[zangler]

does anyone here have a recommendation for some kick ass vitamins? i am just taking the typical Men's formula stuff you can get at any drugstore, but want to get something very high quality. thanks for the recommendations in advance.

[Enablingwolf]

My advice is to use real good (vitamin rich) foods instead of taking pills or potions. It does better for you and overall serves a good purpose.... I am an omnivore.. and eat all day long. In the words I give to my wife.. " A great Pizza will be a balanced meal."

Meat, fruits, nuts, veggies .. fish, grains.. bread... They all do me much more than popping a pill will ever do.

[zangler]

whilst i do make sure i get a very balanced diet, and eat well...there are simply trace vitamins and minerals that you simply cannot get without eating quantities of food that you normally would not. i do appreciate the comment though.

[Enablingwolf]

If you need to supplement your diet. Hit a herbal store. They are pricey(not to bad,) but carry a fine selection of pills. Plus you can talk to the herbalist. You can even get custom sets for your needs. Worth waiting out when they are in store. Don't be afraid to ask the hottie on the register about the herbalist.

[mattspalace]

GNC has a mega-man vitamin. I've always liked them pretty well.

[shard]

Beyond a one a-day, not much you really need unless perscribed by a doctor. I usually have a one a-day, 1 vitamin C, and 2 biotin.

[Mother Goose]

Here is an excerpt from a magazine about the issue of multi-vitamins. The person interviewed is Dr. Leanne Hodson, from the Oxford Centre for Diabetes, Endocrinology, and Metabolism. I would say that would be a reputable source.

The old adage of more is better is NOT the case for vitamins when
taken as a supplement. Popping a vitamin pill each day will not
dramatically improve your health (unless you have been living on a
diet of only bread (or beer) and water for weeks on end!). There is a
common belief that some vitamins can prevent illness, for example
taking Vitamin C will stop you getting a cold. Unfortunately the
evidence for this is largely unsubstantiated, what may happen is
that the severity and duration of the cold is reduced, but it won’t be
prevented.

Vitamin deficiency in healthy adults eating a variety of foods occurs
very rarely and all the vitamins (in amounts needed to maintain good
health) can be obtained from foods. Remember when your mother
told you to eat your fruit and vegetables? Well, she knew best. A
lot of the vitamins required for good health are found in fruit and
vegetables.

So what will a daily vitamin supplement do for your health if you
currently eat a variety of foods? Not a lot! If anything, the colour of
your urine will change, as you will be excreting the vitamins that your
body cannot store. Essentially you will make some very expensive
urine and this may result in stress on your bank account as you
essentially pee your money down the drain. So like many things in
life, moderation is the key, a daily vitamin supplement is not!

- Dr Leanne Hodson, Oxford Centre for Diabetes

[Illah]

I take a multi every day to fill in the gaps, though with my diet it's probably not needed (I eat quite well). My trick is to *not* get the one a day pills, but rather get a formula that recommends 3 per day. Then I only take one, so essentially a 1/3 dose.

The problem with one a day is that they often include 100% or some other very high dose of *fat soluble* vitamins. Combine that with daily eating and it's possible to be getting way more than the body needs.

The problem with fat soluble vitamins is that they are not excreted easily by the body should you be oversupplied, and they can actually build up to unhealthy levels over time.

Water soluble vitamins like vitamin C will usually come out with your urine when you have an excess, hence the neon-pee when you take those 1000mg vitamin C pills.

--Illah

[zangler]

very interesting information. i appreciate the responses and will consider them.

[Ashura]

A multivitamin can be sort of useless. It's better to get your work blood work done and see if you're deficient in anything and supplement that specifically. But so long as you're eating right, you shouldn't need anything. I have a very healthy fat heavy, meat heavy and veggie heavy diet, with most of my veggies being brocoli and cauliflower, and last time I had my blood work done I wasn't deficient in anything.

[Roofles]

If you have a local health food store, check them out. At least the one here is run by very knowledgeable individuals who can help you out if you are looking for something specific.

If you know what you want but can't find it at a store, check out americannutrition.com and uniquenutrition.com I get some specialized brain vitamins from either site when they are in stock.

Also, I'm in agreement with everyone else in that a good diet is a good diet.

[twEEkerAreUs]

You really don't need a multi-vitamin unless you eat terrible. I take Omega 3 on occasion and was taking a multi/C but it isn't needed.....Take extra C when you have a cold/sick. I actually felt better when I stopped taking a multi a while ago too.

[Nebuchadnazzar]

I just take one children's chewable each day, one vitamin C, and one vitamin D. The chewables are about half the dosage of the adult formulas and they taste like candy! We don't get a lot of sun here in the winter so the vitamin D pills are essential.