Vitamins & Supplements

[Oldgirl]

Has anyone started taking vitamins or supplements since they started running and doing other exercise?

[TJFlute]

I'm not a great believer in them, but I do take huge care over what I eat and I love 'superfoods' and make sure I have at least two at every meal. I have a couple of books with information about superfoods: super-nutritious foods for great health. So I can ensure that all the vitamins etc can be taken 'naturally'. I also grow my own fruit and veg which means that they are of high quality and straight from the ground to the plate, with maximum nutritious benefits.

[eveshamgal Graduate]

Your body will only absorb as much stuff as it needs so chances are if you take a lot of supplements you have very expensive wee lol

[LillyBeth in reply to eveshamgal]

Or interesting colour wee! I took multi-vits for a while and they turned my pee neon yellow! The sort of WTF colour, LOL. You're right that the excesses are excreted but I think it's possible to overdose on some (although I'm not sure which) and suffer side-effects.

[LMS2110 Graduate]

Hiya, yes... Ive been taking 'over 50's' multi vits and mins for many years now, but I'm afraid I'm not very good at remembering every daily dose! It's all a bit ad hoc but I guess I do most days Then earlier this year, I was advised by a trusted friend/pharmacist (when I told him about painful knees in about W4 of C25K) to take glucosamine and chondroitin. They are readily available in Boots, Sainsburys and Tescos etc without prescription. My knees have certainly not complained much recently, despite completing the programme and continuing training still. Interestingly, a good pal with whom I trained for her recent marathon walk - has been prescribed these too by her physiotherapist. She's had painful knees for years, and her physio has encouraged and monitored her fitness campaign all along. She's now learning to run with C25K! She's been told not to wear her knee supports! but she must do regular specific exercises to strengthen leg muscles and to have a daily dose of triple strength glucosamine and chondroitin!

I'm not on any other medication or supplements at all.

Hope this helps with your research. Cheers, Linda

[BettyJane Graduate in reply to LMS2110]

I've just started giving glucosamine to my dog (vets advice) and was wondering if maybe I should get some for myself.

[LMS2110 Graduate in reply to BettyJane]

I used to breed/show/have Irish setters and in their old age they too developed stiff joints - hips particularly - well, they're so crazily bouncy for all their lives! My vet used to recommend Evening Primrose oil capsules and/or glucosamine ... I used to buy giant pots of capsules in the Holland and Barrett sales! I think that chondroitin is added these days as it apparently helps the absorption by the human system. I believe arthritis organisations are researching efficacy of these. My elderly mum is now immobile and permanently in pain as a result of osteoarthritis, so when I had broken two bones in three years my GP sent me for bone density tests. My spine and major leg bones are slightly weaker than they should be, so as a precaution against future possible inherited probs, my GP suggested that 'impact' exercises would strengthen bones ie not walking or swimming but running! Glucosamine is produced in our bodies naturally and helps lubricate and cushion the joints - I'm just giving mine the benefit of extra while, through training and a healthy balanced diet, I hope my natural production rate will soon be adequate for its relatively recently introduced regime.

[bradders22]

I take Glucosamine, cod liver oil, multi vits and exta vit c. Before I started taking it all I had no energy and was ill ALL the time, to the point I could not go more than a week without picking up some new bug. now I can run a 5 miler no issue and I no bugs! =)

[Plinth Graduate]

Unless you have a specific ailment or a really really awful diet , vitamins are not going to be needed , and thus absorbed by your body. As said above, just an expensive wee! Or, occasionally, damage your health:

m.guardian.co.uk/commentisf...

[LillyBeth]

No, I'm just more mindful of what I eat and drink. I'm considering supplements but only because I'm veering towards a vegan diet so have to be careful of becoming deficient in B12.