What Vitamins Do You Take Regularly?

[Kathy in Cambridge]

I take a multi-vitamin, Vitamin E, and a B-Complex everyday. I am starting to think I may need something else as I get older (like Co-Q10).

What vitamins does everyone take? Do you feel better with them?

[chiburb]

1. I take...

1. Multi
2. E
3. C
4. Cal/Mag
5. COQ10
6. Glucosimine

They don't make me feel any better or worse, no more or less energy. I just figure that they can't hurt, so why not? Probably coincidental, but I haven't had a cold or flu for like 3 or 4 years.

[Bertha Venation]

2. a few

Multi-vitamin (no iron); B-complex; E; calcium; glucosamine & chondroitin. I don't notice any difference, but I take these on doc's advice, and I trust my doc.

:hi: Rose :hug:

[Kathy in Cambridge]

3. I was thinking of taking calcium

but I eat a lot of dairy and dark greens. I think you can overdo calcium to the point of painful constipation, since it's a mineral.

:-)

[Snow]

33. Ummmm, Rose

don't you also take thyroid hormone? You do know you should keep your calcium dose & your thyroid meds at least 4 hours apart, right? Just checking......

[Kathy in Cambridge]

36. I don't take calcium

I take my thyroid meds right before bed. I tend to take my vitmins in the morning.

I think I eat enough dairy for a small country, and I'm not really sure about the absorption of calcium supplements.

[otohara]

4. Narrowed it Down to These

multi- the kind you take 2X per day because there's no way one will hold you the entire day

co-q10 - good for heart and energy

B6 P5P formula - helps with skin, carpal tunnel, and a host of other things - 100 mgs per day

calcium/mag/zinc - gotta have your minerals

selenium
extra E
acidopholis - extremely important

I also take Vitex - balances hormones - miracle herb for women

Today I'm going to go buy this herb called gymnema - hoping it helps with my sugar cravings - sugar is bad, bad, bad - my last addiction.

I haven't been sick in years, I credit my vitamins, drinking only water, green tea - and 1 cup of coffee. Eating whole fresh foods, staying away from junk food and soda drinks now for 10 years. Not much sugar, including fruit - especially fruit juices. I drink only carrot, and vege only juices from juice bar when I venture out. Really glad I've been feeding my family organic beef. I am lucky to live in Denver, there are many choices for healthy alternatives.

[Loonman]

5. Centrum

n/t

[Padraig18]

6. I take a Centrum multi-vitamin daily.

:hi:

[RebelOne]

7. Lots of them, mainly for protein.

Vitamin B-12
Vitamin C
Biotin
Zinc
Folic Acid
Selenium

All of them for protein replacement, as I am vegetarian. Plus, I eat a lot of soy products.

Actually Co-Q10 is beneficial if you have high blood pressure.

[Kathy in Cambridge]

8. I heard Selenium is good for improving memory

if that's the case I should be taking that mineral by the handful!

[midnight armadillo]

15. i don't understand

Protein is a macronutrient that makes up most of your body. The things you list here are micronutrients used in small quantities in your metabolism. How do they count as 'protein replacement'?

I'm not trying to jump down your throat, just confused.

[amazona]

19. none of these supplements replace protein

You are getting protein from the soy, but not from any of these supplements, which are not proteins or amino acids (building blocks of proteins).

Vitamin B-12 is often unlikely to be absorbed unless by injection. Sometimes the sublingual B-12 works but if you are swallowing a pill it is possible you are wasting your money. Had a friend with pernicious anemia...it is not pretty...so you need to stay on top of it and make sure you are getting your B-12 in a form you can absorb. In the friend's case, there was no substitute for injections. I don't think it matters if you are a vegetarian or not -- my friend wasn't -- it seems to be a genetic thing that some people lose their ability to absorb B-12 from food as they age. There may not be any absorbable B-12 in some vegetarian diets to begin with, which may be why you hear of it more often with vegetarians. To be honest I thought there was some B-12 in soy but could be wrong in that.

[terrya]

9. 2 Mega Man vitamins from GNC.

It's a multi-vitamin.

I'd feel a whole lot better if I lost 30 lbs.

[ploppy]

10. I do!

Flax borage, omega, E, B, calcium, multiple, gaba, melatonin and one other I can't remember. My skin is great and I don't get colds.

