~ Vitamins for Woman over 45 ~

[OhioGuy68]

Greetings!

My wife and I are both over 45 and we're looking for more advice on vitamins, or other supplements we should start including in our daily lives to aid in our health. We can start with a multi-vitamin.

There's so many choices and we're looking for advice on what brands are worth taking that actually work. I always read that most vitamins your body can't absorb anyway and you wind up p*ss*ing away your money. No pun intended. Is that true, or does it depend on the brand, how it's taken, liquid vs pill form, etc?

She has tried stronger vitamins in the past that were pretty potent but it causes her nausea, even with food. We're not sure why, or what causes it. The "Alive" brand made her sick feeling.

Thanks gang!

[MoldyGopher]

She has tried stronger vitamins in the past that were pretty potent but it causes her nausea, even with food. We're not sure why, or what causes it. The "Alive" brand made her sick feeling.

In my opinion your best bet is to find a multi that *doesn't* cause nausea. A pill that one is willing to take every day is loads better than 'The Perfect Pill' that makes one ill. (A rhyme! A poet and I didn't... realize it.)

I get nausea from many multis and tried a number of different types before settling on a common, grocery-store level brand.

[OhioGuy68]

...tried a number of different types before settling on a common, grocery-store level brand.

You mean cheap ones they sell at Wal-Mart? I didn't think those were any good. At least that's what I've always read. It also gets costly "trying" many brands but I understand that's really the only way to know, I get it.

Maybe some females can chime in who have had similar experiences with vitamins. It's hard to know because I can take anything and never get sick. I have a cast-iron gut but she's more sensitive to things like food and supplements.

[BuffMother]

I've found that all natural whole food multi's don't seem to cause nausea as much, also beware too much folic acid content-- that can make many people sick. Opt for supps with methelfolate instead.
My list of supps I take almost daily are:
multi
cal
HT supps (these are mine)
NO2
Creatine
Acidophilus/probiotic
ZMA
D3
Biotin
Magnesium

[Cass40]

I can't take vitamin pills because they cause me nausea.

I have been taking gummy vitamins that you chew. They taste like candy and I don't feel nauseated.

[x-trainer ben]

Greetings!

My wife and I are both over 45 and we're looking for more advice on vitamins, or other supplements we should start including in our daily lives to aid in our health. We can start with a multi-vitamin.

There's so many choices and we're looking for advice on what brands are worth taking that actually work. I always read that most vitamins your body can't absorb anyway and you wind up p*ss*ing away your money. No pun intended. Is that true, or does it depend on the brand, how it's taken, liquid vs pill form, etc?

She has tried stronger vitamins in the past that were pretty potent but it causes her nausea, even with food. We're not sure why, or what causes it. The "Alive" brand made her sick feeling.

Thanks gang!

This will sound crazy but i think that some people need powdered vitamins like the Emergen C brand. Alternatively you can put them in a baggie and use a hammer to crush them into powder form. I have tried various brands based on ratings all over the net and i cant tell a huge diff. Right now i am experimenting with a huge container of Kirkland high performance. good luck

[Zocas]

I have never been a GNC fan, but their multi is actually pretty good. My wife could take them with no issues, and she is pretty sensitive. Pretty much any whole food type she can tolerate.
You will most likely p@ss a lot of it out anyway. Lot of the b vitamins. To me that is actually a good thing since you know your bod got everything it needed. The cost is pretty much irrelevant per pill for what you waste.
Like Buff said watch the folic acid and I would watch out for too much copper and iron. (my wife needs all the folic acid though).

[OhioGuy68]

Thanks for the info so far everyone. Good tips. My search continues...

I worry about the iron of 18mg in most multi's. From reading things they say women don't need the extra iron if you eat a decent diet and too much iron can cause organ issues. The more you read, the more you become transfixed on information overload. Ahh...the Internet.

[philipj]

I spend a lot of money on vitamins, minerals and various supplements. At a meeting last Tuesday night it came out that I had been a LEO since 1960. Every person,13, at the meting did not believe I was that olde. Yes stuff works, but you will rarely find it on store shelves. Of the few that are available..... I take 5 1200mg fishoil@ day. At GNC you will find a magnesium/potassium in an asportate base. I read a doc that you should take 4 about 10:00AM for day long energy, I take one at @ meals and 8:00PM: buy the largest bottle, the 2nd is half price. Vitamin C, 1 gram with each meal and 8:00PM.

