SO Many Supplements

[flashgordonv]

One of the things I find really irritating about trying to live and eat healthily is the number of supplements I have in my cupboard that need to be consumed on a daily or twice daily basis. The list currently includes:
- Whole Food multivitamin and mineral (4)
- Joint supplement (I have thinned cartlidge in my knees) (1)
- Vitamin C (4)
- Vitamin D3(5)
- Omega 3 (3)
- Gingko Biloba for memory and brain function (when I remember to take it :D ) (1)
- Probiotics (1)
- Ubiquinol (COQ10) (1)
- ALA (1)
- 5HTP (2)
- Magnesium (2)
I look like a junkie as I consume all of these supplements before I eat my breakfast. :O

It makes me realise how doctored our food supply is, how nutrient deficient our soils have become and how polluted the land and sea have become.

I do spend time looking for combination supplements to try to reduce the number of items and bottles I need to keep, but with not a great degree of luck to date.

 

[flashgordonv]

Here is a picture of the vitamin cupboard


This is embarrassing - picture will arrive shortly

 

[RyanX]

One of the things I find really irritating about trying to live and eat healthily is the number of supplements I have in my cupboard that need to be consumed on a daily or twice daily basis.

...

I look like a junkie as I consume all of these supplements before I eat my breakfast. :O

It makes me realise how doctored our food supply is, how nutrient deficient our soils have become and how polluted the land and sea have become.

I do spend time looking for combination supplements to try to reduce the number of items and bottles I need to keep, but with not a great degree of luck to date.

Flashgordonv,

I know what you mean about taking a lot of vitamins, it does seem like a lot when you step back and look at them. But in the end the only thing you should be concerned about is if the vitamins and supplements are doing their job. Are you detoxing, are you slowly feeling better, can you think clearer? Appearances may be one thing, but regaining your mind is something else entirely! In many cases, taking these supplements keeps a lot of us from reverting back into junkies of various sorts.

One suggestion that I think is mention in other threads by Laura is mixing certain morning supplements in with a protein shake. If taking all these pills bothers you, this might be one way to ameliorate that.

 

[andi]

One of the things I find really irritating about trying to live and eat healthily is the number of supplements I have in my cupboard that need to be consumed on a daily or twice daily basis. The list currently includes:
- Whole Food multivitamin and mineral (4)
- Joint supplement (I have thinned cartlidge in my knees) (1)
- Vitamin C (4)
- Vitamin D3(5)
- Omega 3 (3)
- Gingko Biloba for memory and brain function (when I remember to take it :D ) (1)
- Probiotics (1)
- Ubiquinol (COQ10) (1)
- ALA (1)
- 5HTP (2)
- Magnesium (2)
I look like a junkie as I consume all of these supplements before I eat my breakfast. :O

It makes me realise how doctored our food supply is, how nutrient deficient our soils have become and how polluted the land and sea have become.

I do spend time looking for combination supplements to try to reduce the number of items and bottles I need to keep, but with not a great degree of luck to date.

I know exactly what you mean!
Every single time I take them I kind a hold back for a second... just because they are so many. I know the are doing me good cause I fell better ... and just as you say : ''It makes me realise how doctored our food supply is, how nutrient deficient our soils have become and how polluted the land and sea have become.''

 

[flashgordonv]

Flashgordonv,

I know what you mean about taking a lot of vitamins, it does seem like a lot when you step back and look at them. But in the end the only thing you should be concerned about is if the vitamins and supplements are doing their job. Are you detoxing, are you slowly feeling better, can you think clearer? Appearances may be one thing, but regaining your mind is something else entirely! In many cases, taking these supplements keeps a lot of us from reverting back into junkies of various sorts.

One suggestion that I think is mention in other threads by Laura is mixing certain morning supplements in with a protein shake. If taking all these pills bothers you, this might be one way to ameliorate that.

Hi RyanX
Yes I understand. I have been researching necessary and healthy supplements for many years, and I know they are doing me good, otherwise I would not be taking them. It is just a bit depressing sometimes looking at what I am forced to take on a regular basis to restore and maintain my health.

