Vitamin and Mineral Supplements

This is purely my own experience and opinion.

There are arguments out there that claim taking vitamin and mineral supplements does nothing to help improve health. That they are a waste of money, and in some cases can be harmful. Some state that our bodies can't properly metabolize the supplements in pill form because our bodies are made to draw the nutrients from the source (food, etc.) and so just spill the nutrients from pills through the bodies urine.

I can't say if these claims are true, or even if I've stated them accurately, because I am no professional. I can say with certainty, though, that I am a supplement taker and they work damn well for me! When I go without taking supplements, I notice a significant and more negative difference in my overall health.

Now, maybe it is because I am not a healthy person. Maybe supplements don't make a difference for people that are already healthy for the most part. But for people like me who live with chronic conditions and incurable diseases, supplements can do a whole lot to benefit our health. I live with Type I Diabetes and a lot of complications of diabetes. Supplements have done much to help me live a healthier life.

Now I am not talking about expensive products that come from multi-level marketing schemes and may include meal plans and programs and promise cures, weight-loss, and/or other things. No, I am simply talking about vitamin and mineral supplement pills you can buy at almost any store that sells foods and pharmaceuticals.

Some people don't like the idea of vitamins because they don't want to take on an 'odor'. To them I might suggest buying the odorless kinds. Almost all the supplements that used to cause certain smells now come in an odorless version. Or you can take chlorophyll. Chlorophyll is excellent at making you not smell like anything at all. Perfumes won't even stay on your skin! We used to give it to our dogs to get rid of the dog odor and it worked wonders!

As far as the claim that supplements can be harmful...of course they can. Anything can be harmful when you just jump on in and don't do your homework first. If you take too much, or you mix with medication that they don't mix well with, or you have an allergy to a vitamin. Everything has the potential for harm. And also, don't just buy any old brand of supplements, do your homework on companies and buy from a company/brand you trust.

For me the key differences I notice when on vitamins are a follows: More energy and alertness, healthier skin, hair, and nails, I sleep better, I experience fewer aches and pains, my mood evens out (I feel happier), my appetite evens out (less cravings). And, of course, the various benefits to health related to why I take the supplements I take!

Everyone's health needs differ, so obviously different supplements will benefit different people. For me, here is a list of what I take and why:

*The benefits listed below are not ALL the benefits of each supplement, they are just the ones I take them for.*

Multi vitamin: Hey, I just like to cover all my bases. :)

Calcium +Vitamin D: Every woman should take this, it's great for helping to prevent osteoporosis. It benefits bone strength and health.

Cinnamon: The spice of life! There are a ton of health benefits of cinnamon, some are: blood-sugar regulation, mood regulation, and much more. I not only take a cinnamon capsule, but I also use cinnamon in a lot of my cooking.

Magnesium: Magnesium is good for the heart and bones and is also good for reducing pain.

Evening Primrose Oil: Helps with high cholesterol, heart disease, nerve damage (neuropathy).

Vitamin B-12: Boosts mood and energy, good for the heart, nerves, reduces ringing in the ears, and is a mosquito repellent.

Folic Acid: Good for the heart, sleep aid, nerve pain. Folic acid causes vivid dreams. I naturally have vivid dreams and taking folic acid only makes them more vivid. I love it!

Cranberry: Good for blood pressure and boosts immune health.

Frankincense and Myrrh oil (topical): Temporary relief from neuropathy pain.

I began to research this subject in 1996 after being diagnosed with fibromyalgia and realizing there was nothing to do but treat the symptoms. I figured I could do that myself and set out to do so. I developed a system over the years for introducing a supplement or herbal remedy one at a time and giving it a 3-month trial if there was no immediate allergic reaction like diarrhea. So by the time my T2 diagnosis came in 2007, I was well-positioned to address that, too.

For comfort thru the emotional difficulties of chronic disease--especially the so called "invisible" ones--I rotate through Valerian and St. John's Wort and Motherwort. The "worts" can cause photosensitivity, so I use them in winter.

Specifically for The D: I use Nopal powder (an ancient Latin American treatment for "the sugars"), fenugreek and gymnema. All 3 of those I introduced very carefully right after diagnosis so I am able to say that, for me, each has helped in controlling my numbers.

My personal tea blend is: Chamomile, a mild calmative, Mint for flavor and digestion, nettle as a mild diuretic, dandelion for liver health, green tea with kombucha decaf for immune support plus plain decaf green tea. Also Hawthorne which is a widely accepted support for heart health in Europe. I drink a quart or more/day.

