I'm going through a 'cleaning out' phase of my supplements and trying to dertermine which ones to keep and which ones to discontinue/toss. My problem is mostly that I take way too many supplements (were talking like 30-35 different things) probably mostly because I work in a health food store and get such a great (for better of worse) discount.
The number 16 came to me the other day, and I thought I'd try to get it down to about that number.
So the real question is: How much is too much? How many do you take, and do people think you 'take too many pills?'
(Eating away form home is always interesting as the pills come with me in a little container.)
I feel that supplements should 'supplement' one's meals.
Currently, I am pursuing a protocol, so I am taking an additional two supplements.. On a regular basis, I have been taking 3 supplements daily; I tend to feel better with powder or whole foods type of supplement.
Alia
Alia A. Vo A Positive Secretor Minneapolis, Minnesota BTD Lifestyle Since 1999 John 17
in my opinion even 16 is too much. 30 is HARMFUL. as someone whos been there and done that...food is the best way to go. however, i do take probiotics (from Dadamo) and one i got for free.
Also i would say it depends a lot on quality, not quantity. if u take quality supplements i dont see any reason to take so much. If you want a better answer, it might help list the supplements you are taking.
personaly i think too many people are "tricked" into taking taking so many supplements by corporations just interested in your dollar. Only you can know however, your trust level with the supplements you are taking. i have a low trust for supplements but i do trust NAP.
I take Vit C (Solgar Rose C 500) Gingko, Horsetail, Echinacea from September to March, vit D as I am always low without regularly; Occasionally stinging nettle and Collinsonia Stoneroot for my sinuses. I change Gingko with eleuterocccus or Withania for a week or three or four days to improve the adaptogen strenght of these herbs. Pplyflora and Polyvite of NAPare magic in giving me energy , but they are really expensive for a regular use and I feel well enough to use them only occasionally. My two cents Maria Giovanna
I'm taking supplements for the Antibiotic Support and the Pre/Post Surgery protocols so that is about 13 different pills, capsules, powder and tincture that I take 1-3 times a day. Its only been 6 days and the shine is wearing off.
I wonder how you would feel Darko 2300, if you were to stop taking them. If you had less energy perhaps
...and if so many supplements take up so much of the space in your stomach you would need to eat more food!
The Determinator is a good idea. There are a whopping 69 different supplement ingredients in the 8-9 different NAP Formulas that the Determinator recommended in my case.
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2 right now: multivitamin and probiotic as per my naturopath's treatment instructions.
Usually I would also take PhytoCal, Magnesium at night, and sometimes Catechol (taking regular breaks). I only take more than that if I am doing a protocol or feel that I might be getting sick.
MIFHI E-185 Naturopathic Doctor in Toronto, Ontario, Canada
It seems to me that it's not so much a matter of how many you take, but of what you are taking and what they are for. If you have multiple serious health problems, then you may need more, or not.
It seems to me that it's not so much a matter of how many you take, but of what you are taking and what they are for. If you have multiple serious health problems, then you may need more, or not.
Seems like a sensible approach to me. Others can elaborate if they wish.
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I take on a regular basis: Deflect and Polyflora (both from NAP). I'm taking CandidaStat to get a handle on my candida overgrowth and I'm also taking Cortigurd and Attentia to help with my studies. I'm not sure if I'll continue with these last two after the bottles run out, though.
I'm also trying to downsize my supplements as well. Basically I use the following: Seacure Magnesium glycinate every night Calcium chelate with Vit. D Vitamin C with bioflavanoids (corn free, based on amla fruit) Harmonia in smoothies Probiotic from Kirkman labs L-tyrosine Multi-vitamin (thinking of phasing this one out, but it has lots of B vitamins in it) flaxseeds in smoothies, not the oil
Have added colloidal silver in the a.m.'s as well, but thinking of getting some Candex for yeastie issues, very low lying now as I stay away from most fruit right now, except wild blueberries. I really think these supplements are very useful to me and help me, but supps can get soooo expensive, so I would love to phase something out.
I thought I'd add that a lot of my supplements overlap (I have 4 different enzyme products for example and take some herbs seperately.) This might help explain why that '30' number was so high. I didn't mean to scare anyone.
In any event, I've paired things down to the 16 I take now and I thought I'd list them and see what you guys thought.
