Are vitamins a waste of money?

**abowers** · 03-30-2006, 04:44 PM

Re: Are vitamins a waste of money?

I don't think so. I've had low iron before (I found this out while donating blood) Just adding a once - a - day women's vitamin (including iron), in addition to the iron I already get from food, has helped me to maintain higher iron levels.

Not to mention I have no desire for osteoperosis, so I drink lots of milk and the multi vitamin also gives me more calcium.

**abowers** · 03-30-2006, 04:45 PM

Re: Are vitamins a waste of money?

PS,
I also work at a preschool. My doctor suggested that I buy some Vitamin C tablets in addition to my multivitamin to help keep me from getting sick from the little boogers.

**cercis** · 03-30-2006, 08:28 PM

Re: Are vitamins a waste of money?

They don't work as well as natural forms of the vitamins and minerals. Your body does not assimilate them as well as vitamins and minerals from food sources.

However, sometimes it can be extremely expensive to buy all the necessary foods (depends on season and availability).

That's one reason I like fitday.com. It allows me to check out my diet and see if there are any gaps and make a choice how to fill those.

**cercis** · 03-30-2006, 08:29 PM

Re: Are vitamins a waste of money?

Originally posted by abowers

Not to mention I have no desire for osteoperosis, so I drink lots of milk and the multi vitamin also gives me more calcium.

You should look to vegetable sources of calcium. Your body absorbs it better than dairy calcium.

**cicy33** · 03-31-2006, 07:51 AM

Re: Are vitamins a waste of money?

I personally have always felt that as long as you eat a balanced diet you don't need vitamins. I personally am anemic all the time but allergic to iron pills, go figure! So I try to get my iron from food. My daughter was told at her last check up she is seriously low on pottassium (sp) and so we are pushing banannas (sp) on her. Lordy, I can't spell today. Most vitamins make me sick to my stomach.

**Fern** · 03-31-2006, 08:07 AM

Re: Are vitamins a waste of money?

I have spent an enormous amount of money over many years on vitamins. Have they helped? There's really no way of knowing. But I don't believe that modern agricultural practrices ensure you'll get the right nutrition from fresh produce for example, which sits around during transit from CA or other points to the east coast.

**Ima saver** · 03-31-2006, 08:32 AM

Re: Are vitamins a waste of money?

I have always been a strange eater, just like a little kid, but never outgrew it. I don't eat any fruits or vegetables and never had a salad in my life. I take a few vitamins and have hardly ever been sick in my life.

**mkdotson** · 03-31-2006, 01:22 PM

Re: Are vitamins a waste of money?

I do not believe they are a waste. I am into Natural/Alternative medicine.

I used to not believe into until a sickness developed that nothing medical science done worked, infact many times got worse.

I would not buy anything but from a Natural Health store (NOT GNC, Walmart etc.)

Vitamin shopp has a awesome selection of vitamins, and after 3 mths of a GOOD vitamin you should be able to tell a difference. I can tell in the way I feel (of course I sleep at least 8hrs too) my hair, nails and skin.

Melanie

**acezz4e_tish** · 03-31-2006, 04:41 PM

Re: Are vitamins a waste of money?

i believe they are worth it, if you go for what you need. i have found gnc as a good help in that dept. I told them my iron tests run on the high side of normal before i even eat, average of 14.6, the norm is 10-14. it was 16 when i was preggy. In case someone is wondering, thats when they poke ur finger and test a drop of blood. my kids all run in the 11 percent area, like .2 or .5 on any given day. So i look for vitamins for them with the least amount of iron in them so they wont get a stomach ache, cause i got them when i took iron sups. gnc has a gold bottle of thier own, they are gel tabs like vitamin e's are. you can take one or two a day, they have no iron, and higher quanity of biotin, which is essential for healthy hair, skin,eyes and nails, hair and nails most especially. I notice having good quality of the b complex vitamins also, you dont get bugged by misquitos either. So research it by your diet as someone else suggested. i lost my gall bladder and gastritis comes with that, it builds pressure in my chest, like id have a heart attack, and im alergic to oranges, so i need more antioxidents that you get from ruffage and the quality of oranges too. I get like a whole mouth full of canker soars from one small glass of orange juice and my skin breaks out in a red rash all over if it gets on my skin. apple juice and juicy juice berry is about all i can drink of juices, and i dont eat much fruit. i won a watermelon eating contest long ago and ever since, uggggggh near fruits.lol other then bananas. so theres lots of things i love that i cant eat now, not that i wouldnt if i could, i love brussel sprouts even, and bean sprouts in my salad. only things i can think of i dont like are beets, asparagus,radishes and rhubarb. Alot of things put me in sever pain if i eat it, and thats not the kind of pain you gain from.lol

**Bluezy** · 04-01-2006, 12:00 AM

Re: Are vitamins a waste of money?

I take them religiously every day. I don't have the time to eat correctly, so a time-released vitamin is essential.

Starting with pre-natals, I've continued the regime over the last few years and can tell a difference when I miss a day.

**Lady J** · 04-02-2006, 09:57 AM

Re: Are vitamins a waste of money?

I had surgery recently and post operation I never took vitamins. After surgey, I have to take them and I notice the difference. I have more energy.

**PrincessPerky** · 04-02-2006, 05:44 PM

Re: Are vitamins a waste of money?

They arn't perfect, prolly half what they claim, but halof is better than none.

Just don't use them to skip the fruits and veggies, foods you already eat (well should eat!)

**pennywise** · 04-02-2006, 05:52 PM

Re: Are vitamins a waste of money?

In the fall semester in my pathophysiology class my instructor had us do alot of reading on vitamins and antioxidants. At the time I was sick (major stress for 6 years) and thought I was going to die (seriously, I was telling my daughter I was dying, I could feel it) - read up on stress. I had pain, too. I read in the readings that vitamins are dosed on healthy average people. I thought I am not healthy and I am overweight (not obese yet, and hope never). I doubled my vitamin. In two days the pain stopped. I know take 2 multivitamins with minerals, one b Complex, one b12 (most women are deficient), and two co-enzyme Q10. I feel great! Vitamins are worth it, we cannot get the foods (healthy foods) we need. So many of the foods are contaminated with chemicals, and I eat organic when we get it, but question the purity here too. Antioxidants are important but there is much caution in the literature about over doing them. Please search the internet and look for medical information, not from people who are selling. Look at the research. With antioxidants there is reperfusion injuries and damage that occurs as a result of the lack of oxidation. Anyhow, I am very satisfied and will stick with my regime. Pennywise, the nurse practitioner.

**JBinKC** · 04-05-2006, 09:38 AM

Re: Are vitamins a waste of money?

I think supplements are much cheaper preventative than doing nothing and eventually facing a medical problem later on. Most foods today contain fewer vitamins and minerals than they did 30 years ago. I religiously take 1/2 a mulitvitamin, 500 mg of vitamin C, 6mg DHEA, 3 capsules of fish oil , yogurt cultures, and a glucosamine MSM and chondroitin combination daily and try to eat a balanced diet.

Are vitamins a waste of money?