Vitamins and supplements....invaluable or worthless?
By blueskies
@blueskies (1186)
United States
February 20, 2007 11:38am CST
My husband listens to the radio each morning while getting ready for work. Each morning, an infomercial would come on for a supplement that sounded way too good to be true (in my opinion). This supplement promised to provide relief from muscle and joint aches and pains, anxiety, fatique, depressions, etc. I told him that if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
Well, after having him pester me for over a week, I finally did some online research on the supplement and found a bottle of it on ebay for a fraction of what they were asking on the infomercial. I purchased the supplement in order to appease my husband, fully expecting it to have no effect on me. I've now been taking it for two weeks.
Results? I feel so much better! The arthritis pain in my knees is practically non-existant. The constant stiffness and pain in my muscles (especially my legs) has decreased dramatically. I am much more relaxed and haven't cried in two weeks (used to be a daily occurance). I have much more energy and don't find it a huge chore to get out of my chair do simple tasks like making dinner. Also, I can stand for longer periods of time without my back hurting.
In case anyone wants to know, the supplement is called vital b-100. I don't get anything for endorsing it, I just hope it might help someone else feel better.
My question for all of you is: is there a supplement that you take on a regular basis that really helps you to feel better? If so, what is it?
15 people like this
48 responses
@estherlou (5015)
• United States
20 Feb 07
I take osteo-biflex for my knees. My husband asks does it do any good, since it is expensive, and I've taken it so long I just depend on it. I also take a lot of calcium, so I think that helps also. I usually take all of my calcium at bedtime which is when your body does a lot of its renewal. One time, I decided to spread it out during the day. I did that for about a week, and I ended up being more crippled than before. So who knows...I just know I can't get by without those 2 things. The vital b-100 sounds interesting. Have you ever looked at a site like Puritan that sells vitamins and minerals? There is so much stuff for every conceivable thing...you just don't know what to do or what to buy! It is amazing.
3 people like this
@blueskies (1186)
• United States
20 Feb 07
I've ordered from Puritan in the past. You just can't beat their prices :)
1 person likes this
@patootie (3592)
•
22 Feb 07
I checked out the Puritan web site to see if they delivered in the UK and found it is part of one of the Uks biggest and most respected high street health shops
www.hollandandbarrett.com
Quite a few vitamins are more beneficial at bedtime .. I take my multivit tabs then as the body can use the vitamins better ...
@cassidy22 (2974)
• United States
20 Feb 07
SOLUABLE vitamins are definitly worth it. If you take on that is rock solid and does NOT break down in your system and just ends up coming out the other end, it does no good. You need supplements like childrens chewable ones, or ones that are encapsulated or gel caps. Otherwise, they are not being absorbed into your system.
I always take a calcium supplement, to help stave osteoporosis. I also take an iron supplement since I don't eat red meat, I don't want to become anemic.
I take Vitamin A, C and E, as well as an omega 3 supplement. I take echinacea to help from getting sick, cranberry IF i have a UTI, and I take glucosamine for my joints. My older dogs have glucosamine in their dog food and it does wonders for them!
I take a B-12 complex for heart, liver and kidney health. I've also heard you need it when trying to get pregnant, not there yet, but it'll help.
Sounds like I take a million pills in the morning, but I don't. You can find good multi vitamins. You can also be smart about food choices, like broccoli and spinach for iron, but I don't eat them every day. I also don't eat eggs adn fish every day for the omega 3s. You can get all those things in food, but if you can't fit it in every day, that's where supplements help.
3 people like this
@nannacroc (4049)
•
20 Feb 07
I firmly believe that if you eat a balanced diet there is no need for any food supplements. Having said that, if someone thinks something will make them feel better, it usually will. What they don't say about these supplements is that, if you are eating a balanced diet, they can be detrimental as you may be having too much of whatever is in the supplement.
2 people like this
@blueskies (1186)
• United States
20 Feb 07
Actually, I fully expected the supplement NOT to work, so I was pleasantly surprised when it did.
Eating a balanced diet is not always enough. I eat a balanced diet, but because of celiac disease and possibly something yet to be determined, I suffer from severe iron-deficiency anemia, as well as severe folate-deficiency anemia. Those are the only two defiencies that I was tested for, so there may very well be more. In an effort to boost my blood counts and reduce the number of malformed red blood cells, I ate more red meat and dark leafy greens. I also began to take a folic acid supplement prescribed by my doctor. Unfortunately, that has not been enough and does nothing to address my other complaints, such as the muscle aches and stiffness in my joints. My doctor had no explanation for them, simply told me to lose weight. Hah!
Anyway, my point is, eating a balanced diet will not always keep you in good health.
1 person likes this
@trouble4u2avoid (2915)
• United States
20 Feb 07
Is this something that you have to order thru the infomercial or can I find it in the vitamin section of any pharmacy. I am all for feeling better. I love drinking chamomile tea for stress and stomache upset. I found it works better than the stomache remedies on the market.
@trouble4u2avoid (2915)
• United States
20 Feb 07
Thanks for the tidbit. I will certainly be checking it out. My husband is always looking to take some kind of supplement too! I really hate when he watching infomercials. They actually have a products for just about everything. LOL
2 people like this
@allshookup (598)
• United States
20 Feb 07
I can never get into the habit of taking a pill every morning; I struggle with birth control as it is. If there were a birth control/ multi-vitamin combo pack, I could do it. But keeping up with two pill bottles or taking the extra time each week to put them in one of those MTWTh things is just too much for me :P
3 people like this
@steney (1418)
• Philippines
20 Feb 07
My family takes the Himalayan Goji Juice that is really amazing. It makes us feel more energized and it helped a 3 year old niece of mine cure her recurrent urinary tract infection in just a few days of taking it. Among the super juices around (the likes of Noni, etc.) this has the highest rating so far. My toddler also drinks and enjoys the taste of this delicious juice.
