Do you have a cupboard full of Vitamins and Supplements?  

No I do not have a cupboard full of vitamins and supplements. We do take vitamins and supplements but we only take one vitamin and two supplements each day. I have to buy some about every 4 to 6 weeks it depends on the size of bottle I can afford to get when I run out.

I have at least four different vitamins in my medicine cabinet. Which I take everyday.

Hi jennybianca


My conception regarding the use vitamin and other supplement is different than the common concept. Actually there is the needs of vitamin in our body but in a certain amount. So before using the vitamins we should know the necessity of it in our body. Because our body never consume the vitamin is if it is supplied more than its necessity. Suppose a certain amount of zinc or iron or some other minerals or vitamins is needed for our body and if we supply more than the certain amount then it is not consumed by our body. Food supplement are consumed when there is the deficiency in our body. So before using vitamin and other food supplement we should diagnosis it's necessity in our body. Otherwise it will be like adding more water in a container of certain measure. What happen when we add 1.5 liter water in a 1 liter container. Balance diet is more important to make us healthy. Some time we need to use food supplement, vitamin and minerals but before knowing it's deficiency in the body. If there is any deficiency of any thing then it is necessary but if already it is sufficient then it is unnecessary use.

I think best way of using supplement is to use after diagnosis its necessity.

I have a cupboard of vitamins and medicines because I easily got sick. I maintained vitamins C and Bcomplex, antioxidants and Calcium. I prepared some medicines for headache, fever and flu.

I'm really surprised to read this. Nobody in our house or anyone I know of, take any supplements or vitamins daily. Unless one is very ill with some deficiencies, I don't think doctors too prescribe supplements. I had some vitamins and iron and calcium after delivery 28 years back. My children were given vitamin drops till they were an year old. We are all healthy with the ordinary food we take. If anyone falls ill we get the prescribed dose of medicines. No other medicine you will find in my house, and most of the houses in our place.

Hi! I actually don't take any vitamins or supplements. I used to take a multi-vitamin but was actually getting too much of a lot of the vitamins and minerals and it simply was a waste. At times I'll take extra vitamin C if I'm getting the sniffles.

As a vegan myself, I'm very sorry to hear your daughter is not taking the diet as seriously as she should. I went vegan at fifteen and it's what made me teach myself to cook. Does she know how to cook or does she even have a good, general understanding of nutrition? I've been vegan for six years and was in college for two years for dietetics. If you'd like I can get some information for your daughter to help her out. If not, that's fine too, but I hate when I see people ditch the lifestyle simply because it's harder to keep up with than the American meat-and-potatoes diet.

Also, another great way to get Omega-3s is flaxseed oil (or any products with this in them, I know of some soymilks with Omega-3s) and walnuts. Both are great sources of natural Omega-3 fatty acids. Fish is kind of a second hand source, since they do not produce it themselves but actually eat it and pass it on to those who eat the fish. There's actually a really good natural margarine (that is vegan, as well, so your daughter could eat it) called Natural Balance that is made with flaxseed oil and is a great source as well.

Good luck with everything...I hope the supplements work out for you and I hope your daughter can get a little more adept with her lifestyle.

In this age of stress and viruses, taking supplements is a necessity. I take Vitamin supplements with advice from my doctor. It is good to take vitamin C or B complex supplements to boost your immunity. On the other hand, if you can plan it well, you can consume foods rich in Vitamin C and B complex to increase immunity. Other supplements like you have stated may be used with the doctors advise and according to which ones may be beneficial to you. Care also has to be taken that the supplements do not result in an excess of a certain vitamin since it could be harmful.

Hello jenny, i have a medicine cabinet. I usually stock on pain relievers, anti allergies or antihistamines, as well as ointments for fungus and muscle pains. I also keep in there the vitamins of my children, vitamin c and multi vitamins. I don't drink supplements, i am not used to it.

I think it's awesome that you support her vegan diet that much! When I became vegan at age 13 my parents and family overall were really unsupportive and it made it really hard because they wouldn't want to buy foods for me, they were always saying that it's my problem if I don't want to eat like everyone... Anyway back to your daughter... you have to know that a poor immune system can be caused by many things other than diet, it can be stress, overtraining, some diseases or dysfunction. Now you think it's because of her diet and that propably is so change that first and if it didn't changed anything look for other reasons.

So what could you do to help her build a better immune system(and better health in general)?

The first thing I would do is to be sure she's hydrated enough, because dehydration is often the cause of a bad immune system!

Zinc is also really important for the immune system. Vegan sources of zinc include ; wheat germ, tempeh, beans, lentils, pumping seeds, tofu and whole grain cereals.

Bee pollen is I think the food you daughter would benefit the most, it's a really complete food, it contain vitamin B, complete proteins and it's really good for the immune system and athletes. But find out if she consider it vegan first!

Spirulina is another great superfoods, it's the highest source of protein found in nature, it's rich in various vitamins and minerals, it's good for the immune system and for athletes too! With spirulina you need to start with a small amount like 5 grams or less a day for a week and then increase slowly to the desired amount. I'd say 15 grams is a good amount, 5 grams 3 times a day. I can send you a link if you want to buy spirulina in big quantity and at a third the price you would find it in health food store!

Medicinal mushroom are great for immunity! Mushsroom blend are what I recommend, be sure it include shiitake, reishi and maiitake. Medicinal mushroom are also a great source of complete proteins!

Vitamin C obviously, taking it from fruits and vegetable is better of course as you get not just vitamins C, so try to prepare more fruits dessert for example uncooked and unsweetened of course ! =)

Hemp seeds is really good too, it's one of the best protein! It's rich in magnesium which is important for athletes it's also a great source of essential fatty acids like the so popular omega 3(in my opinion it's way better than fish oil). It's high in minerals and vitamins too.

Goji berries may be a great addition too, it's a superfood but it also taste great (well personally I find it taste great!) What is special about goji berries is that it's a great source of complete proteins(that's really unusual for a fruit!) It contain many minerals that are good for the immune system (like zinc and germanium) as well as some vitamins B.

These foods are great addition to anyone diet, but if the rest of what you eat is not so good it won't do miracles. So if you cook for her try to add more nutrient rich foods like quinoa, tempeh, leafy green vegetable (Almost everyone don't eat enough of these!), nuts and seeds and whole grains.

I hope that will help your daughter!

that is very sad that you have to keep that many vitamins for your family. but i am not in that kind of condition so i dont do that.