1.) New Chapter Every Man Multi-Vitamin (www.newchapter.com) 2.) Cortisol Formula (called 'Om')containing Holy basil, Aswaganda, Magnolia bark, L-Theanine) (www.highlandvitamins.com) 3.) A Quercetin/Nettle/Bromelain Combination (works great!) (www.highlandvitamins.com) 4.) Sublingual Methylcobalamin (B-12 made by KAL) 5.) Butyrate tablets (doesn't give me the side effects of Intrinsia - made by Nutricology.) 6.) New Chapter's Zyflamend with some Boswellia taken with it. 7.) Garden of Life's Primal Defense Ultra (Very strong probiotic supplement) (www.gardenoflife.com) 8.) Source Natural's Acetyl-L-Carnitine with Alpha Lipoic Acid (www.sourcenaturals.com) 9.) Digestive enzymes (brands vary) 10.) Chlorella 11.) Bacopa/Ginko Combination (www.planetaryformulas.com) Michael Tierra rules! lol 12.) A green and white tea blen made by New Chapter 13.) Nature's Way Coral Calcium mineral complex 14.) Super Anti-Oxidant Formula (Extra C, E, Zinc, Selenium, NAC, ect.) 15.) CoQ-10 60-120mg a day depending. 16.) Deflect! Yay!
So that's it! My only major health problems are: 1) Ulcerative Colitis (which is slowly but surely getting better) and some past periodontal problems. (I've had two grafts done on my gums - no one can figure out why they were receeding since I don't have any risk factors - I blame stress. I think that my body just wasn't dealing well with it at the time and took it out on my gums.)
I guess I should also mention that I take Cod Liver Oil and Flaxseed Oil as well, though I consider those food. (Even if the government doesn't, lol.)
right now I am taking 3 times a day one for adrenals acidophilus since I was on antibiotics a few weeks ago almost done with them
and a multi vitamin every once in a while I drink Licorice and mint tea. I feel is better than any pill for the issues I do have.
since I have increased my fresh food intake I feel I don't need a lot of supplements but when I am fighting a specific sickness or condition I will take a few more but I don't like to take the same ones for more than a bottles worth at a stretch. before I was on the BTD I was taking some for joint pain, tummy problems and stress and some I don't even know why I was taking them. but after a few months on the BTD I just don't need them anymore. everyone is different in their needs and current health issues so you and your ND are best to answer what is really needed to better health. IMO
Always make them myself. I usually drink them right after I make them or I may bring some in a thermos flask that I`ve kept in the freezer over night for lunch.(The flask, not the juice. That I make just before I leave.) Buying is too expensive, hard to find here and I probably wouldn`t get organic stuff.
As for the beet. I guess I eat one and juice another one pretty much every day.
My basic veggie juice is just carrot beet and ginger. Then I add whatever I feel like. Leafy greens I really prefer to eat whole. I think most of them taste great, but I don`t like them in my juice. I really just juice stuff that would be hard to for me to consume a great amount of n any other way, or stuff that I don`t like eating raw. Like if I do asparagus for dinner, even if I just steam them carefully, I`d probably throw the hard ends in there and maybe a little more just to be sure to get some raw stuff. My lunch and dinner pretty much look like a mountain of sallad.
Right now I'm taking a joint formula for arthritis (it has the antioxidants vitamins plus some herbs for inflammation), some minerals (cal, mag and biosil) omega 3 fish oil and sometimes I take digestive enzymes plus on and off I take pbx. I take Vit D from November to March. In the summer I take herbs for stress.
Always make them myself. I usually drink them right after I make them or I may bring some in a thermos flask that I`ve kept in the freezer over night for lunch.(The flask, not the juice. That I make just before I leave.) Buying is too expensive, hard to find here and I probably wouldn`t get organic stuff.
As for the beet. I guess I eat one and juice another one pretty much every day.
My basic veggie juice is just carrot beet and ginger. Then I add whatever I feel like. Leafy greens I really prefer to eat whole. I think most of them taste great, but I don`t like them in my juice. I really just juice stuff that would be hard to for me to consume a great amount of n any other way, or stuff that I don`t like eating raw. Like if I do asparagus for dinner, even if I just steam them carefully, I`d probably throw the hard ends in there and maybe a little more just to be sure to get some raw stuff. My lunch and dinner pretty much look like a mountain of sallad.
Wow, I'm so impressed !!! I do love red beets and also carrots 'cause they add sweetness to my dishes especially mixed in with green vegetables; furthermore, they also strengthen the liver hence that's a bonus
I make an amazing risotto with red beets, red onions, parmesan, olive oil and butter dish ... really very yummi !!
however; I had read to NOT eat red beets on a daily basis ... sigh
2x30mg's of Q10,2x a multivit-mineral espec. for women,2x200mg's of alphalipoic acid, 3x500mg's of evening primroseoil,1x 25'000IU mixed carotenoid complex, 1x kelptabl. 2x menopauseformula
= 13 pillies a day ------ oups forgot 3x2 MSM joint formula = 19 pillies a day ouch.....
not true add some 3x1 1000mg's of Vit. C = 22 pillies a day nice huh
but that's nothing against our beloved C.th.Dabler
Bromelain-500mg, once a day B-Complex 100,once a day Dandelion Root, 500mg,twice a day Maca, 500mg, twice a day Glucosamine Sulphate 1000mg, twice a day Super L-Carnitine, twice a day L Tyrosine, 500mg, twice a day Rice protein powder, thrice day
Have checked the ingredients list for avoids..but nothing seems to jump out at me. I however have about gelatin, magnesium stearate, stearic acid, cellulose, cellulose & glycerin coating, and silica-all related to the covering of the capsule.