I have had to also experiment with things like red clover and Oats extract because of my seemingly endless hot flashes (that's 8 years post-hysterectomy!)They help a bit.

I took a D supplement until one blood test showed I had gone overboard and my D levels were at the toxic level---a perfect cautionary tale! I cut back to just the D in my multi-vitamin/mineral supplement and it steadied down. I do take a calcium/magnesium supplement, but in moderation. Too much calcium in old folks can have a negative impact.

I've recently added some anti-inflammatory spices to my blueberry/cinnamon/ground flax "daily dose" of fruit---berries are the only fruit that doesn't give me a spike. I find that cumin and ginger and turmeric make the mix even tastier----add some almond milk and a dollop of cream and a few drops of stevia and Yum!

Also--Milk Thistle, for liver support, garlic, red yeast rice (the original source of all statins), astragalus for extra immune support, and evening primrose oil, which I know for a fact healed my two mashed thumbnails---slowly, over about 3 years--one was deformed as a pre-teener when a car door was slammed on it, the other went through the ringer on an old ringer washing machine!

Enough--I'm starting to sound like the old lady lunatic who lives in a scary house on the corner with lots of cats! I do actually have a lot of cats and my garden is full of some of these herbs.....Anyway--you have to be careful and, really---don't pay too much attention to the crazy old lady with the cats.

Do your own research!.....Blessings from me and my cats (yes I still have several black ones, so beware).....Judith in Portland...

I drink a lot of herbal teas, too. I am going to start on red yeast rice next week. I eat a lot of nopales (cactus)because it is good for diabetes.

I'm glad you found things that work well for you.

Anything either of you can recommend for someone who is coming off of radiation therapy for Lymphoma? It's knocked the wind out of my sails.

Great question, John. I've been out of the loop for a couple days due to a bad windstorm that knocked out our power. I'll take a look in a couple of my herbal reference books. I have come to especially value the work of Michael Murray. There is now a pocket edition of his "Encyclopedia of Healing Foods" which you might be able to find. Blessings, my dear. Rest. More tomorrow.....Judith

CoQ10, magnesium, and vitamin B12 are what come to my mind. I don't know anything about Lymphoma or radiation, but these supplements are known to help give energy. I hope this helps. I suggest researching them first to make sure they work with your diet, health, and medicines, etc.

Thanks Judith.

A lot of what I'm finding is oriented toward boosting your immune system, for which Tamra's suggestions are also good. Here are a bunch of possibilities. You'll have to sort them out and determine for yourself which are practical for you. For instance: Berries are the only fruit I can eat without a spike and blueberries are the biggest "bang for your buck" so I have a serving a day to which I add a Tbsp of ground flax, a tsp of cinnamon, and a 1/4 tsp each of cumin, ginger and turmeric--all anti-inflammatories. A little almond milk and a dollop of cream plus a few drops of stevia and it makes a delicious daily treat that is also very healthy.

Supplements like astragalus and quercetin are worth a try, as well as Vitamin D, garlic and Echinacea. If you feel your liver might be impacted, dandelion is excellent support there. Check with your doc about whether or not you should supplement with iron. Green tea and bell peppers are full of protective properties, and don't forget that ginger in almost any form is a powerful way of combating nausea--tea or the spice---even docs often recommend things like ginger ale for passengers who get airsick. We found a very refreshing sparkling water infused with ginger which was a major boon for me when I suffered from bad post-op nausea a couple years ago.

If you have a computer, there is a wealth of info about post radiation fatigue, some of it from folks who have been through what you are going through now. They all say that you need to pace yourself for quite awhile, resting a lot and exercising in short, gentle segments......Good luck and I hope you'll keep us posted....Oh, Michael Murray has a website. One of his other books, very easy to use is called, "Encyclopedia of Natural Medicine."......Blessings....Judith

Just be careful if you already have issues with your liver or kidneys when taking a supplement. Sometimes it takes a toll on the organs. I've taken quite a few and one has specifically worked great FOR ME, can't speak for others. I've recommended it to a few people and they all seem to have the same results. My A1C went from 6.2 - 5.9 and I lost like 8 lbs. But again, like everything in life, that is my personal journey and experience. Good luck! Sorry John for your current situation, hope after the few months that have passed, that it's gotten better! Best of luck :)