are vitamins/supplements bullshit?

[slunken]

I started to cut out the multi-vitamin after a lot of research. I eat healthy, so there's no reason to assume I'm not getting the vitamins I need. Going to do more research and just take supplements for the vitamins I"m not getting but after a cursory glance, I'm getting all I need naturally.

What worries me is that too much of one particular vitamin/mineral can possibly be bad for you. I don't want to overload on something I'm already getting.

Still taking the fish oil and the milk thistle though.

[myosis]

i don't think people our age need a multivitamin if we eat well enough. and the thing with these is, if you react to one of the components, it's hard to know which.

[Starla]

Originally Posted by slunken

Anybody deep into this rabbit hole?

currently consuming:

men's one a day multi-vitamin
fish oil
milk thistle

I stopped taking them in pill form and switched to liquid forms and finding that they digest much better. I take Barleans Omega fish oils and liquid magnesium because it really helps with ms leg pains and keeps me off of the pain killers.

[Starla]

Originally Posted by myosis

I put pure ascorbic acid crystals into my smoothies in cold/flu season. Around 2000mg. It kept me from getting sick most of this year when I was exposed to colds and flu in the office.. but I still caught strep.

[myosis]

2000mg is considered the upper limit for adults, so probably not yet in the range of megadosing...

the author of this video has also claimed the following:
"Synthetic vitamin C sources for example have been shown to be generally weaker and significantly less stable than natural vitamin C sources. For example, it takes 12 times more synthetic vitamin C to achieve the same effects as an equivalent amount of vitamin C from amla berry. Part of this can be explained by the fact that natural vitamin C sources contain the synergistic compounds such as bioflavonoids that allow the vitamin C to work properly."

http://medcapsules.com/forum/showthr...highlight=amla

i don't know his source on that one, he does extensive research but doesn't always cite. you can always try adding amla berry powder in your smoothie, if you don't mind a bit of bitter taste.

[MyOneAndOnly]

Originally Posted by Starla

I put pure ascorbic acid crystals into my smoothies in cold/flu season. Around 2000mg. It kept me from getting sick most of this year when I was exposed to colds and flu in the office.. but I still caught strep.

No it didn't help you. that was only anecdotal.

[MyOneAndOnly]

Originally Posted by myosis

2000mg is considered the upper limit for adults, so probably not yet in the range of megadosing...

the author of this video has also claimed the following:
"Synthetic vitamin C sources for example have been shown to be generally weaker and significantly less stable than natural vitamin C sources. For example, it takes 12 times more synthetic vitamin C to achieve the same effects as an equivalent amount of vitamin C from amla berry. Part of this can be explained by the fact that natural vitamin C sources contain the synergistic compounds such as bioflavonoids that allow the vitamin C to work properly."

http://medcapsules.com/forum/showthr...highlight=amla

i don't know his source on that one, he does extensive research but doesn't always cite. you can always try adding amla berry powder in your smoothie, if you don't mind a bit of bitter taste.

That's complete and utter bullshit. Vitamin C is Vitamin C. And there's no benefit whatsoever in consuming more of it than the standard recommended daily dosage. Your body cannot absorb more than that anyway. And it is expelled in your urine. There have been countless studies over decades that all contradict the claims that vitamin C cures or protects against colds.

[MyOneAndOnly]

This is a good summation

http://annals.org/mobile/article.aspx?articleid=1789253

In conclusion, β-carotene, vitamin E, and possibly high doses of vitamin A supplements are harmful. Other antioxidants, folic acid and B vitamins, and multivitamin and mineral supplements are ineffective for preventing mortality or morbidity due to major chronic diseases. Although available evidence does not rule out small benefits or harms or large benefits or harms in a small subgroup of the population, we believe that the case is closed— supplementing the diet of well-nourished adults with (most) mineral or vitamin supplements has no clear benefit and might even be harmful. These vitamins should not be used for chronic disease prevention. Enough is enough.

[MyOneAndOnly]

Peoe with MS should not be taking high doses of vitamin C.

http://www.neurologycare.net/vitamin-c.html

People with MS should approach vitamin C with caution. Claims exist that vitamin C can prevent or treat the common cold and urinary tract infections (UTIs). The common cold is a viral infection that has the potential to trigger MS attacks. UTIs can occur frequently in women with MS. Little evidence exists to support either of these claims about vitamin C. Cranberry juice may be more effective than vitamin C in UTI prevention, and antibiotics should be used for treatment of known UTIs to avoid possible serious complications (See Herbs page for more information on cranberry). Furthermore, vitamin C is known to stimulate the immune system, especially in high doses. This poses a theoretical risk for people with MS. If vitamin C is used, low doses (90-120mg or less daily) may be most reasonable. This is roughly equivalent to amount found in one cup of orange juice.

The above statement is consistent with the advice you will find from all reputible science based medicine organizations and sources.

[MyOneAndOnly]

The amount of baseless and even dangerous anti science health claims associated with cancer and other major chronic diseases is shocking.

Telling an MS sufferer or cancer patient to take megadoses of certain vitamins when the science is very clearly against it is criminal. If a physician does this they should at the least lose their license to practice medicine.

[MyOneAndOnly]

No, they should be prosecuted either for fraud or malpractice.

Also, the death penalty is not a deterrent, and is never applied failrly. So killing ppl is not a legitimate form of punishment.

[myosis]

Originally Posted by scottytheoneand

That's complete and utter bullshit. Vitamin C is Vitamin C.

well it's not western research, but at least i found the reference about amla, which is mentioned here:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3326920/

[myosis]

does starla really have MS? i thought it was a typo

[Starla]

Yes I do.

[Starla]

Originally Posted by scottytheoneand

Peoe with MS should not be taking high doses of vitamin C.

http://www.neurologycare.net/vitamin-c.html



The above statement is consistent with the advice you will find from all reputible science based medicine organizations and sources.

That's why you approach it with caution. That's why you have a personal doctor you talk to about stuff like that... and make sensible choices instead of believing everything you see on the internet.

[Starla]

Originally Posted by scottytheoneand

No it didn't help you. that was only anecdotal.

Vitamin C doesn't prevent group Strep A.

[Starla]

Originally Posted by myosis

2000mg is considered the upper limit for adults, so probably not yet in the range of megadosing...

the author of this video has also claimed the following:
"Synthetic vitamin C sources for example have been shown to be generally weaker and significantly less stable than natural vitamin C sources. For example, it takes 12 times more synthetic vitamin C to achieve the same effects as an equivalent amount of vitamin C from amla berry. Part of this can be explained by the fact that natural vitamin C sources contain the synergistic compounds such as bioflavonoids that allow the vitamin C to work properly."

http://medcapsules.com/forum/showthr...highlight=amla

i don't know his source on that one, he does extensive research but doesn't always cite. you can always try adding amla berry powder in your smoothie, if you don't mind a bit of bitter taste.

The awesome thing about C is... once I was coming down with the very beginnings of a cold. Had the scratchy throat and that awful feeling ... so i stopped at a jamba juice and got a cold buster and never ended up coming down with it. So i know it was doing something. I know someone who has mega dosed on C and explained the bowel tolerance lol.. I've never tried amla berries, but I do love blueberries.

[myosis]

i was under the impression that vitamin D was the one mostly recommended for MS patients.