Vitamins?

[guitardedmark]

I believe in vitamins and always take a centrum mens daily. I live in Minnesota and the lack of sunshine and this time of year is always tough for me. I've definitely been feeling more sluggish than usual. I was wondering if anyone had any suggestions are far as vitamins that might help?

Also, could someone with experience please enlighten me on St. John's wort? I've heard its amazing, heard it's dangerous, and I've heard it does nothing.

Also, what other random vitamins do you take and what do they help with?

 

[frequentj]

One way to judge if a vitamin is good is to drop it in a glass of vinegar. If it dissolves in 15 minutes, it will dissolve in your stomach. I've had some brands when left overnight still weren't dissolved, so you know those were a waste of money. The brand I like the most I get at a health food store. They are a little pricey, but they have herbs in them along with the vitamins. I would definitely recommend a supplement with Omega 3s (or DHA) in it. They are so good for you. It also helps with depression. As far as the St. John's wort, I used it years ago and I didn't notice any benefit, but every person is different! I did notice a difference with the DHA, however. (Oh, don't confuse DHA with DHEA)!

 

[guitardedmark]

That dissolving trick is interesting! Thanks!

 

[frequentj]

You'd be surprised. Several years back, I tried it with a Centrum and it sat there all night! Maybe they have improved since then?

 

[Rosco]

Do a search for "Vitamin D3" and look at all the benefits. It is also not really a vitamin, but a hormone. I'm thinking hormones are kinda important for our body.

 

[frequentj]

Do a search for "Vitamin D3" and look at all the benefits. It is also not really a vitamin, but a hormone. I'm thinking hormones are kinda important for our body.

Thanks for the heads up. I had never heard of D3. I usually get seasonal affective disorder, so this looks like something I should definitely check out.

 

[StormFinch]

Do a search for "Vitamin D3" and look at all the benefits. It is also not really a vitamin, but a hormone. I'm thinking hormones are kinda important for our body.

This. There are a lot of people very D deficient, especially with the increased use of high SPF sun blocks and those living in the northern climes. Deficiency can cause Seasonal Affective Disorder, muscular pain and weakness and bone pain. The newest suggested dosage is 2000 IU per day.

As far as vitamins go, I've heard from some nutritionists that most of the vitamins you cab buy at the grocery store are junk, and that a single dose pill can't supply your body with everything it needs. They say a minimum of a 2 dose per day regimen is needed. Of course, other nutritionists say we need to be getting the bulk of our vitamins from food rather than pills too, so your best bet is probably to do your own research and decide which method fits you best.

 

[mle]

I don't think that St. John's Wort is very dangerous, but it does interact with a number of drugs (and alcohol), so you should probably check into that if you take any other meds. Ginseng, gingko, and SAM-e are also used for depression/fatigue sometimes.
But, like StormFinch said, you'll probably just have to figure out what works best for you. Good luck, hope you find something that works.

 

[guitardedmark]

Thanks a lot for all the help! Nice people

I don't drink and I don't take any other drugs so I'm thinking of trying St. John's Wort, Vitamin D3 and Ginseng

 

[guitardedmark]

You know after doing some research of seasonal affective disorder, The symptoms sound pretty spot on! Maybe I will go the Doctor and see what he suggests.

 

[frequentj]

You know after doing some research of seasonal affective disorder, The symptoms sound pretty spot on! Maybe I will go the Doctor and see what he suggests.

Good idea! I get it too (funny the acronym is SAD) and it sucks!

 

[guitardedmark]

My mom has it really bad. I've always wondered why I have trouble getting up in the morning in the winter, and I live in MN so winters are not fun here. What do you do for treatment?

 

[Sdh]

My mom has it really bad. I've always wondered why I have trouble getting up in the morning in the winter, and I live in MN so winters are not fun here. What do you do for treatment?

SAD seasonal affective disorder is more common in the northern states.(Dark gloomy days.) Go to Amazon an check out the light therapy products. Expose yourself per directions and it could help. Going to the doctor may get you a round of antidepressants. After you checked them out pm me and I could make a recomendation on what product actually works. I bought my son one last year.

 

[aprioristic]

You want 8,000 IU of Vit D. -- 2,000 isn't enough.

If you get a significant amount of time ~2hours in summer sunlight with exposed skin you can dose downward. Cod liver oil is another good source and lemon flavored ones don't taste bad at all.

 

[guitardedmark]

Nice! Which one did you get and has it worked?

 

[Sdh]

I bought a Phillips golite Blulight therapy devise. Does it work? Yes and No. My son already had depression to start with. He still presents with depression. However, chronic depression and SAD are not the same. He states it does help him. However, I know allot of people with SAD and they state light therapy works. I am not pushing light therapy. It is only a suggestion.

 

[guitardedmark]

I bought a Phillips golite Blulight therapy devise. Does it work? Yes and No. My son already had depression to start with. He still presents with depression. However, chronic depression and SAD are not the same. He states it does help him. However, I know allot of people with SAD and they state light therapy works. I am not pushing light therapy. It is only a suggestion.

Thanks for the input! They look a little above my price range. Maybe I'll start with some vitamins and see where that goes. I'm not a fan of anti-depressents so I tihnk I'll stay away from the doc

 

[Sdh]

Oh! I forgot to mention. A really cheap way of creating natural sunlight. buy some natural daylight bulbs. You can purchase at a local Menards. (If you have a local one!). I do this for most of the rooms in the house except the basement, kitchen and dining. As a cheap experiment try just one bulb. It couldn't hurt.

As for Vitamins you could check out Puritans Pride or Swansons. Puritans Pride is an actual manufacture and they produce the vitamins. They are having a decent sale on vitamins.

 

[frequentj]

How do I cope with it? Mostly I try to expose myself to as much natural sunlight as I can in the winter, but the DHA I was talking about earlier (or eating oily fish), really helps me. If you are vegetarian, they make DHA supplements that are derived from genetically modified algae. Something like 40% of your brain is composed of DHA. I can't say enough about this supplement, and every day they are finding more benefits from taking it.

 

[guitardedmark]

Good to know! I have been reading Supplement Reviews at Nutritional Tree : Unbiased Reviews of Supplements for the last couple hours. Seems like some good info but there is just SO much stuff out there its really hard to know what is good...