Vitamins and minerals

[missprim]

Do you take supplements and do you think they do you any good?

[tiggerblue10]

I use to take a multi-vit every day years ago and I did find that I had less colds during the year than before. I don't take them now and I try to eat healthily instead.

[Buenchico]

This might be a useful starting point:
http://www.nhs.uk/chq...=51&subcategoryid=168

I have occasionally taken vitamin supplements but I'm not sure that they've actually helped me in any way.

Chris

[cathfromsaron]

i *forget* to take my multi mineral, but i do need it! x

[gollysailor]

Yes and yes

[ummmm]

No and not if you have a healthy diet.

[missprim]

Thanks for the link Chris. I didn't realise that taking too many vitamins can be harmful, I take loads. Everytime I hear a certain vitamin is good for you I add it to my cache. I take 15 different types. Perhaps I should stop buying some of them.

[mrs.chappie]

I recently bought a tube of Haliborange Vitamin C tablets, reduced in a bargain bin. I'm not fully convinced that they'll do any good but I don't mind giving them a try at the reduced price. They taste nice too. Wouldn't have bought 'em at full price though.

I have a friend who swears by Echinacea (spelling?) to ward off colds and flu in winter.

[missprim]

ummmm I don't. Sometimes I do but then I get fed up with it and go back to eating rubbish.I'm pretty sure the food I've eaten today had no nutrional value to it.
Hope you see this as I just want to say if K got banned for having a pop at you, then he deserves it.

[ummmm]

It could have been a coincidence....

[grasscarp]

I read today that having a B multivitamin a day is good as a protection against Alzeimers disease. Having seen an elderly relative with this, who doesnt know me at all although we were very close once, I will take one a day from now on. Couldnt bear to get this in later life.

[gingejbee]

Give me twenty pounds-worth of decent food over twenty pounds-worth of vitamin pills, any day.

[Chaffinch]

Nah, grow and eat my own fruit and veg, cheaper, more fun, and better for you. I just need to learn to grow my own choc, and my lifes complete!

[Buenchico]

Excessive intake of vitamin B12 has been linked to cancer:
http://www.usingvitam...min-b12-overdose.html
as has too much vitamin C and vitamin E:
http://www.telegraph....-for-your-health.html

Vitamin E, in large quantities, has also been linked to heart failure:
http://emedicine.meds...ticle/126268-overview

Vitamin A, in excessive quantities, can cause lots of problems:
http://www.rightdiagn..._a_overdose/intro.htm

Too much vitamin K can lead to liver problems:
http://emedicine.meds...ticle/126268-overview

[missprim]

Thanks again for the links Chris.I think when I get time I should google the vitamins I do take to find out more about them.

[Eve]

I had prescription stuff for a Vitamin D deficiency but that was a medical thing. I don't take any others though have had some vitamin C given to me by friends when starting a cold sometimes.

[Andyvon]

I remember that National Geographic did a study on vitamins and supplements recently Missprim. They reported that the industry is basically just a huge money-spinner worth billions of dollars to the industry and individuals involved. The opinion of the various medical consultants was that no one eating a healthy and balanced diet needs to take supplements and vitamins. One real danger that has been identified is that many people think they can ignore a healthy diet simply because - or if - they are taking supplements.

As Ummm says just stick to a healthy and balanced diet.

[missprim]

Amdyvon,that's good advice from you and ummmm. I will add it to my list of New Year resolutions.

[petal54]

vit.B is ment to slow the onset of dementia

[pastafreak]

You can have a 'balanced diet' on paper-but vitamin content is affected by both the freshness of your food,and how it is cooked. Fruit and veg can start to deteriorate from the moment it is picked. Also-smoking and alcohol consumption can deplete the body of certain vitamins.

[Wak]

I have read that Curcumin and Astaxanthin (as well as Vit. B 12) can also have benefical effects on dementia as they are able to penetrate the blood/brain barrier.
With regard to Curcumin (extracted from Turmeric/curry powder), comparison of the relative illnesses between India and the U.S. seem to confirm this.

http://articles.merco...n-Fight-Dementia.aspx