 

[Al Today]

Every single time I take them I kind a hold back for a second... just because they are so many.

Yep, that's my morning routine also. Takes me longer to eat the supplements than gobble down breakfast.!.!.!

 

[Jefferson]

I've often wondered how many and what types of supplements would be most beneficial to me.

I fortunately have not suffered from leaky-gut or other auto-immune or inflammation issues. So I have just consolidated my vitamins around:

Vitamin C (ascorbic acid powder) - morning, maybe some later on
Vitamin D (5000iu) - sometime in day
Omega 3 fish oil (2 times/day, or at least once)
Magnesium (Citrate, powder) - in evening on empty stomach before I go to bed
NAC - fairly regularly 1/day, sometimes every 2nd day.


Who knows, maybe adding more to the repertoire would help, for example potassium, but I am somewhat averse to having such a load to take -I gotta hand it to you guys for going all-out on the supplements, as I'm guessing you are getting results. That takes patience, as the results likely can't be seen right away.

Have you tried dropping some and observed what has happened?

 

[Oxajil]

Re: SO Many Supplements

I fortunately have not suffered from leaky-gut or other auto-immune or inflammation issues.

How do ya know?

Vitamin D (5000iu) - sometime in day

It was advised in Primal Body Primal Mind that it is best to go with cod liver oil for the vit D supply or to get it from animal fats for example. This post may help: http://cassiopaea.org/forum/index.php/topic,24001.msg283215.html#msg283215

Who knows, maybe adding more to the repertoire would help, for example potassium, but I am somewhat averse to having such a load to take -I gotta hand it to you guys for going all-out on the supplements, as I'm guessing you are getting results.

I don't think the point is to take in as many pills as one can, but mostly I think it is about knowing why and when a certain supplement should be taken. For example I only used potassium and some other supplements as I was going low-carb, since those supplements helped the process, and once my body got adjusted to the low-carb diet I didn't need them anymore. Ideally, as the body gets stronger, most of the needed vitamins and minerals should be absorbed from good quality food and water, but since we probably need to continuously detox, and since it is difficult for some to get quality food, some additional supplements might be needed.

 

[chachazoom]

In this day and age I think good quality supplements are essential.

 

[realitybugll]

The data from nutrition data.com tells that 500g raw grass fed beef (100g protein) has only 25% DV magnesium. Some other minerals don't measure up either. And I am thinking if you are eating all meat and not super-active you are only going to be eating 100-150g protein, the rest fat. So this is not enough vitamins/minerals. But I have heard on online forums a few people only taking salt with their meat and not suffering any deficiency symptoms--and I am not sure how well these symptoms are establish, some more than others I think, for iron, vitamin C, definitely so--but my thought is that eating meat, on a ketogenic diet, minerals are more bioavailable. same with vitamins perhaps. So that you don't necessarily need to meet the DV requirements. and it depends on the vitamin and mineral I am sure. probably lots of the DV requirements that have been established is for a grain-diet, and not only that, some of these established "requirements" are probably not good science to begin with..

probably fatty fish is always a good addition to whatever meats but I'm not sure.

Then of course organ meat is important I think. this way you easily meet the copper DV% that you would not otherwise and maybe some other vitamin DV amounts but I didn't check. but still there is would be many deficiencies.

 

[RedFox]

It may be worth mentioning that my tolerance for vitamin c has greatly reduced on the low carb diet (many other people have reported this too). The data seems to suggest that the less carbs you eat, the less oxidation occurs (so less need for vitamin c). The cells receptors responsible for vitamin c are also used by glucose. That and the meat contains the transformed version of vitamin c (if I remember correctly).
So it seems probable that (with the exception of omega3) we may be getting enough nutrients from this diet - simply because our bodies are working more efficiently/suffering less damage, and thus require less nutrients? (this may not be the case with all nutrients though)
I'm getting my nutrients from a few green/leafy vegetables, but mostly sea/Himalayan salt, organ meats and by cooking meat (with bones in - easier than making bone broth) in casserole dishes covered with water in the oven. Using a pressure cooker would probably be a better option.
Supplements are important (especially if you are deficient in something), but this may also be something to consider.

