What vitamins and supplements do you take?

retro:electro

Wasn't sure where to post this, but love finding out what daily supplements people take. Personally I take Aloe Vera capsules and Starflower oil capsules. I'm hoping they'll give me clearer skin and also some hormonal balance as the week before my period I am an actual nightmare and have heard Starflower works wonders.

What do you take and have you seen any benefits?

sullivlo

Mod

Hi OP,

I'll leave this here for the time being, but you may get better responses over in nutrition and diet: http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/forumdisplay.php?f=982

Let me know if you'd like me to move it.

All others: No medical advice please.

robyntmorton

Typically I don't take anything, preferring to eat well.

That said, I make an exception after I have been unwell, taking a multivitamin for a month or so, or a course of probiotics after a course of antibiotics.

Sunny Dayz

I have great trouble taking tablets, it probably is just a mental thing but I just try and they will not go down, then I start over thinking it, get frustrated and stressed and can't swallow for love nor money. I've gone into chemists so many times looking for vitamins, asking about the size of the capsule or tablet, being assured they are easy to swallow, they are tiny and the pharmacist saying "I can take them no problem and I have difficulty taking tablets myself". All lies!! I have so many opened boxes and jars of vitamins in the top press that I really must dispose of.
I take Floradix 2 different formulae, - one is a liquid iron, the other is called expresat and is a multivitamin.


I'd love to take a vitamin for hair, skin and nails, there's a few of them on the market, but they aren't cheap and I think the capsules are big so I don't really want to waste any more money on vitamins.

meeeeh

I am very sceptical about health claims of vitamin supplements and I think vast majority of alternative medicines are complete quackery. I took some b vitamins years ago for my nails. It did absolutely nothing for me. Anyway my hair are regularly trimmed and that seems to be all it's needed for them to be in good shape and I stear away from nail varnish. I eat relatively varied diet and I really don't see any benefit in taking additional supplements that are not even proven to work. Vitamin d, folic acid, iron supplements and similar when needed are exception.

sullivlo

robyntmorton wrote: »

Typically I don't take anything, preferring to eat well.

That said, I make an exception after I have been unwell, taking a multivitamin for a month or so, or a course of probiotics after a course of antibiotics.

This.

I try and get all of my nutrients from food by eating a balanced diet. The exception being post-antibiotics when I'll take a probiotic or some vitamin C when I have a cold.

Berocca is clinically proven to give you very expensive wee.

I also use electrolytes when I'm exercising, but I'm not sure if I'd class them as a supplement.

ancapailldorcha

There's no obligation whatsoever for the purveyors of vitamins and supplements to prove that they work at all. That alone is enough to put me off ever wasting my money on them unless my doctor prescribes them. I'm a bit worried that people might be expecting too much of them, even if they did work. If your diet ain't up to snuff then a little pill isn't going to fix it.

Bambi985

Don't feel the need to take anything on a daily basis. If I've been ill or caught a cold I might take a high amount of vitamin C or a multi-vitamin for a while, but I wouldn't do it regularly enough for it to be a habit.

Lots of vegetables, lean meats, eggs, fish and some fruit and keeping away from the booze and fags is twenty times more effective than any magic capsule you could take.

retro:electro

I wouldn't be into taking anything that can be naturally derived from food but don't think there's any harm in taking aloe Vera and starflower capsules. Have heard they're good

Loveinapril

I take a daily dose of vitamin D that was prescribed by my doctors and I am trying to concieve at the minute so take Pregnacare, or Folic Acid when I run out of Pregnacare and keep forgetting to go to the pharmacy.. like this week!

sullivlo

anna080 wrote: »

I wouldn't be into taking anything that can be naturally derived from food but don't think there's any harm in taking aloe Vera and starflower capsules. Have heard they're good

No harm, but maybe have a chat to your GP or pharmacist about any supplements, particularly if you're on any other medication. For example, Johns wort can interact quite badly with certain medications. I know you didn't mention Johns wort but that's the first thing that came to mind!

Also I would be wary of aloe vera. Isn't that used on one of those mad detox diets that runs the guts of you?

I never need supplements in January because I eat my vegetables. The rest of the year..... :pac:

kylith

I too prefer to avoid supplements with a good diet, but on the advice of my GP I do take an iron supplement.

Dolbert

A multivitamin and folic acid, juuust in case.

meeeeh

kylith wrote: »

I too prefer to avoid supplements with a good diet, but on the advice of my GP I do take an iron supplement.

I never needed iron, not even after giving birth. Then I lost a good amount of blood once and needed a blood transfusion. After that I was told to take iron tablets and that is one supplement I could feel working instantly. Maybe it was just in my head how instant it felt but it definitely helped with my energy levels.

kylith

meeeeh wrote: »

I never needed iron, not even after giving birth. Then I lost a good amount of blood once and needed a blood transfusion. After that I was told to take iron tablets and that is one supplement I could feel working instantly. Maybe it was just in my head how instant it felt but it definitely helped with my energy levels.

Absolutely, I had so much more energy pretty much instantly, and was mentally a lot sharper.

bee06

Just folic acid for me. I took vitamin d for around 3 months last year because I read somewhere it could help in getting pregnant but I didn't and stopped taking it once I finished the packet.

daisybelle2008

Regularly at the moment:
Acetyl L-Carnitine
Alpha Lipoic Acid
NAC

In the cupboard and taken when I remember:
DHEA
Milk Thistle
Vitamin D

Coming up to a sun holiday to extend a tan:
Vitamin E and beta-carotene

The Raptor

I read something before that you only absorb 20% of a vitamin in tablet form. You absorb most, 95% if it's in liquid form. So I take source of life liquid. I was always so tired, even after a full night's sleep, I felt the effects of this immediately. Be warned though, it's very very expensive. But it's worth it.

daisybelle2008

The Raptor wrote: »

I read something before that you only absorb 20% of a vitamin in tablet form. You absorb most, 95% if it's in liquid form. So I take source of life liquid. I was always so tired, even after a full night's sleep, I felt the effects of this immediately. Be warned though, it's very very expensive. But it's worth it.

