Better living through chemistry

[stripey_kitten]

The only supplement I've really taken was folic acid for the first 12 weeks of pregnancy. I used to take vitamin supplements but never really felt they did anything for me. On the other hand, when I make an effort to improve my diet and cut down on the sugar and caffeine I really notice a difference in my energy levels, mood and general health.

[PapaZeb]

some people

Only one in here is me so far... :P

The sleep aid melatonin promotes deeper sleep. I've always been a light sleeper, waking up at 1-3am randomly if I go to bed before midnight. Melatonin helps me stay asleep. It also aids in getting to sleep easier - assuming I only take the stimulants in the morning (6am), it's me looking at bedtime for 11ish, but I can't sleep easily since the brain's still whirring away. After I started taking melatonin I found I could enter sleep a lot faster (<5 mins) as opposed to normal (0mins)

Caffeine is taken to prevent the caffeine comedown on top of the other stuff I've got draining out of my body these days, not really so much as a stimulant. I've gone a day or two without since giving up the soda and not been exhausted, I've just had the raging caffeine headache. When taken during the afternoon it's as a stimulant on days I'm expecting to be up till 3-5am for whatever reasons.

[Old Man]

Originally Posted by Purplerose

also taking 2 chromium tablets to stop sugar cravings (they actually work) .

Hmm, this information is interesting to me, I may try these.
Omm

[mysterio]

I view all this stuff as a bit of a waste of money to be honest. I'm no medical expert but i'm sure your body only needs trace amounts of certain vitamins and the rest gets pissed out. So you're literally pissing away money.

Is melatonin a hormone? Sounds a bit scary to me, common sense tells me that if you need to supplement your body with hormones then you're doing something to suppress what happens naturally.

If it works for you then fine, I've just never felt the need! I wouldn't bother with chromium supplements guys, there's enough in landfills in Glasgow probably leeching its way into your water supply. Why pay more?

[Pier Angeli]

Originally Posted by bikuki

Am I the only one who finds this thread as a bit of a shock/eye-opener? I have never been in the habit of taking supplements, nor do I ever plan to unless there is a serious medical need (ie. like Laura's ferritin problem). I didn't realise so many people took supplements as a part of everyday course, and so may of them. I genuinely wouldn't even think of taking a supplement if I was feeling lethargic or having trouble sleeping etc but would first think of changing my diet or routine.
Btw I'm not preaching or getting on a folk who do take supplements, I'm just saying that I didn't realise it was so prevalent.

same. I don't think I know anybody who takes supplements regularly.
personally I don't believe in them, to be honest I think they're a bit of a cash cow for pharmaceutical companies and the like.

[hotblonde]

Originally Posted by mysterio

Is melatonin a hormone? Sounds a bit scary to me, common sense tells me that if you need to supplement your body with hormones then you're doing something to suppress what happens naturally.

Yes it is, a hormone made in the pineal gland that controls circadian rhythms, so in other works sleep/awake patterns. Brilliant for jet lag and other ailments.

[bikuki]

Originally Posted by PapaZeb

Only one in here is me so far... :P

The sleep aid melatonin promotes deeper sleep. I've always been a light sleeper, waking up at 1-3am randomly if I go to bed before midnight. Melatonin helps me stay asleep. It also aids in getting to sleep easier - assuming I only take the stimulants in the morning (6am), it's me looking at bedtime for 11ish, but I can't sleep easily since the brain's still whirring away. After I started taking melatonin I found I could enter sleep a lot faster (<5 mins) as opposed to normal (0mins)

Caffeine is taken to prevent the caffeine comedown on top of the other stuff I've got draining out of my body these days, not really so much as a stimulant. I've gone a day or two without since giving up the soda and not been exhausted, I've just had the raging caffeine headache. When taken during the afternoon it's as a stimulant on days I'm expecting to be up till 3-5am for whatever reasons.

Sorry, meant 'some people in the world' as opposed to 'some people on here' but I can see where I was confusing. Still think you're crazy, but.
I dunno, I think I'm seeing this from the point of view of someone who has NEVER felt the need to take supplements so it's all a bit strange to me.

[LesMTS]

Originally Posted by mysterio

Is melatonin a hormone? Sounds a bit scary to me, common sense tells me that if you need to supplement your body with hormones then you're doing something to suppress what happens naturally.

Yeah, it's a hormone. There's some concern that taking melatonin supplements can lead to developing a tolerance (even to your body's own), so you may have to take more and more and end up never being able to sleep without it.

[PapaZeb]

I used to be the same way, but my last roommate was a big believer.
We (people in IT) tend to have a slightly Japanese outlook on work in that we'll quite cheerily work ourselves to death in a 16 hour day (on salary, no overtime of course)
He saw I was starting to get run down, got me started on the melatonin, and then when my hands were starting to cramp and get stiff, the glucosamine.

As a skeptic, I doubt there was a placebo effect involved, but the melatonin showed an immediate improvement in my sleep cycle and the pains in my joints and fingers lessened.

[mysterio]

Originally Posted by LesMTS

Yeah, it's a hormone. There's some concern that taking melatonin supplements can lead to developing a tolerance (even to your body's own), so you may have to take more and more and end up never being able to sleep without it.

Yeah, that's the kind of thing that would worry me, the unintended side-effects. Testosterone supplements might give you a bigger knob but you might grow a pair of tits, too.

[Rowsbette]

Originally Posted by StuntGirl

I rarely eat meat

I'm pretty sure you don't *need* to take any extra supplements if you're a veggie, just make sure you're getting all your nutrients from other sources.

Originally Posted by StuntGirl

6x MetoExtreme diet pills

Are they those American herbal ones?

Originally Posted by bikuki

Am I the only one who finds this thread as a bit of a shock/eye-opener? I have never been in the habit of taking supplements, nor do I ever plan to unless there is a serious medical need (ie. like Laura's ferritin problem). I didn't realise so many people took supplements as a part of everyday course, and so may of them.

Aye, I was quite surprised at how many folk seem to take so many of them. I remember a doctor telling me that multi-vitamins were worth taking even if you thought you had a balanced diet, but some of the ones mentioned just seem unnecessary. I've always been a bit reluctant about popping pills, I figured most others were the same.

I probably shouldn't be taking those energy ones, but my sleeping pattern gets fucked up over the weekends so they're great for giving us a wee boost.

[PapaZeb]

**to Mysterio
A bigger knob you say...

[hotblonde]

..don't forget bigger tits (goes for blokes too)..in actual fact it decreases penile erectile tissue and reduces libido something shocking.

[bikuki]

For ever doctor I've heard saying multivitamins are good, I've heard at least one saying they're useless.

It's really personal preference and I don't think you can really take any medical professional's word on the subject as gospel.

[hotblonde]

Originally Posted by bikuki

For ever doctor I've heard saying multivitamins are good, I've heard at least one saying they're useless.

It's really personal preference and I don't think you can really take any medical professional's word on the subject as gospel.

Would you disagree with the oodles of research done in this area? Remember many 'doctors' don't actually consider research as they are so set in their ways.