 

[Jefferson]

Re: SO Many Supplements

I fortunately have not suffered from leaky-gut or other auto-immune or inflammation issues.

How do ya know?

A better way to express it would be that I haven't had the symptoms of inflammation that many others have experienced. However, it could very well be that some type of autoimmune disorder has/had been lurking in the background undetected. I have had allergies and this past spring/summer they have been less severe. These were worse years ago when I ate wheat.

Who knows, maybe adding more to the repertoire would help, for example potassium, but I am somewhat averse to having such a load to take -I gotta hand it to you guys for going all-out on the supplements, as I'm guessing you are getting results.

I don't think the point is to take in as many pills as one can, but mostly I think it is about knowing why and when a certain supplement should be taken. For example I only used potassium and some other supplements as I was going low-carb, since those supplements helped the process, and once my body got adjusted to the low-carb diet I didn't need them anymore. Ideally, as the body gets stronger, most of the needed vitamins and minerals should be absorbed from good quality food and water, but since we probably need to continuously detox, and since it is difficult for some to get quality food, some additional supplements might be needed.

Good point. I am careful with supplements and testing them as prudently as possible - I am taking supplements based on my best estimate using the scientific knowledge: C, D, fishoil, magnesium. I decided on potassium based on some symptoms I've noticed (some solar plexus/abdominal tightness, and psyche mentioned it could be from potassium deficiency) but that is a bit of a test, and I will see if there is any difference.

 

[SMM]

Re: SO Many Supplements

I fortunately have not suffered from leaky-gut or other auto-immune or inflammation issues.

How do ya know?

Vitamin D (5000iu) - sometime in day

It was advised in Primal Body Primal Mind that it is best to go with cod liver oil for the vit D supply or to get it from animal fats for example. This post may help: http://cassiopaea.org/forum/index.php/topic,24001.msg283215.html#msg283215

Who knows, maybe adding more to the repertoire would help, for example potassium, but I am somewhat averse to having such a load to take -I gotta hand it to you guys for going all-out on the supplements, as I'm guessing you are getting results.

I don't think the point is to take in as many pills as one can, but mostly I think it is about knowing why and when a certain supplement should be taken. For example I only used potassium and some other supplements as I was going low-carb, since those supplements helped the process, and once my body got adjusted to the low-carb diet I didn't need them anymore. Ideally, as the body gets stronger, most of the needed vitamins and minerals should be absorbed from good quality food and water, but since we probably need to continuously detox, and since it is difficult for some to get quality food, some additional supplements might be needed.

The supplements I currently take once a day are:
5-HTP
Omega 3
Vitamin D3
Magnesium
B-Complex w/ Vitamin C [numerous vitamins - see here
L-Glutamine
NAC
Acetyl L-Carnitine

&, occasionally, Milk Thistle & L-Tyrosine. Some were introduced with the switch to low-carb, high-fat [i.e. L-glutamine] about a month & a half or so ago.

Sometimes it does feel like it interferes with the body's functions or a lot of pills going in. I've been having gastrointestinal pain & was wondering whether that may be linked to having to digest all the above. I have Primal Mind, Primal Body - though haven't read it fully. The other supplement I've looked into getting is Liposomal Vitamin C, & also switching from 5-HTP to L-Tryptophan, as well as D3 for cod liver oil.

I'm starting to think some of these supplements affect my functioning though - there's pressure in my chest & my brain still seems incredibly foggy. There's a day in which I think I forgot to take some, & I felt different. It may be worth experimenting with selective elimination as I'm not sure entirely which one may be exacerbating the situation.

 

[Carl]

Re: SO Many Supplements

The supplements I currently take once a day are:
5-HTP
Omega 3
Vitamin D3
Magnesium
B-Complex w/ Vitamin C [numerous vitamins - see here
L-Glutamine
NAC
Acetyl L-Carnitine

&, occasionally, Milk Thistle & L-Tyrosine. Some were introduced with the switch to low-carb, high-fat [i.e. L-glutamine] about a month & a half or so ago.

