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Supplements: How do I know right balance of vitamins & minerals?

Posted by dablues @dablues, Jul 26, 2021

I am starting to take Selenium 200 mcg, Vitamin C powder 1/2 tsp 2 or 3 times a day, & Magnesium. 500 mg. Now I know everyone says ask your doctor, but when I asked my doctor about supplements his answer was if you want to waste your money go ahead, so that is of no help to me. I have low thyroid, High Blood Pressure, High Cholesterol, and take probiotic, and a stomach pill which is pantoprazole which does not help me. Also, iron for anemia due to AVM's, and fish oil pill. Sounds like a lot but even though I think I eat right I don't know if I'm getting the right amounts of minerals or vitamins in my body. So hope someone will help since my doctor doesn't believe in supplements.

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deanna2 | @deanna2 | Aug 7, 2023
In reply to @stellar2023 "Hello Deanna2 Best way to become knowledgeable is to read as much, do research on your..." + (show)
@stellar2023

Hello Deanna2
Best way to become knowledgeable is to read as much, do research on your computer, and pay attention to new news about testing and such.
Getting our nutrients from foods is always best but I have always been a label reader and that is where I learn what not to eat a more than anything.
You will need to know all the chemical names of food nutrients. And where there are more than one, such as B12, will need to know the difference.
The internet is a great learning tool for such things. Just be sure to pay attention and keep a notepad handy to list what you learn in some way that will be easy to find when you go looking. Alphabetical is always a good way for me. And you can cross reference if that works for you also.
I am certainly not fanatical but have been at this for most of my adult life. And I forget things, and research is always going on so I am constantly learning and for me personally that is fun!
lastly, I will say that I watch what people put into their bodies and can always see why they look and think and act the way they do. I found that Europeans are far more aware of these things but that is because they are not married to the financial aspect of eating foods. the bakeries in Germany are wonderful and the treats there are not just a mouth full of sugar. Plus they walk everywhere. Hope this info will incite a desire to research what you eat even more. Happy learning!

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Agreed. I, too have long been a label reader and researcher. It's also important to note that some labels are tricky. For example, "made with whole grain" doesn't mean the grain it contains is only whole grain. There could be just a bit of whole grain in the product. Another example: "no added sugar" doesn't necessarily mean "low sugar." We must read the ingredient list to see how much sugar is in a serving. It takes a number of oranges, apples or other fruits to make a normal sized glass of juice, which means we would be getting much more sugar than we would by simply eating one whole fruit. (Guess our ancestors with their tiny juice glasses were wiser than we often give them credit for.)

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1 reply
donchampagne1958 | @donchampagne1958 | Aug 7, 2023
In reply to @ritabtripp "I highly recommend you meet with an Integrated medicine doctor. They are very knowledgeable about determining..." + (show)
@ritabtripp

I highly recommend you meet with an Integrated medicine doctor. They are very knowledgeable about determining what vitamin and mineral supplements you need.

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I had never heard of an "Integrated medicine physician" but it turns out that there is such a practice with three blocks of my home. I would take Rita's advice.

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stellar2023 | @stellar2023 | Aug 7, 2023
In reply to @deanna2 "Agreed. I, too have long been a label reader and researcher. It's also important to note..." + (show)
@deanna2

Agreed. I, too have long been a label reader and researcher. It's also important to note that some labels are tricky. For example, "made with whole grain" doesn't mean the grain it contains is only whole grain. There could be just a bit of whole grain in the product. Another example: "no added sugar" doesn't necessarily mean "low sugar." We must read the ingredient list to see how much sugar is in a serving. It takes a number of oranges, apples or other fruits to make a normal sized glass of juice, which means we would be getting much more sugar than we would by simply eating one whole fruit. (Guess our ancestors with their tiny juice glasses were wiser than we often give them credit for.)

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I have often thought about those 5-6oz juice glasses and realized the wisdom that was not heeded in future times of giant size everything!
If you have not already read it check out "Salt, Sugar,Fat" by Michael Moss. If you have read it then good for you! I am presently rereading it.

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1 reply
stellar2023 | @stellar2023 | Aug 7, 2023
In reply to @nonnied "Agree - I’ve done a lot of research as well. Our bodies absorb vitamins and nutrients..." + (show)
@nonnied

Agree - I’ve done a lot of research as well. Our bodies absorb vitamins and nutrients best from foods. As we age up taking supplements is not as effective because we do not digest the supplements well enough to absorb any benefits. What food we eat together also impacts how well we absorb the nutrients. Super interesting!

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True.
I had a nurse tell me years ago that they ( the nurses) had a name for the multi vitamins that so many take. it was 'pings' since that is the noise they make when hitting the bed pan. ;0}

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deanna2 | @deanna2 | Aug 8, 2023
In reply to @stellar2023 "I have often thought about those 5-6oz juice glasses and realized the wisdom that was not..." + (show)
@stellar2023

I have often thought about those 5-6oz juice glasses and realized the wisdom that was not heeded in future times of giant size everything!
If you have not already read it check out "Salt, Sugar,Fat" by Michael Moss. If you have read it then good for you! I am presently rereading it.

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Re: "Salt, Sugar,Fat" by Michael Moss
Shocking and sad. Thankfully, there are now also some smaller companies that make it their goal to provide "cleaner" foods. As folks become more knowledgeable, the demand for such will increase.

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stellar2023 | @stellar2023 | Aug 9, 2023

Absolutely true. Demand is the ticket to change. And EDUCATION is the vehicle for thinking skills.

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scolio | @scolio | Aug 20, 2023

One thing that has helped me see what nutrients I'm getting from foods is a nutrient tracking website such as cronometer or another one called myfooddata.com where I type in one day's food into the 'recipe nutrition calculator' as if it were one 'recipe', and look at the totals for the vitamins and minerals.

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beanibyrd | @beanibyrd | Oct 27, 2023

THANKS soooo MUCH COLLEEN!!!👍I'm a NEWBIE here...and "WOW"...so MUCH INFO...going to CHECK it ALL OUT, right NOW!!!
GOD BLESS & TAKE CARE!!!
🙂 (-: 🙂 🙂

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donchampagne1958 | @donchampagne1958 | Nov 4, 2023

Your doctor is correct. We all need to eat a diet rich in fruit and vegetables. Adding meat and fish, as well as sweets, is OK in moderation. Unless a blood test has determined that you have a specific deficiency, you you do not need "supplements".

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