Fish Oil, Vitamin B, C, D, probotics, strange herbal concoctions, multi-vitamins.
I feel like at some point we all feel some sort of mild ailments, whether it be joint pain or general lethargy/lack of motivation or energy.
The supplement industry has done well to condition us to think of them first as the quick and easy fix, rather than other alternatives like fixing your diet.
So do you take supplements? What do you take? Why?
I've been meaning to take fish oil and magnesium again actually. Any recommendations on brands?
I use Doctor's Best chelated mags, 4 per day split over two meals. (iherb)
I tried taking fish oil…..spent so much time on the dunny!! it destroyed my insides :P
Fish oil is disgusting. It’s the algae that the fish eat that contains omega 3 & 6s, not the fish themselves. Best to eat flaxseed, walnuts etc instead.
I know some supplements are good when required, but I really dislike the self-medicating alternative medicine craze we seem to be in. I prefer trying to get most of what we need in our diets.
“You know what they call alternative medicine that's been proved to work? - Medicine.”
― Tim Minchin
I'm in the same camp as you, that's why I stopped taking a multi-vitamin. I stopped taking fish oil due to it being linked to prostate cancer, but then I've read again that the study wasn't really conclusive. There's always conflicting reports!
I love fish but don't have the opportunity to eat it often, and I've heard from friends that magnesium supplements were recommended by doctors.
You don’t ‘love’ fish. You love the taste of fish, that’s why you boil it alive, cut it up into pieces and eat it. Fish do NOT contain anything good in them, but they are full of toxic elements from the ocean waste, cholesterol, and extremely high in saturated fat.
For clarification about fish, watch this first:-
https://www.facebook.com/plantbasednews/videos/1939723859614…
B12 because I follow a vegetarian diet
Certainly B12 must be considered by anyone abstaining from animal products, but plenty of research suggests B12 deficiency is a widespread issue affecting all walks of life, particularly the elderly. (some reports >40% of Americans).
Yes meat is the best source if the external factor.
However, research is clear that tablets and liquids don’t absorb.
Care to share this research?
B12 sups are recommended by nutritionists for all people with absorption problems. I can't think of any nutritionist (except some paleo hacks) who suggests people increase meat consumption to get more b12. Fortified foods and sups are excellent sources of b12.
https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/VitaminB12-HealthProfessio…
Supplements for what?
Eat all meats
Some fruit
Some veg
Milk and eggs
And you’ll be fine
Define "fine"
What about maximising quality of life, wellbeing, physical, emotional, mental health?
Just playing Devil's advocate :P
Yes I agree, eating all meats, milk and eggs is NOT considered fine.
Unless you have been living under a rock for the last decade, these animal products are proven to be the NO 1 CAUSE of all disease, cancer and issues with our bodies. Look up any Facebook or YouTube video linked with veganism and you may actually realise how wrong it is to eat animal products.
Well I don’t agree with that but I am a vegetarian for moral reasons
Watch this Facebook video in its entirety first before making assumptions about consuming animal products:-
https://www.facebook.com/livekindlyco/videos/662315214117056…
I take them because I like my urine to be fortified.
yup, better to have expensive wee than an expensive heart attack. :)
Not doing much good in your wee, are they? Pretty colour though.
Might need to consider some supplements, as this post is deficient in bargains…
Biggest scam industry there is. Its all a placebo
still better than diamonds
I take a heap for different issues, slowly weaning back on some, rotate others, others maybe once a year for a month or so. Things like alpha lipoic acid, ALCAR, ubiquinol which the body makes but reduces with age are fine to take for extended periods. Have also discovered Chinese herbal tonics (not medicine) and they seem to be having a good effect as well though too soon to tell for sure (Dragon Herbs). I'm trending more towards herbs and powders lately rather than pills (moringa, amla, ashwaganda, cacao etc) and as they foods rather than isolated vitamins/minerals it 'feels' like they are more effective. Luckily at this point in history we have available to us a LOT of top quality natural products from all over the world (as well as cheap and nasty stuff DYOR). This is on top of a healthy diet of course, no point trying to get healthy if you still smoke, drink use stimulants and soft drinks and fast food. :) (Just saying, been there, done that.)