[curse10]

11. Folic Acid, B-12 (sublingual)

that's it :-)

[Robb]

12. Whole lotta Vitamin W...

Good for the heart. ;)

[SiobhanClancy]

13. None...

but my resolution is to start taking better care of myself,so I am going to start taking them.

[Whitacre D_WI]

14. Vitamin R

n/t

[bratcatinok]

16. Prescription strength Folic Acid

since I'm anemic and a good multi-vitamin.

The anemia is caused by the medication I have to take for chronic pain so it will more than likely be something I take for the rest of my life.

[amazona]

17. C, E, B-complex

Doesn't seem to make a difference really but they are supposed to offer long-term benefits.

Vitamin B6 makes a huge difference when I have wrist pain -- stops it cold most of the time. So that's a good one.

I stopped taking Zinc as it turns out to actually increase the risk of dementia. The minerals are very tricky. Calcium is another iffy one -- not much evidence that it is absorbed. The doctor suggests it to humor you but then the chiropractor can show you the un-absorbed calcium in your stomach on the X-ray. I don't have money to waste just on humoring a doctor who is humoring me...so to hell with the calcium.

[jonnyblitz]

18. yikes.,...co-Q10 is expensive....

I take a multivitamin, 1000mg vit c, HTP-5 (hydroxytriptophen which replenishs serotonin, ravers who do "e" told me about this one),DHEA, zinc 50 mg, and Korean Ginseng...

I don't know if I feel better.

[Kathy in Cambridge]

22. HTP-5? Can I get high off that?

;-)

Just kidding-does it help mood?

[jonnyblitz]

31. I can't really tell...

if it effects my moods. I take that plus the other stuff (which i dont know if it works or not either) anyway. My moods seem to be pretty level. I rarely get depressed or overly excited/happy which worries me actually. I can be very indifferent or dispassionate.I call it emotional flatlining. :shrug:

[beyurslf]

20. I take a bunch every day

I take:

2 Super Multi Vitamins every day. (Super Multis basically max out every vitamin)
2 Super Multi Minerals every day. (Ditto above)
4 Calcium 1000 tabs
2 Selinium 200 tabs (the rest comes in the multi)
1 Vitamin E tab

I have a couple herbal supplements that I take at certain times but not everyday.

Sounds like a lot but I used to take much more. At one point, I was taking over 100 supplements a day (50 in the am and 50 in the pm). I found a new super multi though that eliminated the need for all the extras.

And before anyone says it is bad to take so much, I do have a reason. (In some cases I take 3333% more than the recommended doseage and in almost all cases I take the maximum allowed amount. Yes you can OD on vitamins, especially Vitamin E.) I am HIV+ and I use the supplments in place of medication. I have gone about 9 months now with no meds and have seen a very small increase in my levels.
$100 bucks a month sucks since insurance doesn't cover it. But, I would rather do that than take the poisons before I have to.

(On a side note, isn't it funny that my insurance would pay 1100 a MONTH for meds but won't cover 100 in vitamins that have the same result?)

[Kathy in Cambridge]

24. That's because the drug companies make big bucks

off of AIDS meds. Ironic isn't the word for it.

How are you feeling? Do you find vitamin therapy really helps?

On edit: I was going to ask if all those vitamins affected your stomach, but compared to what I've heard about the side effects of the HIV drugs, a little indigestion from vitamins isn't that bad.

[beyurslf]

34. Actually, the meds didn't bother me at all.

Most of the newer meds have far fewer side effects. Also, I have not been + long, so I am able to take the "milder" meds. When I was taking them, I only took 3 a day.

The longer you take meds, the stronger they have to be. Some of the more advanced meds are injections even. Some people have many pills to take every day at a cost even higher than mine.

The vitamins don't bother me too much anymore. When I was taking 50+ in the morning and then again in the evening, I would feel sick. That is why I wanted to find a better super pill to take. The hardest part is eating breakfast, which I never did. I have to now or I am sick to my stomach from the vitamins.

I actually "feel" great...just like I did before really or a little better even. Of course, I am still waiting for the day I can wake up and have anything but "I'm +" be my first thought, or any night where that is not my last thought.

My suggestion to anyone, when you first find out, talk to your doctor (and your doctor should preferably be one who specializes in treating people with hiv/aids). Mine didn't suggest meds until I had 2 tests with levels over 10,000. I started meds and did them for 3 months. Then I had a test with undetectable and went off the meds. My level was 2500 last time (9 months no meds). I have my levels checked every 2 months and if I go up above 10,000 again, I will consider starting meds again.

