Supplemental Vitamins & Minerals. Yes? No? Hoax?

[me203]

Another thought...

I recall the conversation about supplements (particularly non-vitamin supplements) come up when my mother was diagnosed with Stage IV cancer in the 1990s. I seem to recall her doctor basically shrugged the idea off most of the time--I suppose it was "it won't hurt, but it won't help" attitude. But there were some things he did talk about as being something of interest in research circles for being potentially helpful. I can't remember the specifics--and those might have changed in the last 20 years--but I can recall her getting non-vitamin supplements due to some conversation with her oncologist.

No idea if it helped--she died within 3 years of diagnosis, and no idea if supplements bought any extra time.

 

[me203]

2 more cents

Two things my Doctor friend did say about vitamins and supplements.

Never buy the most inexpensive.

Oops... Inexpensive has been my buying pattern...

Although I guess I'm not totally surprised. I've heard discussions about some form of a vitamin or mineral being better, but also more expensive. Well, you can safely bet that "better, but more expensive" won't be found in something super cheap.

 

[Rickrock]

I don't know if vitamin pills really help, but I believe that some help some of the time. I take vitamin C to ward off colds and a neighbor said to take magnesium (maybe to help with bowel movements?) and I take perfect biotics to help my digestive system. Not sure if any of these help.

 

[ronboy]

Doctor's orders...I take one Vitamin D3, one Vitamin C 500, one Cranberry, and one multi-vitamin daily.

 

[Latimer]

I have always found Nettle to be helpful for seasonal allergies.

I take Lemonbalm if I find that my mind keeps racing will not let me sleep.

I take several others after listening to this guy on youtube, Thomas DeLauer, that researches the results of nutrition studies.
lutein, Algae oil (for a vegetarian form of omega 3's - he really recommends the fish oil first but I can't do that), D3, Liposomal vitamin C, B12, L-Theanine, Boron (good for using more of your testosterone that you already have as you age), Flaxseed Oil, Betaine HCE Pepsin

I watch Thomas also (who would want to only listen to such a major hunk?), but don't do much more than follow his recipe for an apple cider vinegar drink, with turmeric, cinnamon, ginger, crème of tartar, lime and salt--as you know he loves salt. He's also got a green vegetable powder I use. Creatine on and off. As you also know he's also big on periodic fasting and I've been periodic fasting for at least 3 years now. I've probably taken everything known to man to build more muscle outside of steroids and HGH, including some natural T enhancers, but frankly I'm hard pressed to ascribe my gains to anything other than a good diet, hard workouts, and a lot of rest. I've found sleep to be immensely valuable. I drink almost not at all.

I've come to doubt all of the claims put forth by the vitamin companies. I once had a summer job in a health food store that made most of its money from vitamins, etc. We guys on the staff--"the kids"--were all in our late teens to early 20s, hired because we looked muscular and buff in tight black t shirts with the company logo stretched across our pecs. We were the perfect picture of health because we were young and worked out, not because all of us had great diets or took vitamins. A few had terrible diets and got wasted on weekends, and I never heard of any of us taking vitamins.

The owner told everyone he was collecting Social Security and we all though he was a really amazing-looking 65, and the aging customers thought he was the best advertisement ever for supplements. We later found out he was actually a really decrepit-looking 45.

 

[m1thousand]

I watch Thomas also (who would want to only listen to such a major hunk?), but don't do much more than follow his recipe for an apple cider vinegar drink, with turmeric, cinnamon, ginger, crème of tartar, lime and salt--as you know he loves salt. He's also got a green vegetable powder I use. Creatine on and off. As you also know he's also big on periodic fasting and I've been periodic fasting for at least 3 years now. I've probably taken everything known to man to build more muscle outside of steroids and HGH, including some natural T enhancers, but frankly I'm hard pressed to ascribe my gains to anything other than a good diet, hard workouts, and a lot of rest. I've found sleep to be immensely valuable. I drink almost not at all.

I've come to doubt all of the claims put forth by the vitamin companies. I once had a summer job in a health food store that made most of its money from vitamins, etc. We guys on the staff--"the kids"--were all in our late teens to early 20s, hired because we looked muscular and buff in tight black t shirts with the company logo stretched across our pecs. We were the perfect picture of health because we were young and worked out, not because all of us had great diets or took vitamins. A few had terrible diets and got wasted on weekends, and I never heard of any of us taking vitamins.

The owner told everyone he was collecting Social Security and we all though he was a really amazing-looking 65, and the aging customers thought he was the best advertisement ever for supplements. We later found out he was actually a really decrepit-looking 45.

Im just checking him out

 

[Latimer]

^
I'm a fan, but I find it improbable that Thomas manages to have and keep this body simply with a high fat diet and 4 day a week periodic fasting. On the other hand, in his past life he was a professional bodybuilder and presumably on anabolics, so perhaps his muscles have memory and he is as natural now as he says he is.

If it's the latter, it's a great argument for steroids and no-holds-barred training in your twenties

 

[EJMichaels]

I take B-12, Calcium, Magnesium, Zinc and Potassium. And yes it feels like those work, especially I take them after getting cramps in my leg.

In addition to an assortment of oral supplements, especially minerals, I use magnesium "oil" (actually a brine) on my legs when cramping is a problem. It seems to work. You can make it yourself by dissolving in water Dead Sea salts or another source of magnesium chloride, or buy it, usually in spray bottles. It's like epsom salt (magnesium sulfate), which people put in baths, but works better. It makes the skin slightly sticky and can irritate sensitive skin, but I still use it -- sometimes before bed when I've had cramps the night before, or just when I start feeling the cramp starting.

 

[Alnitak]

As a general rule, a well balanced diet is the best source of essential nutrients. Supplements on their own aren't as well absorbed. The best way to get your Vitamin D is from salmon or the Sun in moderation.

 

[Yooper]

Doctor's orders...I take one Vitamin D3, one Vitamin C 500, one Cranberry, and one multi-vitamin daily.

ONE Cranberry. Hmmmmmmmmm...

Kind of tart, I suppose.

 

[Yooper]

I work retail, with all of its unsanitary coughing, sneezing and homeless people in the restrooms.

I wash my hands hourly.

I take a multivitamin for old people and a 1000mg Ester-C first thing in the morning before I forget. So far it has worked, haven't had a problem and spring is nearly here.

 

[mcbrion]

Yes.
Not multis, since some of them contain fat-soluble and water -soluble mixed together, which makes no sense. or have iron and zinc in the same tablet, which cancel each other out.
Depends on the Brand.
Nature's Plus, and Solgar? Yes, been using since 1975, when I was a bodybuilder. Other Brands can be as good, also. I prefer independent third-party tested ones, though.
All vitamins are not the same, that is obvious to a mad scientist like me, who'll buy 4 different melatonin formulations and see which ones indie sleepiness. The list of what I've tested and taken would fill a page.
They work. The GOOD ones, not the Stop & Shop kinds.

WE also used Ginko and Vitamin E during the AIDS crisis, to keep our friends from going mad when they started sundowning at night. LARGE DOSES OF GINKO, greater than 1 gram, worked wonders.