Hi all,
thinking about starting to take some vitamins to maybe see if i can squeeze out some more energy.

anyone know if something like centrum or something like that is good for this?

also does anyone take fish oil? ive heard its supposed to be good for u, but im not too sure why

I used to take supplements - but there is increasing evidence that they are really not good for you - so unless you have a specific thing you need to supplement for on a short term basis - or under doctors orders, I would aim for a good diet.

A little oily fish for Breaky - mackeral is my favourite or salmon, good for vitamin D, and good for the heart etc.

All things in moderation. (except beer and other recreational drugs)

try to steer away from pills - although not nessary evil - most reseach suggests a healthly diet is the best way to go .

Cranberries good for urine tract (and other diegestive stuff)
(taste crap)
apples/Pears generally all round and ok - not too many
oranges good for Vit C

most berries have anti-oxides in them - blueberry I hear are very good
however if cook might as well eat chalk -

I used to take supplements - but there is increasing evidence that they are really not good for you - so unless you have a specific thing you need to supplement for on a short term basis - or under doctors orders, I would aim for a good diet.

A little oily fish for Breaky - mackeral is my favourite or salmon, good for vitamin D, and good for the heart etc.

All things in moderation. (except beer and other recreational drugs)

see i dont like fish, thats why i figured something else(pill) would do me good.

and when you say not good for you what do you mean? they dont give you the right amounts? not what you need?

try to steer away from pills - although not nessary evil - most reseach suggests a healthly diet is the best way to go .

Cranberries good for urine tract (and other diegestive stuff)
(taste crap)
apples/Pears generally all round and ok - not too many
oranges good for Vit C

most berries have anti-oxides in them - blueberry I hear are very good
however if cook might as well eat chalk -

what if im too busy to eat well??? seems to be my main problem. no time for lunch (unless im driving and hit up some fast food) and dinner is whatever i can cook(microwave, since i cant cook) the fastest...

Stuff like this abounds about supplements -

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/health/healthy_eating/article1449813.ece

but healthy fuit and veg and vitamin intake is good. Fruit in particaluar is easy to get into any diet, either as a peice of fruit or as a juice drink. Veggies aren't to difficult either - eat some more veggie side dishes and cut back on the bread, pasta or whatever.

nice article. Thanks for that. i think a trial cant hurt. nothing serious, just to see how much more energy i can get ( i quit caffeine so im running low). Thanks for the input

and cut back on the bread, pasta or whatever.

That's odd, I thought pasta was good for you:confused:

yeah what about the all carb diet that people go on..? isnt that for energy... i feel like if i cut that stuff out ill be hungry all the time

That's odd, I thought pasta was good for you:confused:

Pasta is good for you in moderation like all food. Nothing in excess. Sportsman will often load up on Carbs especially pasta before competing in endurance events as they can be used quickly to provide energy. In general a well balanced diet is best for you provided that you eat in moderate amounts. You don't want to be carrying excess weight around. I feel that pills are Ok to top up on things like Omega-3 if you don't like fish.

It is all pretty simple really. You need to balance your input to what you need. If you eat to excess you will put on the pounds.

It is all pretty simple really. You need to balance your input to what you need. If you eat to excess you will put on the pounds.

and if you dont eat enough??? i heard on a empty stomach pills make you sick... but thats just in the reading ive done during work

and if you dont eat enough??? i heard on a empty stomach pills make you sick... but thats just in the reading ive done during work
That's why I said to have a sensible balanced diet. Its not good to starved. I suspect different pills will have different effects if you eat them on an empty stomach. Like all things you need to use your common sense.

All I meant was if you were now filling up on veggies - the other filler foods - ie carbs could be cut back a bit - or the number of calories would inevitably increase - and therefore you'll get fatter.

ah got ya! i try to eat veggies.... although they might be on a burger or something of the sort so kinda defeats the purpose im sure

Hi gary,
Theres nothing wrong with taking a good multi vitamin as a 'safety net' to ensure all your macronutrients are taken care of but as everyone has said it would be best to get them form natural food like fruit and veg.
Also there are other sources of Healthy fats that you get from fish. Nuts and seeds are great sources of omegas and can be eaten on the go.

If youve given up the caffiene then it can take 4 days to get out of your sytem and anything up to 2 weeks for the cravings to go and energy returns.

And a all carb diet will not give you loads of energy as your body can only store so much energy and what you dont use will be stored as fat!

As above though, variation and moderation is the key!

Phill
Master Personal Trainer

i started taking a one a day mens health supplement and have been eating healthier on top of it. ive noticed some (minimal) improvements in energy already and its only been about 2 weeks.

Sounds about right!
Only takes a few days for your body to start flushing out the crap and utilise the extra nutrients your putting in! Now all you need is some exercise and you'll be a proper health freak :)

I have been taking several different supplements to help with my energy. A B-vitamins supplement and a Panthenine supplement have given me a lift so I do not snooze away in front of my current Access project. :)

The quality of the supplement is always an issue. Some forms of B-12 are part of a complex molecule that when broken down becomes B-12 and cyanide. Stay away from any B-12 compounds that have an ingredient that is similar to cyanide.