Sometimes it does feel like it interferes with the body's functions or a lot of pills going in. I've been having gastrointestinal pain & was wondering whether that may be linked to having to digest all the above. I have Primal Mind, Primal Body - though haven't read it fully. The other supplement I've looked into getting is Liposomal Vitamin C, & also switching from 5-HTP to L-Tryptophan, as well as D3 for cod liver oil.

I'm starting to think some of these supplements affect my functioning though - there's pressure in my chest & my brain still seems incredibly foggy. There's a day in which I think I forgot to take some, & I felt different. It may be worth experimenting with selective elimination as I'm not sure entirely which one may be exacerbating the situation.

For starters, I would say the 5HTP is wasted money unless you really feel a noticable effect from it.

What kind of omega 3 are you taking?

Vitamin d3 may not be necessary as it is present in lard, you may be having too much of that. B vitamins are also very high in liver. As mentioned above, vitamin C is not necessary either when one is in nutritional ketosis.

Once you've been on the diet for a while, you could try eliminating everything but magnesium, and maybe the NAC, and see how you feel.

One other thing is that, if this started around the time of switching diets, you may have some form of Hemochromatosis , it's very worth checking out.

 

[SMM]

Re: SO Many Supplements

The supplements I currently take once a day are:
5-HTP
Omega 3
Vitamin D3
Magnesium
B-Complex w/ Vitamin C [numerous vitamins - see here
L-Glutamine
NAC
Acetyl L-Carnitine

&, occasionally, Milk Thistle & L-Tyrosine. Some were introduced with the switch to low-carb, high-fat [i.e. L-glutamine] about a month & a half or so ago.

Sometimes it does feel like it interferes with the body's functions or a lot of pills going in. I've been having gastrointestinal pain & was wondering whether that may be linked to having to digest all the above. I have Primal Mind, Primal Body - though haven't read it fully. The other supplement I've looked into getting is Liposomal Vitamin C, & also switching from 5-HTP to L-Tryptophan, as well as D3 for cod liver oil.

I'm starting to think some of these supplements affect my functioning though - there's pressure in my chest & my brain still seems incredibly foggy. There's a day in which I think I forgot to take some, & I felt different. It may be worth experimenting with selective elimination as I'm not sure entirely which one may be exacerbating the situation.

For starters, I would say the 5HTP is wasted money unless you really feel a noticable effect from it.

What kind of omega 3 are you taking?

Vitamin d3 may not be necessary as it is present in lard, you may be having too much of that. B vitamins are also very high in liver. As mentioned above, vitamin C is not necessary either when one is in nutritional ketosis.

Once you've been on the diet for a while, you could try eliminating everything but magnesium, and maybe the NAC, and see how you feel.

One other thing is that, if this started around the time of switching diets, you may have some form of Hemochromatosis , it's very worth checking out.

I was extremely low on serotonin levels, following Prozac, brain atrophy & drug use, so have been taking 5-HTP for a little under a year - it has helped noticably thus far, I feel, but I may see how I feel off it for a week. The Omega 3 I take can be found here.
Not sure if what I'm about to write is off topic, if so, then hopefully a moderator can rectify that..?

The pain, including heartburn, most of the gastrointenstinal tract notably around the descending/sigmoid colon, & a hard time passing wind started around the time of switching diets. I flicked through the Hemochromatosis thread & will spend some time reading through it in more depth, many useful links there.
In addition to the above, I have sickle cell trait - & iron deficiency anemia consequently. About two years ago, I had an accident were metal was ingested into my body which drastically affected my entire body system & may have lead to metal toxicity.

Iron Deficiency & Coeliac Disease & Paleo Diet Challenges & Solutions have offered an some insight also - low stomach acid, decreased enzyme activity & inflammation are all possibilities. I may have to do some tests with the doctor on this one.

I think getting some digestive enzymes would be useful as well as eliminating in terms of supplements everything except NAC, L-glutamine, magnesium, cod liver oil & digestive enzymes - see how my body responds from there.

Thank you Carlise!