Supplements: Do you take them, and which ones?

[NMMNG]

Omnis are forever insisting that veg*ns have to take mountains of supplements to replace the brazillions of essential nutrients they are missing by not exploiting animals for their diet. I was just curious to see what the members of VVAR indeed take, if anything. For the first part, the poll itself, just click off the best answer. For the second part, if you will, respond and let me know if your supplement habits have changed any since/because you became a veg*n.

Thanks! :hi:

[NMMNG]

1. I take a variety of things

A daily multi (Centrum type), 500mg magnesium, 99mg potassium, 100mcg selenium, mega-B complex and 1200mg Calcium with D which I take in two doses of 600mg each for better absorption. I've taken this combination for years now (well before I went vegetarian) so it has nothing to do with trying to make up for "lost nutrients". I have added flax oil at the recommendation of my chiropractor who thought it might be helpful with muscle pain in my back since it allegedly has anti-inflammatory properties. I also heard a few months back about nutritional yeast and have since begun adding it to some of my foods when I remember to do so. While the brand I'm currently using is not vegan (it contains honey) this variety from Red Starappears to be vegan.

[LeftyMom]

2. I don't take any

I have a multi, a c and an iron supplement (my iron is always a little on the low end, as it was when I was an omni, so I try to remember to take these for a few days before and after I donate blood at least.) I just don't remember to take them very often.

I had vitamins I never remembered to take as an omni too. I just feel healthier without them now.

[livetohike]

3. Many, many years ago my 7th grade Health teacher said

that if you ate right, you didn't need to take vitamins. Funny how one can remember that stuff all these years later :-).

[LeftyMom]

4. My high school health teacher said the same thing

and that all the extra getting peed out means that Americans have the healthiest urine in the world.

He was also something of an intactivist, which got me to thinking about that issue and I'm very grateful for.

[livetohike]

5. Miss Reed (health teacher) was a WAC in WWII

I'm sure she was right about the vitamins, as your HS teacher was right too. I only took some iron pills years ago when I couldn't donate blood because of low iron. I don't take anything now.

[laheina]

11. That's my philosophy.

I do take a multi for back-up, but other than that, I just try to keep an eye on what I need and what I eat.

[flamingyouth]

6. I take a veg multivitamin and 1200 mg cal/mag daily

I'm not sure that I always eat right, to be honest. I have a lot of health issues and take medications that affect my appetite. I also have several injured discs and a strained ligament so I take glucosamine for that.

[Beaverhausen]

7. I just went to give blood and was turned down for being anemic

I guess I have to take supplements more regularly than I do. :cry:

[LeftyMom]

8. The iron level needed to donate blood is a bit on the high side

Perfectly healthy women often don't qualify because of cyclic variations in iron levels related to menstruation.

If you can get your iron level high enough with iron rich foods (it helps if you eat them with a source of vitamin C for better absorption) that's probably the healthiest option and can help you aviod some of the nastier side effects of iron supplements. Also, if you eat dairy (I can never keep track of who down here eats what) reducing dairy can help a great deal for some people's iron absoption.

If you decide to go with an iron supplement I have heard nothing but good things about floradix liquid iron and herbs, which is plant-based and vegan, and would probably try that first. I know a fair number of midwives who have better luck with it than prescription iron supplements (midwives are a great source of advice on dealing with anemia because it's very common in pregnant women.)

I'm usually fine to donate if I remember to eat iron rich foods for a few days beforehand, otherwise I generally am just a tiny bit too low.

[Beaverhausen]

9. Thanks for the tips LM

I've given blood many times in the past and never told that I was anemic. I was really surprised.

[flvegan]

10. I don't take any.

Well, I have a couple vegan bodybuilding supplements I take, but that's extraneous not-needed stuff that I'd not be involved with if not for my lust for the gym.

However, if I KNOW I won't be eating right on a certain day, I'll take a multivitamin.

Oh, and I supplement with St. John's Wort, as well, but that's also not an essential nutrient. I think I do okay and appear healthy enough.

The only changes I've made since becoming a vegan is not taking anything encased in gelatin, and I don't use a whey protein supplement like I did when I was vegetarian.