Vitamins

[murasaki]

After taking the RealAge test a couple of years ago, I started taking vitamin supplements (one of my recommendations as a result of the test).

While I think I eat healthy most of the time, I don't think I get all of the nutrients I need every day (especially calcium), and I've had doctors recommend vitamin supplements for people in general for the same reason.

These are my vitamins:
multi tablet (no iron since women should not take iron without specific directions to do so from your doctor)
calcium supplement (two times a day)
C supplement
folic acid supplement (for women in their reproductive years)
E supplement

Anyone else take vitamins? Why or why not?

--naomi

[taurusmoon]

I do, I do!

My diet is sorely lacking a number of nutrients so I really do need to supplement.

While I can't swear to whether or not it's making a difference according to the big picture, I have noticed some dramatic small changes since taking an array of supplements regularly:

My nails look great! They have looked like hell for several years. Always breaking, splitting and peeling. Now they look wonderful. In fact, I went for a manicure last week and the woman who worked on me commented on how strong my nails were. I had to laugh and told her about the vitamins. She argued with me telling me that surely I was born blessed and that few of her clients were so fortunate.

My skin is much, much smoother and (dare I say) clearer.

I'll have to assume that my overall health has improved too. If not, what the hell, I'm still ahead of the game.

Sara

[conradd]

I buy vitamins - a giant bottle every year at Costco - but I have yet to open the bottle. I know it's a good idea, but honestly, I'd rather floss than choke down one of those huge pills.

If I ate healthy food, I wouldn't feel so guilty. LOL, anyone want to start a daily vitamin thread?

Deb
just kidding, I think

p.s. I do floss every day - perhaps what I need is vitamin enriched dental floss

[Redlass]

I think vitamins are a fantastic idea. Whenever I take them, I feel better and stay healthier (though, I have learned not to take them at night because the energy rush keeps me from sleeping).

The problem is, I haven't enough of an attention span to take a pill every single day. It's why the pill would have never worked for me as a birth control method. The only time I've managed to be consistent about pill taking has been when I'm so sick that my misery reminds me to take it, and when I was pregnant and had constant physical reminders to take vitamins.

When I do remember to take them, I take a pre-natal vitamin, fish oils, and sometimes echinea (but not when I'm trying to get pregnant--I read once that that herb used to be used to induce abortions naturally).

[AuntieEmma[$]]

I take Safeway house brand vitamins -- they're called "OmniSource" -- they have a ton of everything in them. When I first started taking them, I did feel better in a subtle kind of way -- I felt I had more energy and was less depressed. I was really curious about which vitamin/mineral/etc. that was in there was making me feel better. I wanted to know so that I could maybe take more of that. But there's so much stuff in there, there's no way to figure it out.

They're huge horse pills, but you can break them in half, which I do sometimes if I'm having trouble getting them down.

I do take those every day. I figure it can't hurt, and I do feel better, and even if it's a placebo effect, that's still something. And I do think there's something real going on there.

I also take calcium (Tums) when I remember, which isn't always. That's helped a lot with cramps and PMS.

I take extra C if I feel like I'm coming down with a cold or if I'm feeling really stressed, but otherwise I just go with what's in the mega-multi vitamin.

[pluckyduck]

I buy vitamins occasionally.

Andrea
slinking away

[KateTPZ]

I don't take vitamins and I'm sure my diet is sadly lacking. They only thing I take with any regularity is calcium, and the regularity is questionable. :o

[jenninca]

I take the lovely normal Centrum vitamins. I take two a day because I know my diet is sorely lacking in many nutrients. I don't know if this (taking two) is a bad thing or not. I recommend Centrum--they're not horse pills and they don't taste or smell bad.

The only way I remember to take them is to put the vitamin bottle so close to the box of cereal that I will knock the vitamins on the floor if I don't move the bottle first. Using that method, I remember to take them every day during the week. Weekends are a different story. I almost never eat breakfast on weekends.

I also take a vitamin C supplement. I get the kind that is like hard candy and suck on it all through my shower. It's gotten to the point where I almost can't wake up if I don't have it. I swear by vitamin C. I am around multitudes of germy creatures each day and have been sick all of about four days in the last three years. Vitamin C and thorough hand washing. Best ways to keep me healthy!

Cindy

[murasaki]

It took me awhile to remember to take my vitamins, and I noticed that's a problem for a lot of us.

What I started doing was keeping my vitamins in the bathroom cabinet instead of the kitchen or elsewhere. Taking vitamins in the morning comes right after applying moisturizer to my face. Same with my evening vitamins.

I find that if I see them in the bathroom cabinet when I'm using other articles, I am more likely to remember to take them.

And, on the health side, I have great nails and my hair seems to grow faster when I'm taking my vitamins regularly.

--naomi

[cyndilouwhoo]

I wish there was a selection in the poll that said "I eat healthy but should be taking a multivitamin anyway". It would have been a no-brainer.

I really have been making better food choices--but I still think I need to take one of those One-a-Day with Iron kinds of multivitamins (y'know, the ones marketed to women who need iron)

But I go out and buy a bottle and then forget to take them. Hell I can't even remember to take the pills I'm supposed to take. I've always been terrible with remembering to take any kind of pill for anything.

Well except for that "unprescribed psychedelic pharmaceutical period" of my life during the '70's. I always remembered those

I give up.

Cyndi

Thinking Deb is right--we need a daily "did you take your vitamin" thread. Maybe then I would remember

[taurusmoon]

Done.

Sara

[cyndilouwhoo]

Man, Sara... You are fast

Cyndi

Putting "Buy Vitamins" on her to-do list

[conradd]

Due to intense peer pressure (and some nagging by our resident expert ) I have just opened my vitamin bottle for the first time in ages. It holds 300 vitamins and I think there are 298 left after the one I just took.

Kirkland Premium Multivitamins with herbs and all I have to take each day is one. I like that. However, the expiration date is 5/01. I'm tempted to just keep taking them - there might be a minor loss of potency, but it's still gonna be better than my normal diet. Does expiration date matter?

Deb

[cyndilouwhoo]

Originally posted by conradd
Due to intense peer pressure (and some nagging by our resident expert ) I have just opened my vitamin bottle for the first time in ages.

Kirkland Premium Multivitamins with herbs and all I have to take each day is one. I like that. However, the expiration date is 5/01. I'm tempted to just keep taking them - there might be a minor loss of potency, but it's still gonna be better than my normal diet. Does expiration date matter?

Deb

Oh go wild Deb...Buy a new bottle.

The expiration date is there for a reason

Cyndi

Who just threw away 3 bottles of expired vitamins and doesn't want to be the only one.

[taurusmoon]

Originally posted by conradd
Does expiration date matter?

Deb

It does if we're talking about a carton of milk.

As far as vitamins go, here's your answer.


Sara

[conradd]

Thanks Sara;

I also e-mailed the on-line pharmacist from the Costco website and will post the answer here when I get it. While even a slight increase in vitamins would be better than I'm doing now, I can see the logic in making sure the pills are at their peak of potency.

Deb

[cyndilouwhoo]

Originally posted by conradd
Thanks Sara;

I also e-mailed the on-line pharmacist from the Costco website and will post the answer here when I get it. While even a slight increase in vitamins would be better than I'm doing now, I can see the logic in making sure the pills are at their peak of potency.

Deb

Good that you asked--I will be curious about what the Costco folk say.

I don't think that potency is the only issue with herb-supplemented vitamins though--sometimes the herbs break down into things that can be mildly toxic to the body--stuff like mahuang comes to mind (although I doubt you have any ephedra-laced vitamins in your stash--but it's amazing what they sneak that stuff into.)

So the herbs would be the thing I had the most questions about I guess.

Cyndi

The cautious one

[conradd]

Here's what I sent:

From: conradd@proaxis.com [mailto:conradd@proaxis.com]
Sent: Wednesday, August 22, 2001 9:21 AM
To: webpharmacy@costco.com
Subject: Expiration date on vitamins?


A while back, I purchased a bottle of Kirkland Premium Multivitamins with Herbs. Like most of my fitness ideas, this went by the wayside and after taking one vitamin, I didn't open the bottle agin. Until yesterday. Now, I have 299 vitamins that expired 5/01. I'm motivated to take them now and am wondering just how meaningful that expiration date is. Is it worth investing in another bottle or can I get by with taking the rest of these before replacing?

Deb Conrad]

and this is what I got back:

Thank you for your e-mail;

Normally, the expiration dates are placed on the bottle primarily because, it is mandated by the Federal government. Usually, from the stand point of a consumer, if it is used within a year of expiration, I would feel comfortable with using the vitamins. Although, there may be a loss of potency in some of the ingredients.

Judi Lee Mar,Pharm D.
Costco Online Pharmacy Manager.

Based on her reply, I'll continue to reach for this bottle as long as Sara nags me to do so.

Deb
who, yes, encourages codependency in her friends

[pluckyduck]

I can't even stand it! I love hanging out with people who are as nuts as I am. You'll understand my vitamin chain of events today.

1) Feel guilty about not taking vitamins yesterday, but do nothing.

2) Sara nags this AM. Say "Okay, go take my vitamins."

3) Go downstairs to three bottles of expired vitamins. Debate taking one.

4) Decide that vitamins lose potency after time, and who can tell how much? Decide to buy new bottle instead.

5) Concidentally, trip to Rite Aid planned for AM. Go to Rite Aid.

6) Spend 30 minutes in vitamin aisle trying to decide what to buy. Least expensive multi-vitamin with extra good stuff is $10.99. Think about it for awhile.

7) Buy nail polish.

8) Buy hair gel.

9) Go back to vitamin aisle. Consider that vitamins at home may not be massively expired.

10) Buy hair scrunchies.

11) Go back to vitamin aisle. Get distracted by soy drink mix. Consider that.

12) Decide that $8.99 soy drink mix is not a good choice since I just threw the blender out so I could buy a new one.

13) Read label for Slim Fast soy drink.

14) Put case of Slim Fast soy drink in cart.

15) Take case of Slim Fast soy drink out of cart and put single can in, instead.

16) Buy sunless tanning lotion.


Andrea
who hasn't taken her vitamin yet, but is clearly working up to it

[conradd]

ROFL, Andrea

We can be impotent together.

Deb
who considers that if and when manufacturers include Viagra as a dietary supplement, that the vitamin market will go through the roof and we'll have to switch this thread to Business Beat.

[jo.com]

I take 12 or so vitamins/supplements every day!