IHerb has an 887ml bottle for 33euro. Reviews look good. How much do you take, how long would that bottle last?

The Raptor

daisybelle2008 wrote: »

IHerb has an 887ml bottle for 33euro. Reviews look good. How much do you take, how long would that bottle last?

30ml per day but it lasts a month, so it's good value.

Parchment

OTC Iron twice daily, Vit. D once daily and Silica once daily for my skin/hair.

clairek6

Does anyone here take zinc?

Airyfairy12

I started taking Boots brand skin, hair and nails supplements about 3 weeks ago and have been taking them everyday since. They contain Biotin, Iron, zinc, vitamin D, E, C, B1, B2, B6, folic acid among other things, I honestly dont notice much difference.. My nails are slightly less flaky but ive stopped wearing nail varnish and using nail varnish remover so I mostly attribute it to that as acetone wrecks my nails. Ill continue taking them until I run out but I think I would have noticed some positive results by now.

rainbow kirby

Just a cheap multivitamin (folic acid/B/C/D/zinc). While I'm still breastfeeding I feel like I need to take something!

eviltwin

Nothing at all!! I should probably take B12 because I have a mostly vegan diet but I've never bothered.

darkcharm17

Ive been advice on iron by my Gp. I prefer a liquid than a tablet

fits

I'm taking floradix and my remaining pregnancy multi vitamin when I remember. Most people could probably do with vitamin d in this country also as it's hard to get enough from food.

Rubberlegs

I am usually useless with remembering to take anything daily. I also have zero patience and want to see instant results. I tried taking Pharmaton because I was feeling wrecked tired and fuzzy headed but apparently you have to take them for a couple of months to feel the benefit. I gave them up in frustration, can't be waiting that long for an improvement. For almost a month now I'm religiously taking CleanMarine Menomin, suspecting I may be in perimenopause. I can't notice any great difference yet, though my itchy skin at night may have improved a bit. I think poor quality sleep is my main problem, having had a little one who didn't sleep a full night till she was over 3. She is 5 now and my sleep is still terrible

clairek6

73Cat wrote: »

I am usually useless with remembering to take anything daily. I also have zero patience and want to see instant results. I tried taking Pharmaton because I was feeling wrecked tired and fuzzy headed but apparently you have to take them for a couple of months to feel the benefit. I gave them up in frustration, can't be waiting that long for an improvement. For almost a month now I'm religiously taking CleanMarine Menomin, suspecting I may be in perimenopause. I can't notice any great difference yet, though my itchy skin at night may have improved a bit. I think poor quality sleep is my main problem, having had a little one who didn't sleep a full night till she was over 3. She is 5 now and my sleep is still terrible

Speaking of pharmaton took the tablets last year and within a couple of minutes I used to get sick. A few years ago I used to take the drink version and never had that issue what ever it was.

m'lady

I'm on B12 every 3 months (it was every week and one stage!), and folic acid. I've tried starflower oil and evening primrose to try and help with pmt but it never worked for me..

m'lady

Loveinapril wrote: »

I take a daily dose of vitamin D that was prescribed by my doctors and I am trying to concieve at the minute so take Pregnacare, or Folic Acid when I run out of Pregnacare and keep forgetting to go to the pharmacy.. like this week!

I was recently told by my Doctor to start taking vitamin D as it showed I was little lacking in it from a blood test.. she never gave me a script tho, she said to just pick them up a 'boost' and then maintenance in pharmacy.. Can I ask what you were prescribed?

Loveinapril

m'lady wrote: »

I was recently told by my Doctor to start taking vitamin D as it showed I was little lacking in it from a blood test.. she never gave me a script tho, she said to just pick them up a 'boost' and then maintenance in pharmacy.. Can I ask what you were prescribed?

The tablets I am on are called Desunin. They are 800iu. They were prescribed due to the link with MS so I get them free under the Longterm Illness Scheme. I don't know if they are any higher than the OTC variety.

m'lady

Loveinapril wrote: »

The tablets I am on are called Desunin. They are 800iu. They were prescribed due to the link with MS so I get them free under the Longterm Illness Scheme. I don't know if they are any higher than the OTC variety.

Thanks loveinapril, I will check that out.

AMKC

I was taking the Centrum multi vitamin tablets but did not think they were dong anything so stopped after the month. I bought them when they were on deal and might have continued if they still were but they were not so I decided they were not worth the full price.

Lia_lia

I take vitamin B12 as I'm deficient in it. Also take vitamin D because the doctor told me to!

B00!

When I remember, I am suppose to add a vita-shake to my daily meal plan (to bulk up and provide nutrients). Seems a bit too processed to me - would prefer a green drink or wheatgrass juice ...and a good multi-supplement seems like a smart idea for overall well-being.

rainbowtrout

Have been anaemic a couple of time over the last few years for a variety of reasons. Took iron for a few weeks and really noticed the difference. Don't take anything else.

Malari

I take Perfectil from time to time, as my nails sometimes get brittle. It works within a week or so.

I had to take iron a year or so ago, when my levels were low in a blood test.

Apart from that I don't think I need anything else, just a balanced diet seems to work!