Do Vitamin/ Mineral Supplements Really Make A Difference?

[covsooze]

So, what's everyone's experience? Is it worth shelling out the money on vitamin & minerals? Even if you eat healthily? I'm interested as I don't use them regularly and, despite my biopsy showing I'm doing well on the diet, I don't feel as well as I'd like to, so am exploring options for improvement

[ravenwoodglass]

In my families experience they do make a big difference, especially the B and the B12 in particular. I take a vitamin that we used to think of as a 'stress vitamin' combo plus at the beginning I also took sublingual B12. In the beginning before you heal it is very important that the B12 be sublingual as you will most likely have trouble absorbing it in the gut. many use probiotics at first also if they had a lot of D but I prefer to use live culture yogurt for the same purpose (regulating the good bad bacteria normally present in the gut). One thing to be cautious of though is iron, make sure you do not over supplement without a doctor first checking the levels. For one thing in some the tired and anemic feeling is really not from iron loss but from B12 levels and too much iron is toxic to the liver and kidneys. We are 4 years post diagnosis in my home but still take vitamins regualrly.

[elenarose]

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[debmidge]

I view vitamins as the "back up plan." Because I may not always eat properly or as in husband's case he needs all the help he can get and perhaps he missed certain vitamins in his diet that day --- the supplement does what it says: "supplements" the basic diet

It's not meant to be the only source of the nutrients.

[Guest cassidy]

I always take vitamins (I'm pregnant now so it is a requirement). I don't think I have ever noticed the difference when I take them and when I don't but it seems like a good thing to do.

The things that have really helped me are probiotics and digestive enzymes. I can tell a big difference when I take those and when I don't. They help your body digest food so everything moves along better. I just responded to your other post about other intolerances. I do find that if I eat something I'm not supposed to (not gluten, but like tomatoes) the digestive enzymes will help with stomach pain.

[mamaw]

I take vits & minerals on a regular basis. In the world as it is today all of our foods have been altered in some shape or form. They do not contain the nutrients they used to have. We are not eating the same as our forefathers..... the foods have definitely been changed & not for the better..

When you do take supplements you need to take the very best, because if you don't use the forms that work with your body , you will just urinate them out. In turn you will be flushing your $$$$ down the toilet..

And before someone stomps on me ---you can take to much or to many & get sick.

The soil has also been depleted of many minerals.....

We all need supplements.

blessings

mamaw

[ArtGirl]

I take some supplements - a B complex, calcium/magnesium and glucosamine for arthritis, and digestive enzymes.

I cannot seem to get along without magnesium - whenever I stop taking it, about a week or two later I start getting headaches round the clock. With it, no headaches. (I started taking magnesium for fibromyalgia and although I no longer have FM symptoms, I apparently still need the magnesium - by the way, you must take it with calcium as the two work together).

I don't take a multi-vitamin. I used to, but had to throw most of my supplements away when I discovered my corn allergy and haven't yet tried to find replacements for everything. I eat a lot of vegetables and some of them raw, so I figure I'm getting vitamins naturally.