Waiting to start the meds prolongs the availability of them later.

[cosmicdot]

21. when I do - I've been taking this one

i should take more ... but, the quality ones are very expensive





Supplement Facts
Serving size 1 tablet

1 tablet contains: %DV

Vitamin A (as beta-carotene 20, as palmitate 80%) 5000 iu 100 %
Vitamin C (as niacinamide and calcium ascorbates, ascorbic acid) 500 mg 833 %
Vitamin D (as cholecalciferol) 400 iu 100 %
Vitamin E (as D-alpha-tocopheryl succinate) 200 iu 667 %
Thiamine (vitamin B1) (as thiamine HCl) 75 mg 5000 %
Riboflavin (vitamin B2) 50 mg 250 %
Niacin (vitamin B3) (as niacinamide ascorbate) 50 mg 250 %
Vitamin B6 (as pyridoxine HCl) 75 mg 3750 %
Folate (as folic acid) 800 mcg 200 %
Vitamin B12 (as cyanocobalamin) 300 mcg 5000 %
Pantothenic acid (as D-calcium pantothenate) 100 mg 1000 %
Calcium (from D-calcium pantothenate, calcium ascorbate) 20 mg 2 %
Iodine (from Atlantic kelp) 150 mcg 100 %
Magnesium (as magnesium oxide) 100 mg 25 %
Zinc (as OptiZinc R zinc DL-methionine complex) 30 mg 200 %
Selenium (as L-selenomethionine) 100 mcg 143 %
Manganese (as manganese gluconate) 2 mg 100 %
Chromium (as chromium polynicotinate) 200 mcg 167 %
Molybdenum (as molybdenum amino acid chelate) 100 mcg 133 %
Potassium (as potassium citrate) 25 mg < 1 %
Alpha-carotene 50 mcg *
Boron (as boron amino acid chelate) 1 mg *
Choline (bitartrate) 22.9 mg *
Inositol 50 mg
*
Xantopina R Plus Lutein extract (Tagetes Erectus L.)] zeaxanthin (0.5 mg)] 12.5 mg *
Lycopene (as Lyco-O-Mato tm tomato extract) 2 mg *
PABA (para-aminobenzoic acid) 30 mg *
Biotin 300 mcg

Other ingredients: Dicalcium phosphate, microcrystalline cellulose, maltodextrin, stearic acid, magnesium stearate, croscarmellose sodium, silicon dioxide, purified water, methylcellulose, propylene glycol.

* Daily Value not established

[Kathy in Cambridge]

26. Where can I buy these vitamins?

[cosmicdot]

29. here

http://www.lef.org/newshop/cgi-shop/SearchItems.cgi

I just realized I posted the wrong product - correct supplier though; and, here you go :)

[Kathy in Cambridge]

30. Thanks!

:hi:

[bobthedrummer]

23. About the same, B complex and E

everyday since 1982.

[proud patriot]

25. I take Juice Plus Daily

It's the equivilant to 10 pounds of ruffage a day
I highly reccommend it as the best way to stay healthy.

https://www.juiceplus.com/s1/index.php

[LincolnMcGrath]

27. Just This

[Nikia]

28. Flinstone multivitamin

Whenever I take an adult multivitamin, which usually has megadoses of at least a few vitamins, I feel ill after a few days. The Flinstones vitamins give me most of the recommended daily allowance for most vitamins. I do get vitamins from food as well.

[Nay]

32. A bunch.

centrum, extra E. selenium, extra calcium (chews), ginko biloba, guarana, baby aspirin, fish oil capsules.

I haven't been sick with anything for years, even though my husband and son can come down with nasty colds and flu.

Ginko really seems to help my memory. If I don't take it for a week or two, I can really tell.

[Snow]

35. Heheh! Ethanol, caffeine, and chocolate........

did you know coffee protects against Parkinson's Disease?

Also, when the weather is warm, at the end of my bike ride home, I pull a lemon off the tree in the backyard, squeeze it, mix in sugar, ice & water, & slosh it down. Happiness!

[Kathy in Cambridge]

37. Then I'll never get Parkinson's disease

I love my java! :evilgrin: