Growing up, I remember being given multivitamins by my parents. Sometimes they were the chewable sort which made it easier. But when I grew up, I got lax. I would go through phases when I’d take vitamins or health supplements daily but then I’d miss my routine or forget and then that would be it – that thud of falling off the bandwagon.
Recently, thanks to chatting with some friends and family, I’m back on the bandwagon again 😛 Do you take any vitamins or health supplements?
I just picked up a general multivitamin over the weekend but I have been taking Omega 3 fish oil supplements for a few months now. Does it help me?
Let’s be honest. I can’t say. Can you really? The only way I think any benefits will be noticeable is if you have a problem and then take something and find your problem goes away. Otherwise, it would pretty much be preventative wouldn’t it?
Most of our vitamins and daily supplementary needs can be obtained from food, I’m told. But you know what its like for most of us. We often don’t eat as healthily as we like, nor do we eat enough of the good stuff. Sometimes, we skip meals or eat at odd hours and that can really mess with our systems.
For myself, I take the supplements and hope that it helps. Omega-3 is supposed to be good for the heart and skin so I guess there’s no harm in taking it. It doesn’t cost me very much and its as easy as popping a pill. I don’t know if its also helped with energy levels but I too find that I don’t get as tired in the day despite hectic schedules.
For me, the hardest has been finding a routine and sticking to it. I used to get nauseous when I took supplements in the morning, because I used to skip breakfast (don’t try this at home, kids!). It was mostly because I was lazy but these days, I have a healthy bowl of oats before leaving the house in the mornings, so once I established that routine, it was easy to slot in the supplements into my routine so I wouldn’t forget.
Do you take vitamins daily or a health supplement? Do you find it beneficial?
Like I said, unless you are taking something as a cure, its hard to say if it works but so long as I don’t suffer any side effects, I will take it and maybe add on other supplements in time to come. General good health would mean better skin, of course, and who doesn’t want that right? 😉
Paris B
I am taking Philip Kingsley hair vitamins (3rd month already & you the course is 4 months) and I can see the results which makes me very happy!
Haven’t heard of it, Marinabut healthy hair is a wonderful thing to have! 🙂
Not at this very moment no, but I just finished a supplement which helped me tan faster (some oil to prevent the skin from drying out and tomato extract. It worked really well for me and since I got tanned in no time, I felt less obliged to stay under the sun) and another that’s supposed to make my nails stronger (it also worked but the effect didn’t last. I might have to go back on it). I also used to take something that has enchinacea, which boosts the immune system. That’s something else I might go back on in winter because it’s too easy to get sick in this climate!
Ooh I remember reading about it on your blog! 🙂 I hear of people taking supplements to help with hair and nails but never found the urge to take them. I guess I’m more willing to take a health supplement than a beauty one lol!
Actually supplements for hair and nails are high on vitamin B’s, so it’s actually good for anyone who is low on vitamin B’s! It’s just that with my stubborn peeling nails I no longer know what it is that they want!
I take my vitamins religiously. They are almost always the first things I pack for a holiday – even before the skin care/make up. Vit C, Lecithin, Glucosamine, Vit E, Fish Oil and Executive B Multivites for good measure in case anything else had been left out are the 6 (pill-form) chasers for my good old fashioned dollop of cod-liver oil. With lots and lots of water. The cocktail must somehow be working. Touch wood – I’ve generally been able to keep the flu at bay (mild sniffles don’t count) and have not taken any sick day off work for the past 8 years or so. (*pat pat back* :-D)
Wooah!! Good on you (boss must love you 😉 ) I usually am not that diligent when I’m traveling but I usually pack a bottle of Vitamin C. Helps keep the bugs away while on holiday 🙂
I’m on a 11 pills/day routine for about 2 years ++ now… Thanks to the husband who would routinely put out all the 11 with my morning cereal.
I used to be extremely low on energy, gets dizzy and cough often and suffered thinning hair. I’m now better, don’t cough and generally in OK condition, though I have low bp. Food intake is important I agree, but rarely get enough nutrition from daily meals..
It’s great to know that the pills you’re taking hAve helped you, Nellz 🙂 like you, I’m all for eating healthy but the fact is, as you have also pointed out, we may not get all the nutrition we need, especially when we eat out.
supposedly take 2 capsules of fish oil daily but ive been lax lately 😀
Lol! Time to establish a routine so you don’t forget 😉
I take vitamin C when I’m sick, and iron supplements when I’m on my period. Sadly, I’m not very good at taking vitamins during other times because I just plain forget!
Haha yeah, I take vitamin C in larger doses when I start feeling under the weather and it’s all too easy to forget otherwise!
I take Pearl Complex for my skin. That’s the only supplements that I stick with bcoz I assume it as part of my beauty regime since it’s for my skin. As for other supplements like Vitamin C, I only take it when I got sick or when my parents nagged me to take it. haha…
Pearl Complex, how interesting. I don’t really take a beauty supplement anymore. Sticking to the health ones for now 😉
I used to eat a lot of junk food and to keep sickness at bay, I took B Complex, Vitamin C, Iron, EPO, Cod liver oil and Bilberry.
