I've been taking a multivitamin for years but I'm trying to get healthier and I know there are some things food can't give enough of. Does anyone have any suggestions for good supplements to take?
sorry...I definitely meant to add more detail, but I was in the middle of a conversation when I started this haha! I'm looking for supplements for overall health...brain health and most importantly, digestive health. I picked up papaya enzyme tonight because I read that it is good for digestive health, but is there anything else? And due to the stress I've been under lately, I notice I've been more forgetful (this thread is a great example haha) and I've lost all motivation. I know there are supplements that can improve memory and mind functions.
Being an athlete in many sports, some at the college level, I've found that good overall health starts with a base in 2 things: diet and exercise. Supplements are exactly that; supplements. They are taken when you are deficient in certain areas of nutrients. If you are never exposed to sunlight, a good vitamin D supplement is wise, for example. As an athlete, you burn calories and need extra for fuel. In this case, most athletes eat more. Additionally, they can take protein supplements etc. but it's really not necessary unless your a serious athlete. From experience, and all the material Ive read on diet, nutrition is best received by the body as part of natural foods. For example, protein is best received by the body as part of a food, such as lean chicken breast, as opposed to a supplement. Also, see what works for you. Everyone's different! Creatine which naturally occurs in humans, is taken as a supplement by bodybuilders and hailed as the silver bullet of muscle building alongside protein. But believe it or not, there is a portion of people who are creatine non responders. They simply don't react well to creatine supplements. Therefore, they have to boost nutrition in other ways. In your case of digestion health, I can suggest things that have worked for me in the past. For several of the sports Ive played, taking supplements necessary due to lifting and prolonged strenuous activity can cause digestion issues. Ive found olive oil, a spoonful a day on pasta, or in a smoothie/protein shake, on veggies etc, works wonders for smoothing out digestion. Also, fiber is key to good digestion. Eat your legumes! Eat whole oats for breakfast as well. These things always have helped me! Anyway, wow, just realized what a tirade i went on! I obviously am bored as fuck lol. Hope this helps though!
Also, the only reason i suggest trying diet and exercise FIRST, is because these are the base for health. If good diet and exercise don't help, you can then see a doctor and find out if you really are sick or lacking somewhere nutrition wise. One other reason: So many supplements are bullshit to be blunt. Remember the Ginko Biloba phase every Grandma and Grandpa in the U.S. dipped into their savings for just a few years ago? Large clinical studies have now consistently shown that it doesn't slow mental decline as it's was proclaimed to do. Anyway, hope this helps! And thanks for aiding in my boredom!
Thanks so much guys! And lawnboy, I do diet and exercise regularly, but I feel like I'm so clueless when it comes to dietary supplements-herbal and otherwise, and I feel like there might be something that can boost my overall health. A lot of people don't realize what their body lacks and should be taking supplements of some sort but no one really knows what to take. And prana, I do use cottage cheese, ginger, yogurt, etc. for my stomach health. I have been diagnosed with an ulcer disease and my doctor had told me that the ulcers will start to feed off the nutrients I give my body. That's why I take a strong multivitamin-usually twice a day, because I can feel my body starting to lag and I just don't feel right.
I'm thinking what you definitely need is a vitamin-B complex in addition to your multi. I take two vit B complexes a day. Thing is for me most glutens will destroy my means of absorption of nutrients (particularly Bs) This causes a B and B-12 deficiency which can be barely noticable to severe. Just think, they used to institutionalize people for being b-12 deficient because they would lose their minds. YES, vitamins DO have that big of an impact on us. The best thing with B's is that it helps your nervous system. It helps maintain healthy nerve and brain function (yeah that's kind of important). So you would definitely want a b-complex supplement (we don't usually get enough from our food, and if you have a digestive disorder it's essential). Another thing, take a SUBLINGUAL b-12 supplement (the kind you can dissolve under your tongue) once a day. This should make u feel calmer, with more energy and overall healthy! Our multi vits barely have enough B's for what we require, especially when we eat the way we do and breath and walk around in the toxins we do. I see someone recommended 5-HTP, this is only useful for rebuilding serotonin in your brain (when it is lacking we get depressed. antidepressents will basically do the same thing 5-htp does) However, there are side effects to it, don't take anymore than 50mgs and if you're taking an antidepressent it may not be the best idea. Although, I've been thinking about trying it myself. You mentioned concentration and memory function, TAKE AN OMEGA COMPLEX along with your B complex and b-12. Do this for a month and tell us how u feel . If you feel super-fatigued it could also be D or iron...things you may want your herbal health healer or doctor to check (if they're open minded). However, if it's your iron, you'd be super dizzy, spacey, tired all the time and having a hard time sleeping. Try the B-complex and Omegas first, if you are already feeling worse than when you first posted, go see your doc. Remember, eat with all vitamins and supplements, unless it says otherwise, best absorbed that way! Another thing, eat raw garlic or take garlic supps for immune support, don't take XTRA vit. C (in addition to your multi) or echinacea unless you get sick. Good luck, I hope I could help you. Ps. you can get these at any general drugstore or vitamin health shop, and most supermarkets even. If you prefer to shop online there are a lot of options...Although these supplements are generally inexpensive, and common.
Take 5-HTP and daily multivamins along with a diet relatively low on saturated fat etc. Like other's have mentioned, supplement's are just that, supplement's. Their supposed to "supplement' a diet. I also personally drink 3-4 cup's of green tea a day, give or take. Green tea has a load of health benefit's and should not be overlooked! Chamomielle Tea also another tea i recommend. It's very relaxing as it aids in soothing the central nervous system, take it before going to bed or whenever you have time during the day to relax.
Fish oil. The stuff that contains DHA and EPA and the whole nine. I also take egg yolk+garlic extract pills, grain vinegar pills, and shark liver oil. AND, I drink the powdered vegetables of one form or another. There's this "Green" stuff you can find at Whole Foods. You just dissolve it in water and it's good for you type thing. I lift weights(I'm NOT big, trust me, lol) so I also have protein shakes once or twice a day depending on what I eat that day.
I take a multivitamin, fish oil (i have high cholesterol), and a vitamin C (500 mg) supplement. i have psoriasis, which is an auto-immune response. It has been getting a lot better as i have gotten older and learned to deal with stress, but none the less i still take medication for it which suppresses my immune system. The vitamin C really helps.
orange triad is a good multi vitamin for joint, heart, immune and digestive health. I also take fish oil and a protein shake. 5htp is to support overall well being and taken at night for sleep habbits, why would they want that
Well I take several vitamins, but one that I enjoy the most is vitamin D3. It's a nutrient that is difficult to obtain through diet as most of our D3 comes from exposure to UVB sun rays striking our skin. And like most, I'm in doors most of the time. Thought this physician had a nice article about how to take and test D3 levels. "Getting vitamin D right" http://www.trackyourplaque.com/blog/2010/01/getting-vitamin-d-right.html excerpt:
