Vitamin Supplements

Question: Vitamin supplements? I just read recently that vitamin supplements aren't approved by the FDA and aren't required to be tested for safety. I was just wondering what the actual risks are of taking them since right now I am taking Men's One A Day.

Answer: I have been taking that one for a few years and am fine. I even get good results on my physicals.

Question: Vitamin Supplements? I've recently been taking vitamins (One-a-Day Women's) just to make sure I get the right amount everyday to stay healthy. But I've heard of some bad things about vitamin supplements and I was wondering if I should stop taking them. Do the pros outweigh the cons? Any input would be great!

Answer: You should get you nutrients from food. The challenge is that as over time, the nutrients in food has deteriorated over time. A 2002 landmark study in the Journal of the American Medical Association, using thirty-six years of data, concluded that everyone needs to supplement - regardless of age or health. Their study showed that people who did not get enough nutrition were at an increased risk of disease, including heart disease and cancer. More than one-third of Americans do not get enough vitamin C in their diet. Just 500 mg daily of vitamin C results in a 42 percent lower risk of death from heart disease and a 35 percent lower risk of death from any cause. People who eat a balanced diet still do not get enough adequate nutrition for optimum health. According to the 1992 Earth Summit, 85 percent of vital minerals have been depleted from the North American soil. As far back as 1936, the U.S. Senate issued Document 246, which says the impoverished soil in the U.S. no longer provides plant foods with the necessary minerals needed for human nourishment. Finally, there are a lot of inferior supplements out there (see consumerlab.com), so choose your brands carefully. I use (and recommend) CNCA supplements because they are the purest I've ever found. Wishing you good health!

Question: What vitamin supplements should a young woman take? I am 25 and fairly active. I currently take a multivitamin pill as well as fish oil daily. I don't want to overdo it. Which vitamin supplements are most important for a young woman to take?

Answer: Look for multivitamins that are marketed to younger women as they will be designed to suit your needs. If you are active, you should make sure you get enough calcium and vitamin D so that you don't get any stress fractures. This is even more important if you're rapidly increasing your exercise levels from nothing. It's too much, too fast, and the bone can't handle it. As long as you are taking a decent multivitamin then you shouldn't need any more. Fish oil is also a great supplement to take since it provides an excellent source of good fatty acids that help with overall cardiovascular health and brain function such as memory, recall and focus.

Question: What are essential vitamin supplements for women to take? I have heard from dr.'s that a muti-vitamin is not necessary. I have heard to take a calcium supplement and a few other vitamins. I forgot what they were though! Can any smart people out there help me out with the essential daily vitamin supplements that women around 25 should take?

Answer: Hi People, including doctors are still divided over whether we should take vitamins. I believe we should and you’re at the perfect age to start. Our bodies are designed to self heal (and stay healthy) and they do that perfectly well when they receive the necessary amounts of micro nutrients they need daily. Most people today don’t take in the right amount of nutrients hence the every increasing rates of degenerative disease at earlier and earlier ages (cancer, heart disease, diabetes etc etc) not to mention all the environmental stressors that negatively impact on our bodies. A person your age should take a quality multi ingredient health supplement as an ongoing preventative health-care measure (investment in your health) but make sure the amounts of vitamins and minerals are in small doses - not the ridiculous over the top doses contained in almost all supplements in the market, including the market leaders. Vitamins/minerals are the cheapest ingredients in supplements- providing a lot of profit to the manufacturers (I know because I worked in the supplement industry). What you really want in a (science-based) supplement are lots of high potency phytonutrients and herbal extracts with proven disease fighting/preventing capabilities and minimal amounts of vitamins and minerals along with some amino acids, female support nutrients, enzymes and some important specialty nutrients like L- Glutathione etc (i.e. a balanced full spectrum of micronutrients). Do not take calcium unless you have been diagnosed with a deficiency. If so buy it on its own – calcium is cheap. Same applies for iron. Do not take other vitamins in isolation – this is unwise and can be dangerous. Buy a supplement formulated by a qualified bioscientist – then you know everything is in the right amounts and balanced correctly with appropriate cofactors to ensure high efficacy. Menstruation, pregnancy and menopause play an important role in determining what nutrients women need. Hormonal balance is integral for well-being in women. The safest way to re-balance a women’s body is to provide it with specialized nutrients in the form of hormonal precursors. 5 key hormone precursors are: Black Cohosh , Red Clover , Dong Quai , Wild Yam and Isoflavones. These should be in your vitamin supplement. For more info view this resource page about vitamins for women:

Question: What is the best vitamin supplements for people who's depressed and sick during the winter time? I think it's due to lack of sunlight and ain't getting enough vitamins in my system so is there any vitamin supplements you can get at a drug store (walgreens, walmart). I've been very really depressed, sick and white as a ghost.