IANAD
Do you feel that if you dropped everything tomorrow, your health would deteriorate considerably?
I have gone cold-turkey in the past and do notice the difference. Not enough to make me sick per se but enough to slow me down a fair bit. The end goal is to get all nutritional requirements from food but that's not always possible. It's a long-term project. :)
Supps:
1x Multivitamin
1x 500mg Vitamin C
1x Magnesium (can't remember strength)
2x 2000mg Fish Oil
2x 1200mg Lecithin
2x Aspirin
2x 1000IU Vitamin D
4x St John's Wort 2000
Diet is varied:
And what does your body look like? Are you ripped?
I'm at about 16% bodyfat.
EDIT: Also not a big guy.
2X Aspirin is a lot!!
I know most people don't turn to ozbargain for medical advice, but i have concerns about the above list and am commenting to both encourage you to speak with your doctor about it, as well as to attempt to dissuade others from taking the same doses. In particular, in most cases two aspirin per day is more likely to do harm than good (e.g. stomach ulcers and gastrointestinal bleeds), and four St John's wort tablets per day can also potentially cause serious harm (e.g. serotonin syndrome - particularly if combined with medications that affect mood). Other forms of treatment could be helpful to manage the symptoms that the St John's wort is being used for. Again, I would suggest discussing these with your doctor.
I'm not taking NSAIDs for fun, and not for extended periods. That list is just what I'm taking right now. It's been a week with the aspirin on advice from a doctor.
Re: St John's Wort, it's a pretty standard dosage. I'd understand there would be an issue if I was combining it with something else but I'm not. Otherwise it would be on that list :)
Fish oil as my cholesterol level is climbing rapidly
Calcium & Vitamin D as I stay indoor a lot and not getting enough sun
Vitamin C for general health and well being
I am waiting for a 50% glucosamine & chondroitin as I do have some arthritic problem
I take multivitamins. Regardless of whether or not it works, it makes me feel better about myself so that's all that matters.
Placebo effect is an effect I suppose!
Because I want to get
Supplements are a waste of money if your diet is anywhere near decent. The exception for me is Vitamin D as many people don't get enough from the sun. My low level was indicated in blood test results.
Yeah, same, just found out I'm low on D (and triglycerides).
Yep. Instead of spending a bucketload on vitamins/"nutraceuticals" straight up, invest in a blood test and see what you really need.
Blood tests are not always good indicators for that kind stuff. They might show blood serum levels of some things but not tissue levels. I've found it's a bit hit and miss. For example hair tests seem to be popular for showing mineral levels but they tend to lag a bit.
This doc is quite interesting, regarding supplements - PBS Frontline - Supplement Safety Documentary
I still take now and then, stuff like calcium, vit D, omega-3 but not regularly.
Blood tests showed I was severely Vitamin D deficient, so I'm on Vitamin D supplements for the rest of my life as it's the only way to get normalish levels…
A mate is in the same boat with B12 - for some reason just can't produce enough from food.
If you think you're off, get a test from your doc - then just take what you need. Results may surprise you - I would never have guessed Vitamin D was the issue…
Both B12 and Vit D got me. Many others too.
I've found probiotics to help gut health ,
where eating lots of yoghurt wasn't,
baby aspirin also ,
as I've heard (studies) it can prevent some cancers ,
and it's the most commonly used medicine taken by doctors ,
also it's cheap.
I take C.D, concentrated krill, COqu10 and drive around a race track every now and then to get my body pumping.
I was on STATINS and quit, it as it was weakening my muscle in my body, told my Doc and he tore a strip off me coz I just quit, but hey 12mths down the track i'm way better.
Spirulina
Maca
Gingko Biloba
Astaxanthin for a variety of benefits - https://examine.com/supplements/astaxanthin
(Lots of other research that they haven't added to the examine article yet, such as reducing cognitive decline in aging, oral supplement that provides basic UV protection etc)
Astragalus to boost the immune system - https://examine.com/supplements/astragalus-membranaceus/
I take fish oil and magnesium supplements and eat a fairly healthy diet.