Do we need supplements

MayBee70

Grantanow

I guess it all depends on your genetics and food intake. Some supplements can cause trouble as noted above. I take folic acid on GP prescription. Otherwise, vit D in the winter. Also cherry extract for gout prevention and magnesium against cramps. Occasionally, vit C as I've given up orange juice (too much sugar).

I’ve read several articles that say that orange juice is really bad for you as it causes a huge sugar spike. One of them said that they regard orange juice as being as unhealthy as eg cola drinks.

Orange juice gives me acid skin and horrible itching around the chin and neck, like hives. Find out which fruits are good for you from the Blood Group Diet. Mine are cranberry, cherries, plums, grapes.

MayBee70

Grantanow

I guess it all depends on your genetics and food intake. Some supplements can cause trouble as noted above. I take folic acid on GP prescription. Otherwise, vit D in the winter. Also cherry extract for gout prevention and magnesium against cramps. Occasionally, vit C as I've given up orange juice (too much sugar).

I’ve read several articles that say that orange juice is really bad for you as it causes a huge sugar spike. One of them said that they regard orange juice as being as unhealthy as eg cola drinks.

Orange juice contains as much sugar as cola drinks. Just eat an orange! It contains sugar, but also has fibre. It's impossible to avoid all sugars, so I make sure that I'm at least getting some good stuff with the sugars I eat.

I eat so much uncooked salad that I doubt very much if I lack Vitamin C. The only supplement I take is Vitamin D. I have blood tests at least once a year for all sorts of reasons and Vitamin D deficiency is the only one which has ever been flagged up.

It depends how much orange juice you drink. One small glass a day, is considered sufficient and unlikely to give a sugar spike.

Drinking large glasses of orange juice and more than once a day is when it gets unhealthy.

Berry fruits! I don’t know what Betty fruits are.

We take a general multivitamin and now also vegan Omega 3. I think we have a reasonable diet but as Monica says, we eat less overall and because I have gone off fish in a major way, we likely don’t get enough Omega 3.

It’s a relatively small cost and we’ll probably stop the multivitamins over the summer when there are more salads and Betty fruits around.

Grantanow

I guess it all depends on your genetics and food intake. Some supplements can cause trouble as noted above. I take folic acid on GP prescription. Otherwise, vit D in the winter. Also cherry extract for gout prevention and magnesium against cramps. Occasionally, vit C as I've given up orange juice (too much sugar).

I’ve read several articles that say that orange juice is really bad for you as it causes a huge sugar spike. One of them said that they regard orange juice as being as unhealthy as eg cola drinks.

Our GP says everyone should take vitamin D supplements all year round

I guess it all depends on your genetics and food intake. Some supplements can cause trouble as noted above. I take folic acid on GP prescription. Otherwise, vit D in the winter. Also cherry extract for gout prevention and magnesium against cramps. Occasionally, vit C as I've given up orange juice (too much sugar).

I take a probiotic and kefir daily, also calcium tablet prescribed by G.P. Eat a very healthy diet, less than half what I used to eat - I think people eat far too much! 3 meals a day is just a bad habit.

Yes, I am taking them but am building bone after surgery. Caution is recommended.

My great uncle lived to 99 on 40 woodbines and half a bottle of whisky a day. I really do think it’s more genetics rather than what you imbibe that gets you to an advanced age - but I’ll hedge my bets on that too!

Blossoming

There seem to be a few people taking calcium supplements. Please don’t do this without speaking to a doctor, it can cause the body to start shedding calcium by interfering with the blood calcium levels.

Well said Blossoming.

I have Vitamin D deficiency, so am on prescribed supplements. My body doesn't retain it, due to medications.
Vitamin D toxicity is usually caused by large doses of vitamin D supplements, so if you don't need it, in my opinion, you shouldn't be taking it. Only a blood test can show if you have a deficiency.

I have a healthy diet and do not take anything else. I'm fortunate in that frequent blood tests usually identify any problems.

I have a good varied diet but I do take vit D in the winter.

I was told by a customer to take Glucosamine for my bad knees but will wait to see a medic. She offered me hers as she did not trust me to buy the right one but that would leave her without. Will talk to GP appointment next week. Apart from that do use multi vitamins Inc d which gp advised

Just vit D here on Drs advice.

There seem to be a few people taking calcium supplements. Please don’t do this without speaking to a doctor, it can cause the body to start shedding calcium by interfering with the blood calcium levels.

Do we need supplements

I can’t answer for anybody else but I have a vitamin D deficiency and take a supplement recommended by my endocrinologist. I am on a lot of prescription meds and don’t take anything not recommended by my healthcare team.

Make sure your GP and pharmacist knows exactly what you are taking. I was taking what I thought was a harmless multivitamin and it caused liver damage because I was overdosing and my body couldn't clear it quickly enough. Luckily the liver can regenerate but I'll never take unprescribed supplements again

Taking too many supplements just leads to very expensive urine, as the body will expel what it doesn’t need. I take VitD and cod liver oil - my DF swore by the latter and lived to be 96.

I take selenium, kelp, vitB12. odourless garlic. calcium every day and various others occasionally aswell.

But Yammy what if you are eating far less than you used to? I certainly am. I must be eating half the amont of vitamins etc.

You should if you have a balanced diet get all your vitamins etc. from your diet. I am encouraged to take vitamin D tablets, especially in winter.

I’ll continue to hedge my bets and carry on taking D3, B12/B complex, magnesium and calcium, I eat plenty of fruit and veg daily, drink enough and don’t eat too much rubbish. Isn’t that the best any of us can do without being too extreme.?

I have just been assessed in case i have osteoporosis. The doctor asked if I took a vitamin D supplement and was very approving when I said 'yes'

I have taken a broad spectrum vitamin, mineral etc supplement for years.

I take it because, good diet or not, and it is good. I now eat far less than I did in my prime and if I am eating less food, I must also be consuming smaller quantities of vitamins, minerals etc, so need to get the rest of them from somewhere else and the obvious way is supplements.