There is also a number of others I take, one of which I just became a distributor for and will not discuss here. Yes, the good stuff works, and there is no such thing as your MD approving....if you are healthy he makes no money.

[Zocas]

I meant to add I am a huge fan of life extension. Pricey but you know what you are getting. they are a pretty serious company. They have some 1 or 2 a days I think.

[kimm4]

I've never taken multi vitamins. Never really felt the need for one.

[Plateauplower]

Pure encapsulation nutrient 950 is a good multi. Tyler multiplex are also pretty good. I think they help meeting micros if you don't have a wide variety of foods, but won't make up for poor choices. Just insurance more than anything.

[silverlightning]

it really depends if you're deficient in minerals etc. I'm taking some from Costco.

B-complex
Vitamin C
fish oil
Zinc, Magnesium, Calcium with D3.

[v4lu3s]

I wish there was some actual evidence that multi vitamins made a diff.

[Zocas]

I wish there was some actual evidence that multi vitamins made a diff.

According to Life Extension there is mass evidence...... that is what they sell though lol, but they actually do spend millions on studies. It is an intere company and I spent an hour or so awhile back trying to find some bs with the and never found 1 thing.
They fight a lot with the fda and medical field in general

[Zocas]

Again there is no replacement for nature, but everyone needs to remember that most people on here probably eat the way they should.... wtf is natural out there anymore at your regular market? Organic is out of a lot of people's budget. Most people these days do not get what they need. Hence all the sickness and blah blah.

[OhioGuy68]

We bought one of those NutriBullets last year and used it about a week until the novelty wore off, like any other appliance. I think we need to go back to using that. We used Spinach and fruits and some seeds. They claim your body actually absorbs nutrients better juicing. Who knows. I know marketing plays a big role in anything you buy.

[anonymous]

I work for a medical wellness facility - and i take no supplements at all. On occasion, I will take a high quality multi, but certainly not on a regular basis. I believe if you eat a healthy diet, you will get all the nutrition you need - and I have heard it all from pretty much every supplement manufacturer out there. Make your own choices, but remember, if your body doesn't need it, it excretes it......and that's a lot of money down the proverbial drain.

[OhioGuy68]

Supplements are a multi-billion dollar industry. Wouldn't it be interesting to know if they actually worked? lol I can't think of too many other things that people spend that much money on not really knowing how it's affecting their bodies. Well, besides fast food. But, that's another story. I try to avoid fast food, period.

[Plateauplower]

I work for a medical wellness facility - and i take no supplements at all. On occasion, I will take a high quality multi, but certainly not on a regular basis. I believe if you eat a healthy diet, you will get all the nutrition you need - and I have heard it all from pretty much every supplement manufacturer out there. Make your own choices, but remember, if your body doesn't need it, it excretes it......and that's a lot of money down the proverbial drain.

I agree on the eating food to get most micros but unless you are eating a ton of fresh veggies I'll bet a majority of people's diets come up short. Supplements are added to most processed foods (fortified) but the additives many times are low quality and not in a very bio available form. It's easy enough to get blood work done to see if some common nutrient deficiencies are present. Some things are fat soluble and are not as easily excreted and can build to toxic levels. As mentioned by buffmother the methyl folate is one in particular that seems to show some importants due to a common genetic flaw reducing people's ability to utilize folic acid. I don't think you would see anyone dying of scurvy or other acute nutrient deficiencies, but that doesn't mean your body is functioning optimally either.

