Supplements

[kelownagirl]

Just curious what supplements, if any, you ladies take. I usually don't take any but I know I should be taking some calcium, and hear good stuff about omega 3 etc. I have some good all purpose multivitamins that dh takes. And does anyone take glucosamine?

[KnottedYet]

Morning: calcium, aspirin, vit B12

Evening: calcium, multivitamin, vit E or Vit C

I like taking my multivit in the evening because it doen't upset my stomach then.

[Bluetree]

Morning:
Two Calcium-Magnesium caps
One Multi-Vitamin w. iron supplement
Two Glucosomine-Chondroitin & MSM caps
One Omega-3 tablet
Three cups of half-caff coffee, pref. the Kona stuff

Evening:
One Calcium-Mag cap (1000mg/500mg daily total)
Two Glu-Chon-MSM (1500mg/1200mg/1000mg daily total)
Second multi-vitamin w. iron (only if I'm having my period)

I find that Glucosamine has really helped my knees when I run. I wish supplements weren't so darn expensive!

[DarcyInOregon]

I think it is important for people who bike a lot to take additional supplements. My understanding in reading some very good books written by sports doctors regarding bicyclists is that when we bike we sweat a lot, along with the muscle exertion, and we lose a lot of minerals and such just through the sweat, let alone the muscle exertion. There are some very good books written that tell us when we should eat before a bike ride and how soon we should eat after a bike ride, just so the body has enough nutrients to carry through the ride and to assist the muscles in recovery after the ride. It isn't just about eating during a ride.

I take supplements and I am pretty healthy for my age. I mentioned in another thread that my bone density test showed that my bone density is at the highest range for females my age, and that my risk for getting OS and bone fractures at this time of my life is zero. Not only that, I have arthritis in my spine, a condition that cripples many people, and you can't even tell, because I am pain free and I am not hunched over. Additionally, the doctor told me several years ago (pre-biking) that I was diabetic, and with diligent study and focus on my nutrition and exercise, the doctor believes I may be one of the few people who has reversed the disease, or the control of the disease is so good there are zero symptoms. I reversed my hypertension, which came about from the stress of caring for an invalid husband. And my cholesterol is unbelievably low, hovering between 110 and 120, with all factors of the cholesterol in the healthy range.

I take a lot of supplements, as I mentioned. I won't list them all. I've taken chondroitin/glucasamine for around 15 years, for the arthritis. The orothopedic surgeon who diagnosed me years ago said I would be back before him begging to have my disks fused together because my pain would get so bad. Nope. No pain. Just a bit stiff in the morning. Additionally, I take microlactin to assist the c/g.

I take three things for the bone density. I take Osteo Renew twice a day, because it is calcium with a high absorbsion rate, and it has the additional supplements to aid in absorbsion, such as the B vitamins, mag, D, and so on. I take ostivone, which aids the body to continue building bone density. I take another bone supplement that helps the other two supplements absorb better. I've been taking the bone supplements for years because of my sisters and my mom having OS.

I take a multi B vitamin along with folic acid, because of high homocysteine levels being a problem in my family. Therefore I have homocysteine levels in the normal range.

I take a regular multivitamin. I take the omega fish oils and I have real low cholesterol. I take oat bran pills to make sure the cholesterol stays low. There is some stuff I take that helps keep the insulin sensitive. Everything I take is focused on the genetic history I have from my family and that is 1)cardio, 2)arthritis, 3)bone density, 4)blood pressure and 5)blood sugar.

One of the odd side effects I've noticed over the years is I heal real fast. For example I get a deep scratch on my arm from a rose bush (I won't say from one of my kitties) and within a few days I can't even see where the scratch was.

My advice is to look to your genetic history and any current abnormal lab numbers you may have, and take supplements to assist in either not getting the problem or to aid in minimizing the problem.

[KnottedYet]

Darcy - I find it very interesting that much of what you are controlling with supplements are also symptoms of gluten intolerance/celiac disease.

If my celiac flares up on me this spring like it did in the spring the last two years I'm hoping to get immediately to an ND to get blood panels done. I'm hoping there's something simple I can supplement, rather than some big exciting thing to deal with!

[matagi]

I take glucosamine with chondroitin (family history of arthritis and early symptoms in my little fingers, now all gone thank goodness) and evening primrose oil (for hormone induced breast pain).

[kelownagirl]

One of the odd side effects I've noticed over the years is I heal real fast. For example I get a deep scratch on my arm from a rose bush (I won't say from one of my kitties) and within a few days I can't even see where the scratch was.

My advice is to look to your genetic history and any current abnormal lab numbers you may have, and take supplements to assist in either not getting the problem or to aid in minimizing the problem.

Thanks for your detailed response, Darcy. It's iinteresting to see what everyone is taking. I don't know if my mom was osteoporosis or not - she does have rheumatoid (sp?) arthritis though. She's 70 and very active, runs 3 times a week, skis 2 times a week, square dances etc.

Anyway, I DON'T heal very fast, and get scars so easily. Maybe supplements will help.

[Eden]

I've never taken glucosamine/chrondroiten myself, but if I start to get arthritis or joint pain I sure will. I used to give it to my elderly cat and it made a huge difference in what he could do. He went from having trouble just walking around to being able to get up on the couch again. Made me a believer.