Vitamins? - Federal Way,WA

I think it is awesome that you have gotten a grip on your eating disorder and that you are making positive steps! Congratulations! Your enthusiasm and positive outlook are just great!

But you are right to be concerned about this regimen. Did you know that pills (vitamins, anything else) are absorbed just 20%, 30% at best? That's from the Physician's Desk Reference - I can send you the link if you are interested. The photos show xrays of undigested pills working their way through the system. Also, for about 3 years there have been articles in every major newspaper about drugs in the water supply - those are from undigested pills passing out of the body and into the septic tank or sewage system and eventually into the water supply. Any septic pumping company or sewage treatment company will tell you what they find.

You are wasting your money. Put one of those pills in a dish of white vinegar and see what's left after 20 minutes - that's what's not digested by your stomach. If it's still solid, it's not absorbed. So, 75% of what you spend is literally going down the toilet.

Now, if you absorbed 25%, exactly what does that mean? Maybe you absorbed 100% of the wax coating that lets the pill pop out of the mold, or maybe the fillers that hold it together. Maybe you didn't even get 25% of the actual nutrient.

Also, that many pills are VERY hard on anyone's stomach. They tend to sit at the base of the stomach and clump together. And someone who has had an eating disorder already has some problems in that area from what's been going on in your past.

Even if you did, there is NO authority that can tell you that individual vitamins or minerals work in isolation. That's not how nature intended our nutrition - everything works together and every element needs all of its "partners" to function effectively. So you need a completely comprehensive supplement with 70+ ingredients in the proper balance, and one that is highly bioavailable (absorbed within 20 minutes at the cellular level).

I am sure your chiropractor means well but I would question her training or logic - this makes no sense to me.

The AMA recommended 10 years ago that people (everyone!) take a comprehensive supplement, and that liquid is the best. Studies show that pre-mixed liquids degrade over time, so the most effective is powder that is mixed in liquid (usually water) at the time of consumption.

If you want info on these recommendations or on the Council for Responsible Nutrition, let me know. I'd be happy to help you more.

There IS a great deal that you can do but I really feel you are on a difficult path. Happy to help with more info.

I take a lot on my days too. It varies, usually between 3-10 supplements a day, 2-3 times a day. Usually herbal tinctures like echinacea and probiotics. And I take grapefruit seed extract everyday for my allergies, sometimes with bee pollen. I also sometimes take fish oil, but only on the weeks I don't eat fish. I have a bunch of other stuff I rotate too, based on that week's dietary deficiencies.

15 pills 3 times a day is a chore. So sorry you have to do that, hope it gets better for you!

I do try to only take liquids, too. I can feel there effects much more clearly. But I also think that other people's systems may digest pills more efficiently than mine.

Good for you!!! I know I take 8 a day and that's alot. Keep up the good work. I am so glad you are working on getting healthy and looking out for the best ineterest of your family and self :)

I take Oligo (made by Melaleuca) and I take 9 a day, 2x a day i take a multivitamin, calcium and antioxidant and probiotic, and 1x a day I take a immune booster. The nice thing is it comes in packs, so I don't forget to take 1. And the Oligo vitamins are designed to be made by your body because most of vitamins aren't completely absorbed by your body.

But speaking with my friend yesterday who sees a nutritionalist/wellness doctor, he was having her take 12 pills a day just to treat an underlying viral infection. Thats not including the other pills that she normally takes. Which seemed like a lot to me, but 1)I'm not a doctor and don't know much about vitamins and supplements, and 2) my friend is perfectly fine with taking that many vitamins and believes that it is benefitting her.

I think it really comes down to you and your doctor and seeing what works for you.

Congratulations on your progress with your health and best wishes.

15 THREE TIMES A DAY! That is nuts! My grandmother sells Shaklee (great vitamins by the way) and she doesn't even take that many. I think you need to work more on progress for your eating disorder and eating real foods with the necessary vitamins and minerals to support your body and less with supplements.

I take prenatals (pregnant currently) or a multi-vitamin from Shaklee with Iron when not; vitamin C and Zinc when feeling low energy or ill or to stave off illness, and probiotics 2 times a day in capsule form (plus Kefir or organic yogurt daily).

I used to undereat and overexercise in highschool and weighed 108 at 5'8"....then overate in college and weighed near 150. In recent years, I have gotten my eating and exercise on track through clean eating and weight lifting -- even through my pregnancies. I am still really regimented about food -- eat at particular times of day, particular foods, keep a journal etc. Food still controls ME at times instead of me controlling it....but you need to work on things and not totally rely on those supplements. Trust me.

I take Oligo's Vitality Pack (multi-vitamin and calcium),

You could do 15 a day OR www.BestBreakfastEver.com.
You choose.

B.
Family Success Coach

Many good quality vitamin companies will have you take 3-4 pills a day because they know the body absorbs them better in smaller and more readily absorb-able forms. However, the very best way to get your vitamins is through the fresh fruits and vegetables that the complete nutrient is found in. Eating Real Food is always your best bet.

I would be skeptical if you are buying your supplements from your physician. Even the best physician is still watching out for their bottom line! It is a lucrative business. However, I buy my favorite iron supplement from my naturopath doc because I do feel it's the best (like she told me) and she sells it at a fair price.

I don't know if you've ever heard of Michael Pollen and his books "Food Rules" or "The Omnivore's Dilemma", but one of the rules is, "Be the kind of person who takes vitamins . . . and then don't take them." What I think he's saying is that we are mindful of getting what our body needs and being a healthy person, but we aren't throwing money *literally* down the toilet.

If it helps, I take an iron pill and a multivitamin (New Chapter Organics Perfect Prenatal, although I'm no longer pregnant) with every meal, along with Uva Ursi and Cranberry currently because of a lingering bladder infection.