Vitamin Recs?

[pag41989]

So as I was driving home from work I realized that I should really be taking some vitamins. I am sure that is probably why I keep getting all these random little injuries and I am sure it would also help with a lot of other things. First off, I will say I am about as picky about vitamins as my two year old is about food. I don't like that terrible generic vitamin taste however I will choke them down if they are the best and I have to. Do you all recommend the gummy vitamins? I see a ton of advertisements for them but I don't know if they are as effective as other vitamins. Also, do you take anything else other than a multi-vitamin to help you stay strong for running? I have almost always sucked about taking vitamins (except when I was pregnant) and I have been lectured by my PCP I don't how many times about how I need to take them. :^)

[wambam]

Is there a reason you feel you aren't getting sufficient vitamins from your food?

[sadlebred]

I'd schedule a physical with your doctor. Ask him to do bloodwork to see if you are deficient in anything.

[jene]

I would ditto the PPs, getting blood work done is a great way to tell what you need.

[pag41989]

I mean I guess I am? But any time I get blood work done I am almost always low on potassium. Most of my running friends seem to be on some type of vitamin (usually a calcium supp of some type) for bone strength. Honestly, my eating isn't probably 100% amazing. I have been debating on starting the Whole 30 program but I haven't been able to mentally commit to it yet.

[wambam]

The vitamin balance for bone health is such a delicate dance. There's SO much involved there. Not just calcium, but magnesium, A, D, K2...

Get current blood work before you delve into taking vitamin supplements.

[pag41989]

So I should get blood work even for a basic women's multi vitamin? I was always under the impression that I should always take these. Even my daughter was prescribed a multivitamin at the age of 2 with no bloodwork. Now I'm confused lol. I am probably setting up an appointment with my PCP next week anyways. I have been having shooting knee pain since last week and if it's not gone by the end of this week with rest then I am setting an appointment to see her to get referred for an MRI and I will request a blood work up, I am sure she will have some good advice too since she's a distance runner.

[wambam]

I am not telling you to go against your doctor's wishes. But I do think that you should be getting your nutrients from food first. Then if you're deficient in something, you should take a supplement. But it seems redundant and possibly even harmful (there's a bell curve for most nutrients - you want enough, not too little or too much) to just throw vitamins at a problem when you don't really know what's going on internally.

[pag41989]

Feb 18, 2014 9:57:33 GMT -5 wambam said:

I am not telling you to go against your doctor's wishes. But I do think that you should be getting your nutrients from food first. Then if you're deficient in something, you should take a supplement. But it seems redundant and possibly even harmful (there's a bell curve for most nutrients - you want enough, not too little or too much) to just throw vitamins at a problem when you don't really know what's going on internally.

Huh guess I've never thought of it that way. I get blood work done yearly with my annual checkups but I almost never take the vitamins she recommends (I'll usually buy them and forget to take them) but its usually most of the time a Vitamin B complex and potassium along with a basic women's multivitamin. But I'll talk to her about it next week when I go to see her about my knee. Thanks