Now I’m upping my fruits intake and I just take Shou Wu pills to maintain my hair and energy level. The occasional time where I take vitamin supplements, I feel very little improvement on my overall health.
So I would have to say…. supplements are expensive nutrients substitute that’s near unnecessary if you eat healthily. *cough* wasteofmoney *cough*.
I’d like to think health supplements work from the inside 😉 but its one of those things. We just can’t tell if they are working. I know for a fact I don’t quite take enough fruits and veges as I should so maybe I should stick to popping a pill to make up the difference 🙂
I take the kiddie version of vit. C tablet (fruity flavour, yum yum!) every night because it has become a routine with my girl. Weird huh? The vit. C is to help boost her immune system, and we take with her as we were teaching her about sharing. The routine just sort of continue… hahaha
I am a big believer of eating colourful fruits / vegetables to get all your essential goodies. Best if these are organic fruits/veg! 😀
Good luck ladies!
I agree about taking more fruits and veges, Ting! I just don’t get enough >.<
i SWEAR by vitamin c!!! it makes my skin radiant and it is noticeable. but i find that only the effervescent kind absorbs better. and to make sure that my body really absorbs the vitamin c goodness i divide my dosage by 300mg three times a day. i swear my skin just glows, scars heal a lot faster….. and my skin is just flawlessss!!!! 😀
Wow Ana, that’s seriously wonderful to know! I find that using a product containing vitamin C on the skin works. Dry well for me too! 🙂
yup i do! taking multivites or b-complex, and it does make a difference to energy levels. i take it first thing in the morning, with my glass of water then off i go do other stuff.
and yes i sometimes do forget to eat them! especially during weekends and when i go travel.
Yeah I’m the same. So I try to stick to my routine on weekends as well now which means oats on weekends too! Lol!
Paris-oh-Paris! Take alkaline water. It work wonders for me. I’ve experienced constipation for most part of my life. I start to take alkaline water and I start to be able to poo! Pardon my language here. I went to my dentist recently and he took a litmus paper and put it on my saliva. It’s alkaline! I tell you… to stay healthy, take fruits every meal, have lots of fibre and alkaline water’s the way to go. Supplements? I’m not sure if they work though I’ve been taking them for weeks and stopped and take them again. You see, I don’t have much discipline when it comes to supplements. I’ve tried this product which works! Have you heard of Unicity? I got this Nature’s Tea and Paraway Plus from Unicity and it really works! It cleanses some part of your organ, which one I forgot. Do check it out Paris!
For supplements, I usually get them from GNC. I’m on multi-vit, vit C, fish oil, Folic Acid, Iron, Zinc, Vit D etc in the past. I figured that’s too much and now, I only take Folic Acid and some product for my hair.
Why don’t you take supplements for 6 months then go do a body check up? My cousin says supplements work for her. I guess this sort of thing, you gotta do a body check up b4 you know. I don’t think one can ‘feel’ the result. Too long winded now… I do hope you don’t mind. Always a pleasure talking to you. See ya!
Hi Callie, incidentally, I saw a machine filter for alkaline water just recently! I was told about it too but the filters are pricey. I haven’t heard of Unicity but will keep an eye out for them. I’m about due for a check up soon so will see how the tests go 😉
I have skin problems (eczema) and I find that vitamins don’t help- but I still like to take them in the hope that in the long term they will (or the placebo effect will kick in! :P). I take a multivitamin with evening primrose oil in it, and vitamin d (I currently don’t get enough sunshine so I like to take this) and a mix of fish oil+calcium. I’ve stopped taking them for a while though- it is way too easy to forget to take them!
Aww it must be tough living with eczema 🙁 I always go through periods when I forget to take them or forget to replenish when they are finished, and then its off the bandwagon again! I’m trying to be good this time though. Let’s see how long I last 😉
Anyone know where I can find etsu collagen supplements ? I was taking it but then something interupted my routine and it took me so long to get back on the routine ( as always ). But now I can find it anywhere. Maybe they withdraw from M’sia or…
Paris ( or anyone ), do u have any collagen supplements to recommend ? Preferably capsule type as it’s easier to swallow. Thanks!
Oh I remember seeing the Etsu ones but I’d never tried them. I’m not sure. It if I see it again, I’ll be sure to update. I’m not familiar with collagen supplements myself. The only ones I know are the collagen drinks. I’m trying one for the heck of it but I don’t know if or how it works 😛
I stop taking etsu for the collagen drinks. Tried Kinohimitsu and Colla Plus, had BIG heaps of glass bottles waiting to recycle until Mr Hubby couldn’t stand it anymore, gave me a sour face and sent them all to the bin. I stop the drinks becoz they are quite sweet, plus I don’t want Mr Hubby to give me sour face again. 😀
Effect wise I didn’t see or feel any difference. But when I was taking etsu, my facial therapist commented that my skin is firmer compared to others in my age group la.
LOL at the glass bottles. I have a box of them now haha… It is quite sweet though. I’m sort of curious about the collagen powder drinks I see around. Maybe I’ll try those next 😛
Oh Yes PB, pls try the collagen powder and share here…. thanks in advance 😉
I will 🙂 gotta do some research first 😉