Answer: Sunshine..go outside... Vitamin D, Omega Fish Oils, Exercise

Question: What brand of vitamin supplements would you give to 18 months old? My 18 months old daughter is very picky eater. Her doctor recommended me to give her some vitamin supplements but didn't say the brand.

Answer: That young, you should really give them like the Enfamil supplement drops. When she is 2, you can start to give her the regular vitamins like the flintstones or gummies because they're for ages 2 and up. I will warn you though, babies do NOT like the drops, and I don't blame them they smell bad and I bet they taste worse!

Question: What vitamin supplements are dangerous to mix together? I have many supplements that I need to take everyday, but I'm curious as to which ones are safe to mix together. Is there a website that I can put them all into and get a result? Currently, I take Hema-Plex (for anemia), but I'm wanting to add an Omega 3, as well as Vitamin C, Zinc and Niacin. Are these safe to mix together?

Answer: None of them are necessary unless your doctor or a dietitian has made a diagnosis and advised you to take them A good mixed diet is a better source of all the vitamins etc than any synthetic ones. Hema-plex already contains 50 mg niacin - more than the amount needed daily. Also more Vit C than you need per day and enough zinc without adding more. Look for interactions on the leaflet in the pack. Interactions with Omega 3 are on the link. Omega-3 fatty acids can be found naturally in fish, flaxseed, canola oil, nuts, and avocados. They are also available in some fortified eggs and dairy products. Read the lower link about vitamin 'overdose'

Question: What vitamin supplements would a doctor give a bulimic woman? What vitamin supplements would a doctor prescribe a bulimic woman and what would be a bulimic woman's chemical balance?

Answer: best thing to do is use a general rehydration supplement, to restore the electrolyte balance. diorolyte or lucazade are good. a fullblood count should be taken to pick up any specific mineral imbalances like sodium or potassium.

Question: Any over the counter vitamin supplements I should take? I want to know if there are any basic vitamins that one should be taking everyday that can be found in over the counter vitamin supplements. Are there any over the counter brands that can be taken as pills, for example things along the lines of 6 hour energy pills, except actual necessary vitamins? Thanks.

Answer: any brand works just take a simple multi vitimin and vitimin c every day

Question: What drugs, vitamin supplements or techniques cause slow heart rate? I know somebody with a very slow heart rate but nothing really shows up on tests, but has to wear an inserted device to monitor and correct heart rate. Are there any drugs, vitamin supplements or techniques that can cause a very slow heart rate but not show up on medical tests? And also after being released from a stressful and fearful situation, returned to normal.

Answer: Two common problems that cause a slow heartbeat are sinus node disease and heart block. Trained athletes or young healthy individuals may also have a slow resting heart rate. Resting bradycardia is often considered normal if the individual has no other symptoms such as fatigue, weakness, dizziness, lightheadedness, fainting, chest discomfort, palpitations or shortness of breath associated with it. This cardiac arrhythmia can be underlain by several causes, which are best divided into cardiac and non-cardiac causes. Non-cardiac causes are usually secondary, and can involve drug use or abuse; metabolic or endocrine issues, especially in the thyroid; an electrolyte imbalance; neurologic factors; autonomic reflexes; situational factors such as prolonged bed rest; and autoimmunity. Cardiac causes include acute or chronic ischemic heart disease, vascular heart disease, valvular heart disease, or degenerative primary electrical disease. Ultimately, the causes act by three mechanisms: depressed automaticity of the heart, conduction block, or escape pacemakers and rhythms.

Question: what vitamin supplements should someone who doesnt get a good intake of vegetables take? im a medical student and I dont have time to learn to cook for myself so the best i can do is occasionally much on carrot sticks or grab a salad at the cafeteria. im already on vitamin B12 supplements. anything else i should look for?

Answer: V-8 juices for those extra fruits and veggies you are not eating. Try to make your food and drink choices all natural foods. Most of the little bottles are 2 servings, so make the most of them. I hate doctors or nurses who take supplements instead of learning the proper nutrition for keeping themselves healthy. They cannot ever advise patients on proper nutrition.