3 people like this
@dana234 (2114)
• Spain
21 Feb 07
Thanks for the tip, blueskies. I´m always on the look out for supplements that actually work. I´ve got a hormonal disorder and suffer from muscle pain. I´m taking "agnus castus" a herbal remedie which helps, but I have to take huge quantities and the stuff is very expensive. I feel a bit better since I´ve been taking it, but it´s not effective enough.
I will give the vital b-100 a try. Thanks for posting this info here. Good topic!
2 people like this
@ladygator (3465)
• United States
20 Feb 07
wow, thats great! I am not good at taking vitamins cuz I always forget. But my husband takes vitamins always.
@reinydawn (11643)
• United States
20 Feb 07
I have taken vitamin B since I was a teenager. My doctor said it would help with stress - and it does! I can tell if I forget it for a day or so. I now take Melaleuca Daily for Life which includes all the essential vitamins (almost every letter!!) and heart-health suppliments. They have a patented formula which enables your system to absorb the vitamins instead them just going straight through you.
My husband has taken glucosimine for years because of his knees and back. He takes it every day and can't really go without it.
2 people like this
@patgalca (18181)
• Orangeville, Ontario
20 Feb 07
I do believe in vitamins and supplements. The only problem is they cost too much. I mean over a period of time. It's not like prescriptions that are covered by insurance companies. It's not really fair because Mag-Citrate (Magnesium/Malic Acid) has worked wonders for my pain with my fibromyalgia. The three stores in our town that carry it ran out of it and I lived without it for a couple of weeks. My pain increased. I also take multi-vitamins, B-Complex, Echinacea, Acid Dophilus. I do have to be careful with some herbal remedies because they can interfere with my medication. There will be no herbal remedy that will help with the depression that is as deep as mine is - when I'm not on the medication. My medication works well for me and what ain't broke, don't fix it. I will check out this supplement though. Thanks for the info.
2 people like this
@Alexandria37 (5717)
• Ireland
20 Feb 07
I have similar complaint to yours and I was in a lot of pain. I searched the internet and found a site that sold and swore by Maca. As it was only a herbal remedie I decided to give it a try and within five days of taking it, I was pain free. I also gave it to my son who was crippled with sciatica and he no longer has any pain. Like you, I also found that it was cheaper to buy it on eBay.
2 people like this
@jossml (464)
• Puerto Rico
20 Feb 07
I have good knowledge of supplements by its ingredients and the results from people taking them, I will check this one, I personally take 4life supplements, I never go to the doctors office again since that moment I start using them. I think supplements are very useful, you only have to study their ingredients and if it work for you, that's all that matters.
2 people like this
@tictac714 (975)
• United States
20 Feb 07
Hi, I don't know what exactly is in this Vital B-100, I haven't heard of it till now. It seems like it is basically a B complex pill. Glucosamine is supposed to be great for joint type pains as well. I dont have arthritis but I have had a large number of patients with arthritis tell me that they tried it and it really helped.
@rosie_123 (6113)
•
20 Feb 07
I am a great believer in natural health remedies, and would much rather take vitamins, and supplements, than some medication from a Doctor. The only thing I take regularly is a supplement called Maca, which is a plant extract, and is used for women in the menopause, or suffereing other hormonal problems. It s not a perfect cure, but I feel a lot better taking it, than I did on the various hormonal supplements they have tried to give me the past.
@dana234 (2114)
• Spain
20 Feb 07
I´ve got hormonal problems, I´ll give Maca a try, as I also prefer natural remedies. Thanks. Your info is very helpul to me.
@rainbow (6761)
•
20 Feb 07
I take double amounts of st johns wort for my depression rather taht the dr's tablets and it seems to work. Not convinced about the fish oils that are meant to help with concentration yet.
I'm glad your suppliments are making you feel better, keep up the good work!
2 people like this
@Willowlady (10658)
• United States
20 Feb 07
While these seems to be a good idea. I would want to know what it is made of. I have no shortage of energy and as long as I take care of myself I do not hurt. I commend you on finding this and am glad that it is helping you. I eat a balanced diet and the only supplement I might take is the B complex in brewers yeast form. For the nerves in my hands, it helps them to not become a problem with all the time in front of the computer and lifting things. Thanks for the information though.
2 people like this
@sagirji (48)
• Pakistan
20 Feb 07
hi..i ve used supplements 4 a long time...nd i found biovit best of them..(biovit is a locally formed medicine).....but after some era it began 2 produce headache....but i could not resist my self 2 stop it...however after advising frm my doctor,i gradually stoped using it..
now i m against these all medicines...
@whiteheather39 (24403)
• United States
20 Feb 07
I Personally swear by "Centrum Silver One a Day" vitamin supplement. It has improved everything, including my nails and hair as an added bonus.
2 people like this
@chaygylmommy (2470)
• United States
20 Feb 07
that sounds great. i will have to look it up. i am always on the look out for natural supplement things that make you feel better. i don't take vitamins daily at all and I know I should.
2 people like this