Balance is a word that has been used through this thread and it is the most important issue as one can overdo even good things like whisky, wine, beer and vitamins.

My opthalmic surgeon advised me to take a supplement containing Lutein to help with my weak retinas, but the 1st one I took contained an excess of vitamins A and E and caused trouble to some people especially smokers, not me tho', and my optician switched brands to one with less of those.

I also read recently that the omegas present in plants are less useful for some reason than those in fish, however we are tolde that fish contain poisons, especially farmed fish.

And after we have got ourselves all healthy ready for a long life along comes that bus and runs us over.

Brian

also does anyone take fish oil? ive heard its supposed to be good for u, but im not too sure why

Fish oil pills are pretty popular nowadays. The magic word is Omega 3.
Lots of hits on the internet, but those I get are mainly dutch.
But maybe old wiki might help :

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Omega-3_fatty_acid

Thanks for that.
Ive actually been out looking for a fish oil, but havent found one that i think wuold be most beneficial. im thinking i may have to order one online...

Try drinking cod liver oil from a spoon like we had to as kids:mad::D

Try drinking cod liver oil from a spoon like we had to as kids:mad::D

i actually tried that.... and no thanks. ill pass and go for the pills

do the same for garlic pills (and don't chew - just swallow these)

garlic (and ginger ) are good for blood , diesgtion and also the old "hows your father" or rumpey bumpey - or knookie etc.....

the main thing is eat properly

so reduce red meat and increase veg and fish

i am tring to do 1 red meat a week and extra fish and a meat free day once a week - if i am snacking then raw celery and carrots (I like these anyway)


I did a week long raw veg /fruit diet and I noticed some changes - i was also doing the gym and shave quite a few pounds off - the job relocated and i am no where near a gym - those pounds have come back.. - but he job may relocate again and this would involve 20 mins walking in the morning and evening - so those pounds would shed off (I hope)

http://icwales.icnetwork.co.uk/news/health-news/2008/04/17/popping-vitamins-could-seriously-damage-health-91466-20775626/

As I said on an earlier post, increasing eveidence that supplements aren't a good idea. You may as well take up smoking in the hope it will help prevent parkinsons or IBS.

16% increase in death rates! One to avoid I think. Annoyingly many of the "healthy" brands in the supermarket have vitamins added. Doh!

You should read about side effects of taking supplements, some of them maybe are illegal in your country.

one a day is good

This has been useful for me as well, I've been wondering which vitamins i should take x

do the same for garlic pills (and don't chew - just swallow these)

garlic (and ginger ) are good for blood , diesgtion and also the old "hows your father" or rumpey bumpey - or knookie etc.....

the main thing is eat properly

so reduce red meat and increase veg and fish

i am tring to do 1 red meat a week and extra fish and a meat free day once a week - if i am snacking then raw celery and carrots (I like these anyway)


I did a week long raw veg /fruit diet and I noticed some changes - i was also doing the gym and shave quite a few pounds off - the job relocated and i am no where near a gym - those pounds have come back.. - but he job may relocate again and this would involve 20 mins walking in the morning and evening - so those pounds would shed off (I hope)

Just a thought Gary, why not go for a 20 minute walk at lunch time, it's the law that you must take at least 30 minutes off, so may as well make them productive. Better still, gather up some colleagues and you can have a walking club at lunch times :D 20 minutes to the pub, 20 minutes back...

Just a thought Gary, why not go for a 20 minute walk at lunch time, it's the law that you must take at least 30 minutes off, so may as well make them productive. Better still, gather up some colleagues and you can have a walking club at lunch times :D 20 minutes to the pub, 20 minutes back...

Amazing how many people go to gyms and then never walk anywhere.

There were several girls at my last office fighting the flab in the gym, unsuccessfully, but always used the lift even to go 1 floor.
I always use stairs and am annoyed that most stores nolonger have any.

A brisk walk exercises the largest muscle groups and is all you need to keep your weight in check, assuming a sensible diet.

Brian

A brisk walk exercises the largest muscle groups and is all you need to keep your weight in check, assuming a sensible diet.

Brian
Two words that shouldn't be used in the same sentence when speaking to a Scots person "sensible" and "diet" lol.

If you have a healthy diet and good regular exercise I don't think there is a need for synthetic health pills . What is natural is always ideal.;)

If you have a healthy diet and good regular exercise I don't think there is a need for synthetic health pills . What is natural is always ideal.;)

This contradicts what you say on the cold Prevention thread.

Brian

Not a real believer in supplements - but my wife forces me to take zinc,
B Complex, and a fish oil tablet every day. She read that they would
help with my memory loss and short attention span, but I'm not sure if they're helping (I can't remember what it was like to have memories).

I'm going to ask my Doc about it at my next physical, but she loves to
recommend supplements, and I don't know which prescription to tell her
I'd rather go on.

I eat a good diet, and am very healthy otherwise.

I agree that eating a healthy diet would be the best idea, but lets be honest, can we be 100% sure that our diet is healthy? Even the water we drink cannot be relied upon to be pure, regardless of whether you buy if in bottles. There are so many impurities in the Earth they must, surely, get into the food chain at some point.