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Avatar universal

Q. about vitamins

hello all..
there was a post a few days back about eating leafy greens and suggestions to be healthy. someone else said they take a multi-vitamin and feels so much better having more energy. well, i think that's what i need (have been down in the dumps, no energy, moody)and i dont really eat well, never take vitamins so i thought that it would at least help. anyway, i was at good ole dollar tree this morning and came across a rack of all sorts of vitamins.
a few questions....

can vitamins sold there be any good or it doesnt matter? the brand is "peoples choice"

i bought 3 different kinds. am i able to take all 3 at once in the morning?

*i bought Vitamin B (for energy)
*a daily multiple w/iron (this is supposed to be comparable to "one a day" brand.
*and a weight loss vitamin called "XLA sport" a dietary suppliment and antioxident.

i know these are just vitamins and i am asking/treating it as if the are prescription meds but i typically dont like to take any type of pill and dont know if they can interact with each other.
thanks!

12 Responses
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155461 tn?1207864771
I know you do need the "all natural" vitamins for the to work more significantly! I would go to a vitamin store or to GNC to get my vitamins personally. Might cost a little more but I think they do a better job! When I started taking my one a day vitamins I noticed a difference!
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I LOVE THE $ TREE!!!!!  I can take my kids and it doesn't cost me a fortune.  I have been taking that one a day weight smart. It's like a horse pill though. I can feel some energy. I have been down too. I had my thyroid checked, but still no news. My mom is the vitimin freak. She takes about 50 a day. I'd puke. This friend of hers . I call her the witch lady. Makes her this homemade green tea. Now, that's some sick lookin stuff!!!!

I
m no expert in this, but if you take a all in one vitimin, why would you need to take something else? They make those green tea pills that help with energy. Never tried them myself, but I hear they work. Where is Annebrooke? She might know. I haven't seen her in a while.

Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Some thoughts on vitamins...

Vitamin supplements are a good idea because most of us are not eating the right things to get our proper nourishment from food.

The brand you choose DOES make a difference. Since supplements are not regulated by any agency, brands can make whatever claims they like, without backing it up with scientific data (ie the weight loss vitamins) and it's buyer beware. Don't waste your time on diet vitamins - they are of no consequence to your waistline.

If you are new to supplements, just start with a daily multivitamin. VERY IMPORTANT --> ALWAYS take your vitamins with your food (unless stated otherwise on the bottle). Vitamins need to attach themselves to the nutrients you are digesting in order for your body to process them. If you take them on an empty stomach, only a very small percentage of the minerals will be absorbed.

If you are looking for specific treatment via supplements, let me know.. otherwise, a good multivitamin is a fine place to start. And yes, spring for a brand that has a solid reputation (in other words, you can trust that what is on the label, is in the vitamin). Try Centrum or some such brand.
Helpful - 0
134578 tn?1693250592
COMMUNITY LEADER
I had my gyn look at the prenatals I got by prescription and compare them to some generic ones I had, and she didn't see much difference.  What mattered to her is the amount of vitamins that are in a multi.  On the label will be information about how much of what kind is in the bottle, and it will also say how much it is compared to what you need in a day.  The only way I would be too concerned about a vitamin from just somewhere versus "One A Day for Women" or some of the other top formulations is if you check the label and see it has a lot less of the vitamins (in other words, it gives you only 33% of what you need in a day instead of 80% or 100%).  

As Mrs. Canada said, take them with food -- some vitamins are fat-soluble and some are water-soluble, and if you don't have some oil or other fat in your meal, the fat-soluble ones will just pass through and not give you the benefit.  Also, they can give you a whale of a case of heartburn if you take them on an empty stomach.  I had some "natural" ones that actually made me throw up.

I'm pregnant now, so am taking prenatal vitamins.  My friend (male) who was in the Peace Corps said they were always given prenatals when they were out on assignment because this is a stronger and more complete formulation, so taking prenatals if you are really run down isn't a bad idea even if you are not pregs. But taking a multi is better than taking none.

The water-soluble vitamins go out of your system fast, so it is a good idea to supplement additionally with them even if you are taking a multi, since you are feeling run down.  This is especially true of B vitamins, and of vitamin C as the cold season begins.  They should come to us in our food, but Americans are notorious for not eating our whole grains (where the B's come from) and our fresh fruit and veg (where the C's come from) -- if you are adding some it won't hurt you (because with the water-soluble vitamins, the excess just runs out of your system), and it may help you a lot.  I also supplement with calcium, magnesium and potassium, and zinc, for various family-risk reasons (osteoporosis, leg cramps, and macular degeneration are in my family).  

Keep your ear to the ground and you will hear a surprisingly lot about which vitamins are good for which things.  You've got a good start!  

Annie
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Good post - I would simply disagree with your first paragraph. My point is that with "generic" or less popular brands, even tho it might say 50mcg of Vitamin E, you simply don't know that that is what is in the vitamin pill.

My father's company used to manufacture vitamins, they would actually see what was TRULY in competitive brands, versus what was claimed on the bottle. Oftentimes, they were not nearly the same.

Another interesting thing - they would often supply to retail chains (the generic chain brands), AND major brand names, using the exact same product. So say they have a batch of vitamin E pills, they would fill the bottles for both the generic dept store brand AND a major brand-name vitamin. They are the same thing!

All that to say, you can likely trust any brand offered by a major health retailer (and I wouldn't consider a Dollar Store to be one of those), but be way of most else.
Helpful - 0
134578 tn?1693250592
COMMUNITY LEADER
The generics I had were a store brand from Rite-Aid, so probably would be more closely watched than some off brand from an unknown producer.  That may be why my doc didn't see anything to worry about and was merely focusing on the dosages.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
thank you all for a wealth of information and knowledge. these are the answers i was looking for. i did look at the "supplement facts" on the bottle and it did list the vitamins at 100% for the daily multi-vitamin.
then it just stated that "the product has been manufactured and REpackaged (canada..any thoughts?) in strict conformance with industry and government standards".
it wont harm me to take them right? the worst that could happen is that they dont work?

Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
AB - yah, Rite-Aid is probably a major brand name in disguise so that should be ok.

Oceans - that disclaimer is a red flag. There really aren't standards so it's trying to assure you of something that doesn't exist. Having said that, they won't harm you, the only issue is that if you think you're getting X amount of mineral 123, you probably aren't.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
thanks again...i just popped 2 and i figured i'd give it a good week to see if i notice any difference. i'll let ya know if i have more energy and if i'm in a better mood...LOL
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Hi, I've been to a naturopath.  And now I take many pills a day.  My naturopath has told me that off the shelf brands do not have a high absorbency rate and will not be as effective as the pills he prescribes to me.  Also, you said you were going to try them for a week and see the results, unfortunately this won't work, you need to wait at least 3 months before any change will occur.  I don't know if your TTC, if you are I would not be taking generic brand vitamins.  There is too much risk?  Goodluck
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I agree that it does matter what vitamins you take.  I try to buy organic ones when I can, because they don't contain any pesticides in the growing process.  They are pricier, naturally.  Also, I try to look for whole food vitamins.  These vitamins are made from what they say, whole foods.  I've also researched that vitamins, no matter how great they are, will not absorb properly if you have a weak digestive system.  I take probiotic supplements to keep me pooing regularly.  It's amazing how much wrong with our bodies is linked to the digestive system.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
a whole month!! awww, man! thats pretty much the whole supply i have. i am not TTC anyway (it does give caution on the container). thank you for your input!!
Helpful - 0
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