Another Wednesday. Another day of work and workouts. I danced out my 84-minute run with 1-hour of DanceFit today. Then this afternoon, I took a break from my culinary ‘career’ and watched the two little rascals that are my neighbor boys. I’ll take work and workouts in whatever form they come.
…and now, another moment of writer’s block. No worries, I have something I’ve been eager to discuss: dietary supplements. I haven’t been one to include supplements into my daily diet until just recently. I always felt [and still do] do that the best way to get adequate nutrition is through a healthy, balanced diet – go figure. I felt with as much as I ate, I was sure to be getting enough Vitamin A, Vitamin B, Vitamin C… you get the point. The reality…I’m more than likely not getting the healthy, recommended dose of each and every nutrient out there.
A couple weeks ago, I added 2 pills to my morning routine: 1) Fish Oil and 2) Vitamin D.
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According to Self.com, fish oil may keep breasts healthy, in addition to its several other health benefits: increasing “good” cholesterol, reducing inflammation, reducing arthritis pain, increasing the lifespan of cells [anti-aging], better sight, and lessening the symptoms of severe mental illnesses [source].
As for the Vitamin D, it is suggested that most people who reside where I do – in the sun-deprived area that is Humboldt County – take a Vitamin D supplement, as we sure as heck don’t receive our daily dosage from sunlight.
“What’s most remarkable about vitamin D is the sheer number of health issues it’s been linked to. In the past few years, studies have shown that a lack of the vitamin may be the primary culprit in depression, heart disease, pregnancy problems, birth defects, skin and other cancers, and multiple sclerosis”, from Why You Need More Vitamin D.
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I, by no means, want to have a pill-popping party every morning, but I am definitely interested in researching other dietary supplements that may be beneficial to my personal health.
1. What’s your take on dietary supplements?
2. Do you take daily vitamins? If so, which & why?
Here’s to health!
Hillary
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I take fish oil also… my daily supplements include a multiple vitamin (Nutrient 950) and extra calcium + magnesium. I will check on the level of Vit D in my multiple… Portland right now is beautiful, but most of the year it’s not too sunny! :)
We had about five minutes of nice weather today, and as soon as I got home from my bike ride, the familiar old fog rolled in. Oh well. :D
I take a Flintstones daily. It’s easy to remember, because I look forward to it. Heh.
I normally take a multivitamin that works for me!!!
I often feel like I do a lot of pill popping :) It’s a habit now, so not a big deal!
I take:
1. Vitamin D (I had my Vit D level tested awhile back and I was VERY deficient in it, and since I’ve been on it, I’m back in the average range.)
2. Multivitamin
3. Calcium (only bc my dr. recommended I do so)
4. Fish Oil
5. Garlic (no, my breath doesn’t smell!!) – I think my garlic pills have had the most impact on my health. I started taking Kyolic Garlic Formula 103 back in December 2008 and I have not been sick since I started taking them!! I got my husband on them, and I think they have helped his health as well!
It’s a pill popping party at my house :)
I do what you do! I take fish oil and Vitamin D (mine has calcium in it too). You know they are actually working on changing the DRI for Vitamin D right now (making it higher). Sometimes I take a Flintstone vitamin too (to ensure enough folate — even though I probably get enough from food — however, child bearing age!)
I take fish oil and calcium with vitamin D daily (Viactiv). I know that fish oil pills have tons of benefits; I actually started taking them because I have eczema and have found that now my skin is literally the best it has ever been, so I am a huge fan. I definitely agree that food should supply all of our nutrients, but I don’t drink milk so I want to make sure my body is getting enough calcium/vitamin D and of course keep my skin healthy as I said. Hope your new supplements make you feel that better much about your health :)
I hear that fish oil is a good one to take, especially for women. I hear they smell fishy though. Is that true?
Mine doesn’t smell fishy at all – it’s scented with orange.
I try to stay away from any pills as much as possible, but I do take vitamin D in the winter and fall months… fish oil makes me so burpy (ick), even when I try the freezer trick.
It’s funny though because I do recommend a good multi to other people :)
I take a One-A-Day VitaCrave gummie (yes, I’m 23 years old haha) and a Viactiv (for calcium and Vit D). I should look into Fish Oil but I’m not sure how often I’ll actually take it if it smells like fish & makes you burpy (yuck!)
I don’t take any supplements because I prefer to just try and eat a balanced diet. I have heard great things about the benefits of fish oil, but I have also heard some really awful stuff about them, so I have just avoided them. There has been plenty of research recently that has found that fish oil could contain mercury in them. Also, because of the increase in the fish oil industry, many small oily fish are being over-fished, which could obviously have some very negative effects on our ecosystem.
I definitely take daily vitamins. I try my best to eat a balanced diet and never let the fact that I’ve taken my vitamins steer me away from healthy eating. But that being said, I just feel like sometimes we don’t get all the nutrients we need every day. I take B12 (I am slightly anemic and the doctor recommended this), D, calcium and fish oil. I just added fish oil to my routine recently. I’ve heard only great things!
I think that vitamins are perfectly healthy and probably very beneficial to our health. They can’t completely replace the real thing (so no complete junk diet with supplements thrown in, lol), but I do think they are part of a healthy lifestyle. I know that I take a multivitamin and a Vitamin C every morning. Vitamin C is especially good in the winter. It keeps colds away :-)
Hi, girl! I take fish oil and a multivitamin. Sure, it’d be great if I could get all my vitamins from food, but taking the multi is just to ensure that I’m getting what I need!
i take a calcium supplement & a multivitamin every day. i LOVE the calcium supplement b/c it’s either an adora chocolate disk (YUM!) or a gummy vitamin. SO tasty! they’re like candy. ;)
1. Multivitamin – to cover all bases.
2. Vitamin C – extra, I believe it is very helpful in keeping me sick free.
3. Fish oil – burp free, of course. nothing worse than burping up fish oil, gross.
4. Vitamin D – will all of the evidence pointing to deficiencies and its benefits, why not.
All dr. recommended for me.
I take Glucosamine, and Chondroitin MSM for my joints. I also take Calcium with Vit. D for my bones and what not.
I think supplements are ok, especially if you don’t feel you get enough from diet alone. But I think if you have a balanced diet, it’s best to get your nutrition from your diet. However, I think fish oil pills are a good idea. :)
Jenn
Just to keep you in the know, most health regions have changed the usual dosing of daily Vitamin D supplements from 1,000 IU to 2,000 IU.
I know in my health region and career I have seen this change within the last two months. Most physicians are suggesting a slightly higher dose :)