[SugarBlue27]

Is it better to take a multivitamin or individual vitamins. I know I'm supposed to be taking the b vitamins, C, and magnesium...but in the multi's I've looked at they dont have very much of these vitamins. THey have more of others that I dont necessarily need as much.<br><br><br><br>
What do all of you take? and why?

 

[Thalia]

I try to take individual ones because some work better when taken with another vitamin while other will not be absorbed as readily if taken with certain other things.<br><br><br><br>
For example, I take my B-Complex by itself with food. I try to take my minerals together at night (i found a nice mix that has a 59% ratio of magnesium to calcium, the recommended amount, with zinc and vitamin D). I partly do this because calcium might help with sleep.<br><br><br><br>
If your doctor recommends iron (and only if an MD recommends it), take it with C, or with a vitamin C rich food. In fact, don't ever take iron on an empty stomach or you will get sick. Some foods have chemicals that bind with vitamins- like spinach will prevent calcium absorbption.<br><br><br><br>
I take selenium and vitamin E together and separately from other vitamins but I forget why!<br><br><br><br>
I hope this doesn't confuse you!

 

[Ayrlin]

Ditto on what Thakia said, personaly I never took them before until about a week ago when anemia and lack of complex B's in my diet caught up to me.<br><br><br><br>
Nothing like a spinach ban to make you relize how much you depend on it for certain nutrients.<br><br><br><br>
That said I just take a mix of B's and iron and nothing else.

 

[Groovy chick]

As I have very little calcium in my diet, I choose to take a calcium and vitamin D supplement as I have found that the multi-vitamins only contain about 25 of your RDA which isn't really enough for me.<br><br><br><br>
I also take a vitamin B complex.

 

[GhostUser]

<div class="quote-container"><span>Quote:</span>
<div class="quote-block">Originally Posted by <strong>Thalia</strong> <a href="/forum/post/0"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style=""></a><br><br>
I try to take individual ones because some work better when taken with another vitamin while other will not be absorbed as readily if taken with certain other things.<br><br><br><br>
For example, I take my B-Complex by itself with food. I try to take my minerals together at night (i found a nice mix that has a 59% ratio of magnesium to calcium, the recommended amount, with zinc and vitamin D). I partly do this because calcium might help with sleep.<br><br><br><br>
If your doctor recommends iron (and only if an MD recommends it), take it with C, or with a vitamin C rich food. In fact, don't ever take iron on an empty stomach or you will get sick. Some foods have chemicals that bind with vitamins- like spinach will prevent calcium absorbption.<br><br><br><br>
I take selenium and vitamin E together and separately from other vitamins but I forget why!<br><br><br><br>
I hope this doesn't confuse you!</div>
</div>
<br>
Do you mind telling me what Mg/Ca supplement you take? I am looking for something similar. Also, is it okay to take that one at night without any food? Is that what you do?<br><br><br><br>
re: iron. I am on iron supplements, and I have taken it on an empty stomach before and haven't gotten sick. But maybe I'm just weird. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/images/smilies/tongue3.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="">

 

[ReginaCeltarum]

Does anyone know where to find affordable vegetarian or vegan vitamins? I usually take a multi-vitamin, a B12 supp and an E supp. And it is really hard to find any with out gelatin or soemthing. Whole Foods has a vegan line and a few lines that have vegetarian pills, but they are expensive. Also, the vegan multi has no iron. Shouldn't there be iron in a multi-vitamin?<br><br>
And is taking a B-complex better than just a B12?

 

[organica]

<div class="quote-container"><span>Quote:</span>
<div class="quote-block">Originally Posted by <strong>Thalia</strong> <a href="/forum/post/0"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style=""></a><br><br><br>
I take selenium and vitamin E together and separately from other vitamins but I forget why!<br><br><br><br>
!</div>
</div>
<br><br><br>
I seem to recall zinc & vitamin E compete for absorbtion, so separate is better.

 

[organica]

<div class="quote-container"><span>Quote:</span>
<div class="quote-block">Originally Posted by <strong>ReginaCeltarum</strong> <a href="/forum/post/0"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style=""></a><br><br>
Does anyone know where to find affordable vegetarian or vegan vitamins? I usually take a multi-vitamin, a B12 supp and an E supp. And it is really hard to find any with out gelatin or soemthing. Whole Foods has a vegan line and a few lines that have vegetarian pills, but they are expensive. Also, the vegan multi has no iron. Shouldn't there be iron in a multi-vitamin?<br><br>
And is taking a B-complex better than just a B12?</div>
</div>
<br><br><br>
Drink Spiru-tein- it's an affordable vegan protein shake with the full RDA of most vitamins & minerals.<br><br>
B12 should be consumed sublingually for best absorbtion, which means separate from your tablet/capsule of B complex.<br><br><br><br>
I take an iron-containing multi, & cook with a cast-iron skillet, because I'm 99.9% vegan & a menstruating female. An iron-free multi is for non-menstruating women & men.

 

[ReginaCeltarum]

Ok thanks for the info. I cook with an iron skillet somtimes too. I will remember that about the B12 for when I run out of the ones I have. Can't waste them. I didn't know that about the Iron either. Why is that though? it is interesting.

 

[organica]

Menstruating women need iron because we shed blood, which takes a lot of our iron out of our bodies.<br><br>
You can boost your iron absorbtion by taking vitamin C with it, whether in supplement or food form.<br><br>
The other thing about B12 is that your body stores it, so even vegans don't need to take it continuously. I took a bottle maybe 6 months ago, & my levels in blood are fine right now, although I'm no longer taking it.

 

[GooGoo]

I take multi-vitamins, but if you need a special one, then you should also take it, with a multi.

 

[ReginaCeltarum]

<div class="quote-container"><span>Quote:</span>
<div class="quote-block">Originally Posted by <strong>organica</strong> <a href="/forum/post/0"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style=""></a><br><br>
Menstruating women need iron because we shed blood, which takes a lot of our iron out of our bodies.<br><br>
You can boost your iron absorbtion by taking vitamin C with it, whether in supplement or food form.<br><br>
The other thing about B12 is that your body stores it, so even vegans don't need to take it continuously. I took a bottle maybe 6 months ago, & my levels in blood are fine right now, although I'm no longer taking it.</div>
</div>
<br>
Yea, I heard the body stores it. I take it every few days or so. That should be ok right?