Multivitamins?

[colby]

I have been taking a generic daily multivitamin, and I'm almost out. Rather than replacing my stock with generic vitamins that may not be doing me any good anyway (I haven't done the "vinegar test" to see if they actually dissolve and I don't really know what is or isn't in them), I'd like to take a vitamin that is better and more suits my needs.

A friend of mine was recommended Apex Fitness's Womens Multivitamin.
Their site: http://products.apexfitness.com/
The womens vitamin specifically: http://products.apexfitness.com/cgi-....cgi/1047.html

I did their little multivitamin test and it told me I needed the "performance" version:
http://products.apexfitness.com/cgi-....cgi/1045.html

But, it brings up a bigger question. Before I buy anything, what should I be looking for?

It seems like you either choose womens-specific, vegetarian-specific, or performance-specific, but you can't get all three together without concocting something yourself (at higher cost).

If any of this helps... I am vegetarian (with qualifications), but not vegan. I eat fish once a week, drink/eat dairy products (somewhat reluctantly), and sometimes eat eggs (not my fave). My usual "workout" or "training" schedule consists of at least one hour a day of running, riding, swimming, and/or strength training of some kind (yoga, pilates, light weights with reps). On weekends, several hours sustained activity, possibly for both days.

Any thoughts are appreciated... I am willing to consider the "you don't need one at all" position but it seems like I can really feel the difference when I take them and it would take me a while to balance my diet to the point that I didn't need them at all.

[traveller_62]

The best way to get all the minerals and vitamins you need is through your diet because supplements don't have all of the good phytochemicals and antioxidants and fiber and stuff that you get from eating real food. That said I take multivitamins during cycling season because I'm really pushing myself physically during this time and am not sure I can eat enough to give myself all of the nutrition that is optimal for performance and recovery.

I think it is best to avoid "specialty" multivitamins....like the ones for women or folks over 50, etc. In my opinion those products are a marketing ploy to charge you more. My doc tells me to avoid multivitamins that contain more than 100% of the daily recommended value for a particular mineral or vitamin and to use brands that have the United States Pharmacopeia (USP) symbol on the bottle. If the brand has been USP verified then you know it is what it says it is and that it will dissolve appropriately when you ingest it.

-traveller

[KnottedYet]

I take plain ol' Centrum, which I get in bottles of 325 tablets at Costco. I gotta take multivits at night, or they upset my stomach.

I had my blood levels checked when I was dealing with some celiac issues, and they came out good. So, doc said to keep doing what I was doing.

Maybe if you are concerned about whether you are getting the right nutrients, it would be worth getting your levels checked before you go buying some other kind of vitamins? Then you can compare what you're taking now with what (if any) you don't have enough of in your blood, and get a REALLY customized vitamin "prescription."

(insurance covered my test)

[Resi]

Colby,

my husband and I take USANA Essentials they are very good, I know they are a little bit more expensive, there are ways to get them cheaper; check out this info:

www.comparing-vitamin-supplements.com

Resi

[Bklynmom]

Don't forget to take calcium - this is the only vitamin my excellent Doctor recommends, besides a multivitamin. I got vitamins for women at Costco , just because they have a lot of calcium and you don't have to take 2 pills that way.

I agree with Traveller and Knotted - there was a great article in the NY Times last month about how we really absorb vitamins, exactly as Traveller describes.

There is a lot of hype about all different kinds of vitamins and supplements, and very little science that backs it up. Good for you for being a careful consumer .

Lisa

[ehirsch83]

I take emergen'c. I also put it in one of my water bottles during my rides, I feel like it gets me all of my vitamins, doesn't turn my pee neon! and seems to keep me feeling good on and off the bike.

[dingster1]

I take Ultra Mega Womens from GNC plus their hair/nail/skin tabs plus a joint supplement. Cut my nails every week, stylist loves my hair!

[KnottedYet]

Emergen'c makes me incredibly ill. Too much niacin. (and makes my pee bright neon green!)

Every body is different! If you know you get "niacin flush" pay close attention to the new-fangled energy drinks cuz a lot of them have too much for folks who are sensitive to niacin.

[Bikingmomof3]

I take plain ol' Centrum, which I get in bottles of 325 tablets at Costco. I gotta take multivits at night, or they upset my stomach.

Same here, except the Costco part, since I do not have one near me.

Interstingly, every doctor I have seen over the past few decades say Flinestones and the like are fine as long as my diet is balanced, which it indeed is. I just hate chewable vitamins.