Question: What are some recommended vitamin supplements to take daily? are all vitamin supplements safe to take for any healthy person..or are there any to watch for and ask my doctor before i take a certain one?

Answer: There are two schools of thought on this question. One believes that if you are healthy, you can get all the nutrients you need from your diet and you don't need supplements. The other believes that even if you are healthy, you need supplements because our environment is so depleted of essential minerals that it no longer supplies what we need in adequate amounts. If you want to supplement, it might be wise to do a medical review to confirm your physical condition and find out whether you are lacking in any essential nutrients. Knowing the underlying medical reason for your health situation can help you choose the right supplement instead of one that contains too little or too much of what you need. For instance, you may have digestive problems which might suggest poor absorption or intestinal bacterial imbalance. If you do not deal with the problem of poor absorption, you could be spending lots of money on expensive supplements and still not get better because your body can't absorb and process them and send them where they are needed. Note however that not all doctors look favourably on supplements. If your regular GP is anti-supplements and you want advice on supplements, maybe you should shop around for one who supports nutritional medicine, or consult a nutritionist. It's also good to do your own reading and research so you have an independent basis for deciding one way or another. I found Dr Ray Strand's book What Your Doctor Doesn't Know About Nutritional Medicine May Be Killing You enormously informative and helpful. You can read more about his work at http://www.nutritional-medicine.net.

Question: Can Orthomolecular Psychiatry, and the use of vitamin supplements cure and treat schizophrenia? Can Orthomolecular Psychiatry, and the use of vitamin supplements like Vitamin B3 (Niacin), Omega 3 Fish Oil, and other vitamin supplements help treat and possibly cure schizophrenia? I am concerned with the drugs I am taking to treat my schizophrenic symptoms, and their side effects. I am taking Abilify(Aripiprazole). I am concerned that over time I might develop Tardive dyskinesia, a possible side effect of the drug.

Answer: It really hurts to see a Troll, unqualified in the field of Psychiatry giving this so called "professional advice". That is simply s.i.c.k. It's true that none of the five Psychiatrist I know can successfully treat schizophrenia, but it isn't the lack of knowledge or their professional - it is due to wrong ways of treatment. They were simply not told any other way while in the university. As an Orthomolecular Naturopath, I am able to improve the state and conditions of mild schizophrenic cases. Just with the right combination and higher dosage of vitamins and minerals than the gov.RD. It is, as the troll rightly pointed, just an biochemical imbalance of the brain.

Question: Why do I feel hungry after taking vitamin supplements? Other people have said the same thing, that taking vitamin supplements makes you feel hungry all the time. I don't need to eat more, but I do need vitamins.

Answer: If you take it first thing in the morning before eating food your stomach is just looking for the next thing coming down the pipe. Make sure you eat a healthy breakfast. Oatmeal, or whole grain cereal, fruits are ok too. Vitamins won't make you hungry, something else is going on.

Question: Do vitamin supplements really boost your energy level? Hi, I have been taking multivitamin supplements for about a week now, I can’t believe how it transformed my life. I use to be very tired in the morning and had troubles getting out of bed, and after a long day I use to nearly fall asleep after dinner. BUT since I started taking the supplements I feel so energized and full of life (I never feel tired anymore). How is this possible? Which vitamin causes this?

Answer: The supplement your taking probably contains B complex vitamins, that's a mixture of 12 different compounds that aid in the digestion of food and the oxygenation of the blood.

Question: Does taking vitamin supplements actually help hair grow? I had a REALLY bad hair trim the other day and I wanted to grow my hair out so I can fix the ends without making my hair too short. If anyone took vitamin supplements, so they really help your hair grow faster? If it does, do you know the average length per month?

Answer: Taking vitamin supplements, unfortunately, does not make the hair grow faster, but they do make your hair way healthy and I would recommend it none the less. Eating a lot of protein on the other hand (meat, beans, nuts, eggs, etc.) does help to make hair grow faster. For some reason, bacon seems to make hair grow substantially quicker. Also exercise, which speeds up your metabolism, makes your hair grow too. Most hair growth, and growth in general happens while you sleep, so getting enough sleep also helps. If you exercise, get enough sleep, eat lots of protein, and bacon (of course not too much bacon unless you want to get some love handles) your hair should grow about an extra half centimeter or so a month. You can decide if it's worth it or not.