[Zocas]

Juicing is superior if you have the time and $. Just make sure your getting your fiber as most juicers take out all the fiber. Not sure about the nutribullet. I use to for example make a juice with grapes with all kinds of other stuff added. I would take the (pulp or whatever it is ) from the grapes and add it into yogurt..... just an example. Juicing is another big business that took off. Again for me supplementation is necessary if your not eating properly. It is very easy to get caught up in all the internet bs on either side of the argument. No replacement for nature. I am currently on animal pack. Breakfast usually includes oatmeal and blue berries and eggs. Lunch is a hit or miss and dinner is almsot always with greens (spinach or broccoli) and some form of potato. Everything inbetween is peanutbutter sandwiches or tuna. So for now i supplement.. on days i eat good i will usually not take a vitamin. I do take fish oil/olive oil or coconutoil no matter what.
Again Life Extension does a tremendous amount of research that would be worth anyone checking out if their into that kind of thing. Just remember it is a multi billion $ business which always makes me a little cautious, and again i spent a lot of time trying to find out anything negative or bs about the company and couldn't.
Back in jan feb of this year i was eating like crap took some multis from LE and yes I noticed a difference in skin, energy, and even my eyes. So yes it works if there is a deficiency......at least for me. I admire the people who have the time to makd sure every meal is 100% complete.

[DuracellBunny]

According to Life Extension there is mass evidence...... that is what they sell though lol, but they actually do spend millions on studies. It is an intere company and I spent an hour or so awhile back trying to find some bs with the and never found 1 thing.
They fight a lot with the fda and medical field in general

I would assume that all evidence is statistical studies based. Without going in to all of the reasons why most such studies are BS, I will give you the simple version. Divide everybody in the US in to 2 groups, those that take vitamins and those that don't. The group that takes vitamins will on average:
Do more exercise
Make smarter food choices
Smoke less
Drink less

Even without the vitamins, the group that takes vitamins is going to show better scores on a number of health markers simply due to lifestyle.

[OhioGuy68]

I ordered the One a Day Life Extension multi-vitamin. We will try it and see how we feel, especially her. LE seems like a quality brand after looking into it more. Thanks!

[Zocas]

Duracell put it pretty straight imo. Most people on boards like this eat so good and exercise a lot.
Imo you can't go wrong with LE. So good choice.

[x-trainer ben]

I love the idea of a well balanced diet, but I know no one who eats one.:-)
Lots of people just don't enjoy cooking or have the patience to prepare things. I do, but I think that I am unique.

[OhioGuy68]

I love to cook! So, I have no excuse not to eat well. The problem is I've always been a very, very picky eater and detest green foods. I can blast spinach in a drink but eating anything green reminds me of going out into my yard and eating grass or leaves off a tree. Ain't nobody got time for that. lol Seriously though, I do need to start cooking more and once I learn how to prepare more dishes properly maybe, just maybe I can eat more things. Mind over matter they say. I've never bought into that one quite yet.

[mcbourque]

I can't take vitamin pills because they cause me nausea.

I have been taking gummy vitamins that you chew. They taste like candy and I don't feel nauseated.

you and me both

I hate the idea of taking all kinds of unnecessary sups. Duracell is right.

I just take a gummy multi for women and make sure I eat a variety of food with plenty of fresh fruits and vega.

I also take Emergen-C during the school year because I'm surrounded by snotty children all day!

[MoldyGopher]

You mean cheap ones they sell at Wal-Mart?

No, an actual grocery store for lack of a better term. They're a very common brand, they don't need my shilling.

Point is: As someone who gets nauseated from some multis, it was a victory just to find one that digested properly with food. Buy as small of sizes as you can if you're worried about rejection.

[Tracoleman99]

Greetings!

My wife and I are both over 45 and we're looking for more advice on vitamins, or other supplements we should start including in our daily lives to aid in our health. We can start with a multi-vitamin.

There's so many choices and we're looking for advice on what brands are worth taking that actually work. I always read that most vitamins your body can't absorb anyway and you wind up p*ss*ing away your money. No pun intended. Is that true, or does it depend on the brand, how it's taken, liquid vs pill form, etc?

She has tried stronger vitamins in the past that were pretty potent but it causes her nausea, even with food. We're not sure why, or what causes it. The "Alive" brand made her sick feeling.

Thanks gang!

I was buying the GNC ripped vitamin pack for women, but the price went up and I really can't justify $70 for one month supply of vitamins. I take a gummy chewable daily vitamin (I'll probably switch to another brand when these are gone). I also take fish oil, green tea extract and magnesium. I was taking collagen, but I had a pretty serious reaction to it. (Caused a lot of bloating and other related stomach problems that took a month to get over.) Trick to vitamins is to always take with food and lots of water to avoid stomach nausea.