It started innocently enough with a generic multivitamin

[Tobin S.]

I was a smoker and a drinker at the time and I heard that if you do that stuff you should try to get some extra vitamins. Then I decided to quit smoking and drinking, but I was already hooked- I continued to take my multivitamin. After starting to lose weight the woman that runs the weight loss clinic said that everybody should take in more vitamin D and calcium. So I trucked it on down to the local Vitamin Shoppe and added the vitamin D/calcium supplement to my daily vitamin dosage.

It's been a hopeless downward spiral into the pit of vitamin dependency ever since then. I don't think I can stop or even control myself. Here's what I take daily now.

Multivitamin with lycopene
1260mg of calcium
1200iu of vitamin D
2000mg of vitamin C
2000mg of omega-3

I feel powerless to help myself. I even had a rewards card for the Vitamin Shoppe now. God help me.

[Dogtown]

1. I noticed you're not taking a zinc supplement

Better add that or you'll end up all droopy...

[HopeHoops]

2. Oh, you should throw in a B complex and folic acid then!

Anyone who drinks should have both.

[Schema Thing]

4. what does that do for a drinker specifically?

just curious.

[HopeHoops]

5. Yes. Alcohol depletes B vitamines.

B and folic acid help the liver avoid damage. It also helps prevent hangovers, but only if you take them before you get drunk.

[pokerfan]

3. One-A-Day Men's Health Formula

# Prostate Health with Lycopene, more Selenium, Vitamin E and Zinc
# Heart Health with Vitamins B6, B12, C, E and Folic Acid
# Healthy Blood Pressure with Calcium, Magnesium and Vitamin C
# Does not contain iron; research suggests excess iron may increase a man's risk of heart disease

[caty]

6. You've forgotten

to add:

81mg Aspirin
Garlic
Omega 3

for your heart and cholesterol.

[nuxvomica]

7. Check your multi for chromium picolinate

It's good for your metabolism.

[astral]

8. You must add your liquid mineral supplements

Vitamins can happily do their job in your body with mineral support, but they are useless if you are lacking in minerals.


It's a slippery slope, I tell you!

[struggle4progress]

9. I don't see coffee or chocolate on the list. You need a better dietician

[LeftyMom]

10. Iirc, you eat pretty well.

In which case, assuming you're healthy, you shouldn't NEED anything. A good multi is a decent thing to take just in case, but beyond that taking a whole bunch of pills for health benefits that are often the result of dubious studies is generally just a waste. You're probably peeing 9/10ths of that right back out.

[Duer 157099]

11. Wow! Bunch of enablers in this thread!

Shame on all of you!

Oh, and better add some B complex to the mix, and up the vitamin D to 3000iu.

:D

[texanwitch]

12. I drink a liquid vitamin called Essentials from Vitamin World.

It has everything in it, you will really be hooked.

I don't like taking a lot of pills.

[TK421]

13. I always thought the first step in recovery was admitting to the problem

good for you! :)

[Mr Normal]

14. It started innocently enough with a generic multivitamin

The vitamin D dose you take seems pretty low.

Because of recent studies, many people now believe that most adults need around 4000 IU/day (individual needs may vary though).

Disclaimer: this is not medical advice; your doctor may disagree; get tested regularly if you take high doses of vitamins!