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Supplements
shanyin
Novice YoginSault Ontario Veteran
This is a broad scientific topic but I'm wondering if anyone has any opinion/view on vitamins, minerals, fatty acids/amino acids in the form of supplements.
You can be specific. I'm interested in Vitamin D, Omega 3's and multivitamins right now.
Can they improve wellness, health, or prevent disease? Yay or nay?
You can be specific. I'm interested in Vitamin D, Omega 3's and multivitamins right now.
Can they improve wellness, health, or prevent disease? Yay or nay?
0
Comments
I take fish oil caps as well as glucosamine, a surgeon said to me that the money spent on Glucosamine is better spent on health insurance so who do you believe, it's the same as cannabis oil as a cure for some cancers (a whole other story).
I get bloodwork with my doc every 4 months or so that tells me my vitamin levels, so that might be a suggestion.
Multivitamins have been shown to really do nothing to prevent or cure any sort of cancers or other diseases. Most of the things within them are obtained via diet as long as your diet is remotely decent. The vitamin D in a multivitamin is very, very lacking. Even our 5 year old takes 1000IU, and the daily allowance is 400IU. The 1000IU has barely brought his level within the normal range.
Be careful about vitamin E, however. It is one that can be overdosed on, and you have to be cautious if it is contained in several supplements along with your diet. If you are getting it via diet, fish oil/omega, and multivitamin you might be getting too much.
If you are vegan or vegetarian there is a good chance you need a B complex or at least B12 supplement, as most sources of B12 are animal products.
I personally take vitamin D (2-3000IU a day depending on the time of year). I take an omega supplement with krill oil, about 4 grams a day (I think that is the right measurement) and I take a vitamin B complex for part of the month because it helps immensely with my homicidal PMS.
I did take glucosamie/Chondroitin for about a year or so after my knee surgery, as it was suggested (but not really recommended) by my surgeon. However, after going off it for several months had no noticeable effect, I stopped taking it. It got expensive considering for me, it did nothing. Others swear by it.
There has been much literature and study on the benefits of supplementing vitamin D (which is highly important for immune system function and many other things) and omega fats as well. They are actually experimenting with high dose omega fats to repair brain damage from injuries, and have had decent results. But it isn't something you want to go above the recommended amount without talking to a doctor. Because it thins the blood (which is the point of taking it, mostly) if you drink alcohol, or take aspirin or eat a lot of vitamin K (Leafy dark greens) it can be too much.
The vitamins prescribed on occasion by doctors tend to be higher dose than provided by the health food industry.
Omega 3 is in fatty fish, yum [forgive me Great Cod for my Lobsterian tendencies] and I believe in certain foods.
http://plenteousveg.com/vegan-sources-omega-3/
Spend your efforts on increasing your intake of fresh fruits and vegetables. Study after study shows this increases health and well being.
My number one priority should be quitting smoking.
Hi those are the three I take: vit D , multivitamin, and Fish Oil.. I always forget to take them though. I was D deficient and took a prescription strength for about 5 times over 2 months. Then I went to the over the counter vitamin D.
There is research for fish oil and my mental illness. Vitamin D is good for the immune system and that is good because some of my drugs decrease my immune system. Finally multi-vitamin is good if you are like me and don't eat tons of vegetables. My multi-vitamin has lutein in it because my grandfather had bad eye problems.
I take Niacin, N.A.C. and Vitamin C for my mental ill health
I think the best way for me to get the benefit of vitamins is to eat healthy foods that contain them. I don't take supplements, I eat very very little meat, don't smoke, and drink very little alcohol. What I really need more of, though, is good regular aerobic exercise.
I take zinc and magnesium supps.
A few years ago a certain Professor Derek Bryce- Smith became convinced that the western diet led to deficiencies in those trace elements.
He thought that chemical fertilisers and other modern farming methods were stripping the soil, and subsequently the things grown in it, of essential nutritional factors.
He was laughed at.
The idea is now mainstream.
Incidentally he was the first to demonstrate the toxic nature of lead in petrol..he was initially ridiculed for that too. Now universally accepted.
He was a hero.
I think Vegan's should consider Iron, B!2 and omega 3's to be taken as a supplement. As mentioned above, depending on how broad your diet is you may be getting enough. These are the 3 I give to my children a couple of times a week as they are vegetarian (well ovo-lacto-vegetarian), and you can get vegan sources of these.