Nutrition advice

[Dotty1340]

Hi everyone, I’m after some advice regarding vitamins which is not connected to the thyroid but I trust the fact there are people in here who have a lot of knowledge about nutrition. The situation is that my mother has just been diagnosed with oesophageal cancer. She finds it difficult to swallow and has stooped taking her multi vitamin and tumeric. I would like to find a very good quality multi vitamin in liquid form and tumeric in liquid form. Capsules and tablets are not at all possible. The cancer nurse suggested Holland and Barratt but I know from my own experience and where I get my vitamins from that H&B are not the best place to go. We have been told once mum starts her treatment that dependent upon her cocktail of chemo that “herbal remedies” are sometimes advised not to be used.

Any advice would be greatly received. x

[greygoose]

Sorry to hear about your poor mother. Hope they can do something for her soon.

Multi-vits are not recommended, anyway. And, nothing is going to help you if you don't need it - more is not better, and can be dangerous. So, has she had any nutrient testing done? Why was she taking a multi-vit, anyway?

As for the liquid turmeric, just google 'golden milk', which is a termeric drink. You can buy it ready made, or make it yourself - there are plenty of recipes.

[Dotty1340 in reply to greygoose]

Hi Grey Goose thank you for replying, yes it is a very difficult time for us all. Mum took a multi vit as she has never had a hide appetite (to say the least) so I think she thought it would help her get all the extra she needed. She hasn’t had any nutritional testing carried out and given her current situation I don’t think she’d be wanting “another test” however simple. I’m treading very carefully trying to support and suggest things but I do not want to be over bearing.

Mum took tumeric to assist her Rhumotoid athritis which she found helped.

I’ll definitely look at the golden milk.

Once again thank you for your response.

[greygoose in reply to Dotty1340]

I think she thought it would help her get all the extra she needed.

Yes, I understand that. And, on the surface it does seem like a good idea. But, there are so many pitfalls that she probably wasn't getting much out of it at all, just wasting her money.

For example, if there was iron in it, it would have blocked the absorption of all the vitamins. And, if there was also calcium, it would bind to the iron and she wouldn't have absorbed either of them. So, that's quite a bit of money down the drain, for a start. There are plenty of other reasons not to take them, too.

[Dotty1340 in reply to greygoose]

Ah right, thank you for the advice. Much appreciated x

[asidist]

you can buy good quality whole (preferably organic) turmeric; peel, chop, and freeze it; and add it to teas or whatever. once it’s boiled I tend to swallow or chew the pieces (i used to wrap it in cheese when i ate cheese) or add it to other dishes. turmeric powder has been found to have quality issues (both with filth such as insect parts and heavy metal contamination, as well adulteration - though the metals may also be in the whole turmeric depending where it was grown), and i think fresh tends to be best in general. i know some people grow, grind, dehydrate and make their own powder. keep in mind that eating with black pepper greatly increases absorption of curcumin and it should always be taken with some sort of fat for proper absorption. chewing can cause teeth staining so watch for that/brush directly after washing down. best of luck to your mother. apologies for my initial typos.

[Dotty1340 in reply to asidist]

Thank you very much for your advice and taking the time to reply, much appreciated.

[Wired123]

I would suggest seeing a decent nutritionist or functional medicine practitioner who can look at different ways of getting nutrients into the body.

Agree H&B or any other High Street brands of vits are all pretty poor as you’re just paying for the Retail space and marketing budget.

A nutritionist should be able to recommend the most potent brand for each supplement.