Do you take nutritional supplements? If so what kind.
I take a woman's multivitamin, specifically "One Source Complete Women's Multivitamin/Multimineral/Herb Supplement Designed for Active Women". It's enhanced with Green Tea extract (EGCG) and cranberry; the EGCG, along with B vitamins, Chromium and Ginseng, is supposed to enhance your metabolism/energy. Haven't noticed any enhancing of my metabolism or energybut I take it for the vitamins and minerals anyway.
Forgot to mention the Raspberry Leaf tea I try to drink daily to 'support my female system by aiding healthy menstruation and tone and strengthen the uterus'. I also drank it while pregnant with all of my 3 kids, 1 cup per day during the first trimester, 2 cups during the second, 3 cups during the 3rd and during the last 4 weeks before my due date I would drink as much as I wanted, and each of my kiddos were birthed easily and drug free so maybe there is something to it.
In addition to a strong multivitamin for women, I also take iron, calcium, protein powder for convenience (one serving offers 22g high quality protein, 0 fat, 0 carbs, 0 sugar, and 0 sodium, and it's only 100 calories) -- I have one every morning with my Kashi Go Lean/All Bran Extra Fiber/skim milk breakfast, and I also use it occasionally in a mid-AM or mid-PM snack with yogurt, 1/4 cup brown rice, or fruit. I aim for a 40% protein/35% carb/25% fat macro breakdown, so it comes in handy when I need some low fat, low cal protein FAST! I also supplement with CLA (conjugated linoleic acid,) and CoQ10.
Last edited by lessofsarahtolove; 07-07-2005 at 06:13 PM.
Reason: I just realized I forgot to include the protein powder!
I don't take any supplements. I don't believe they're necessary (medical conditions notwithstanding) when one is eating healthily, and I tend to accept the studies that question their effectiveness.
It's surprising (or perhaps not) how many of the experts advocating the use of supplements are commissioned to undertake studies by the manufacturers themselves.
That said, unless taken to excess, I doubt it will hurt anything but the bank account to take them.
I take a multivitamin when I remember, use a protein supplement to help avoid as much muscle loss as possible while I'm losing, as well as Glutamine, which supposedly helps boost muscle recovery after a tough workout. Not sure the latter works, but I take it anyway because it's simply a harmless amino acid. I've heard good things about Glucosamine, too, which is supposed to help with joint problems.
I agree with you for the most part, TFF, but I do think one can differentiate between helpful, harmful, and neutral supplements. I NEVER think they should be used in place of a sensible diet, but some definitely can be useful as, well, supplements.
I take a boatload compared to most of ya'll so far. I got my combination from reading the Syndrome X book and The Carb Addict's Heart Healthy book. Most of what I take is supposed to help with my insulin resistance or hypertension.
Here's my list:
Multivitamin w/out Iron morning
Alpha Lipoic Acid lunch
L-Arginine lunch
L-Carnitine lunch
Silymarin (milk thistle) lunch
Omega 3,6,9 lunch
GTF Chromium btwn brk & lunch if I remember!
Garlic Oil lunch
Vit C every other day
Multi-mins in evening
I agree with you for the most part, TFF, but I do think one can differentiate between helpful, harmful, and neutral supplements. I NEVER think they should be used in place of a sensible diet, but some definitely can be useful as, well, supplements.
Exactly. My diet contains almost ALL whole foods, and I get PLENTY of nutrients from vegetables -- but I believe that some supplements absolutely CAN help a person. As Jennifer said, it is possible to differentiate between those that will benefit you and those that will not. Not all of the experts have a vested interest in the sales of these products. My advice: do you homework, try to hear others' personal experiences with the products whenever possible, and go to credible sources for the "why's" behind the claims.
Just because a lot of products are bogus doesn't mean they all are.
Nutritional Supplements
but I take it for the vitamins and minerals anyway.