I also notice that ever since starting on all the above suppliments, I have massive breakouts along my jaw starting just below the left ear ending midway to the right ear...indicating lymph node congestion, More on this in another thread. But if anyone finds any suspects in the above mentioned ingredients list please alert me!
might be, my dearle, that you do have reactions onto the sulphate, mostly breakouts of thingies similar to akne, might be a reaction on that stuff too...... may I ask ya...why l'carnitin? to loose weight ?
might be, my dearle, that you do have reactions onto the sulphate, mostly breakouts of thingies similar to akne, might be a reaction on that stuff too...... may I ask ya...why l'carnitin? to loose weight ?
Oh, the sulphate in glucosamine sulphate you mean? You know, ever since switching from Glucosamine Condritin (after reading the extensive thread here), I never found the Gl Sulph as effective for my joints. So you think the sulphate could be the problem..? I have stopped all the suppliments for the time being just so my body can return to normal.
The L-Carnitine helps me tremendously on days I do weights & running. It helps move the sugars to the muscles and not sit pretty on my hips !
as sulphat/ sulphur (also MSM for ex.)is taken in cases of *anti-whitheads * etc..therapies, it might be.. that there occurs a conterreaction .. ..What I'd like to know my dear is, would you mind, if looking onto the ingredients of you l'carnitine isn't it composed outta dextrose ....... just a suggestion ......
as sulphat/ sulphur (also MSM for ex.)is taken in cases of *anti-whitheads * etc..therapies, it might be.. that there occurs a conterreaction .. ..What I'd like to know my dear is, would you mind, if looking onto the ingredients of you l'carnitine isn't it composed outta dextrose ....... just a suggestion ......
The L-Carnitine is from U.S. sold at the local Nature's Farm, and the brand is Power System.
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Quoted from accidental_chef
Oh, the sulphate in glucosamine sulphate you mean? You know, ever since switching from Glucosamine Condritin (after reading the extensive thread here), I never found the Gl Sulph as effective for my joints. So you think the sulphate could be the problem..? I have stopped all the suppliments for the time being just so my body can return to normal.
The L-Carnitine helps me tremendously on days I do weights & running. It helps move the sugars to the muscles and not sit pretty on my hips !
The best glucosamine for O's is N-Acetyl D Glucosamine. Search the site for more info.
MIFHI E-185 Naturopathic Doctor in Toronto, Ontario, Canada
The best glucosamine for O's is N-Acetyl D Glucosamine. Search the site for more info.
Yes, I'm aware of it. But it's a banned item here. Dont know why though !
Today I got myself the following:
1. Chlorella, 200mg. Nature's Farm certifies it's free of yeast, wheat, milk, corn, egg, soy, gluten, animal derivatives, sugar, artificial colours & added starch or preservatives. Dosage is "upto 10 tablets per day with a meal". 300 tablets per bottle. Is it necessary to take 10 tablets per day?
2. Buffered C1000, 1000mg Calcium 108mg Buffered ascorbate derived from lemons. Same as above re: "free of..." Dosage 1-2 tablets after food.
3. Calcium It's called bone density factors with Boron Calcium as micro crystalline hydroxyapatite, calcium carbonate, calcium citrate, calcium malate and then a whole load of minerals as well. Nothing seems to jump out at me except that most of the amino acids are in the chelate form, if that's of any significance Dosage 2 tablets with food.
I'm off all suppliments for a bit now, and will start may be next week. If anything looks suspicious, please alert me!
I wonder if I am taking way too many.....seems like many of you on thuis thread are not taking all the stuff I take. I take bladderwrack and larch, every morning, cal-mag glucosamine sulphate, 2 tabs\ my multi often, l-glutamine and at night, melatonin and valerian
this is when I am not on a protocol (which I am now...adding a few more) I guess thats not so much.
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ouch.....
add some 3x1 1000mg's of Vit. C = 22 pillies a day 
about gelatin, magnesium stearate, stearic acid, cellulose, cellulose & glycerin coating, and silica-all related to the covering of the capsule. 
may I ask ya...why l'carnitin? to loose weight ?
sorry dear, nothing of baddies in here