Cutting out/reducing vitamin expense

[disneysteve]

Scanner, I've never thought your advice was "kooky" (that word always reminds me of The Addams Family - they're creepy and they're kooky...).

I think you are right. Childhood sun damage is probably the cause of a lot of adult skin cancer. I think that a limited amount of unprotected sun exposure, perhaps 15-20 minutes/day, is a good idea. It doesn't take long to get the vitamin D your body needs. So take your lunch and eat it out on the patio or take a walk or sit out and read the paper. Use sunscreen when you will be out for an extended period.

[Radiance]

In any case, and going back to subject, my 'need' for vitamis is just a safety net for now while I devise a decent meal planning. I estimate in 2-3 months?

My family has a vitamin B deficiency problem for generations and I need calcium magnesium to fight restless legs sometimes. But that is all I plan to keep once I get on a meal plan I feel comfortable with. I notice the vitamin B issue when I get Sciatic pain.

My son is always on the low side with his iron, but that seems to be a normal level for him. You will not find a nore energetic, bold and happy 1 year old! He eats brocoli and chicken. He eats meat once a week.

[Scanner]

It's true about moderation - look how Dr. Atkins finally got us to re-examine fats in our diet having a role in good nutrition. For years, it was accepted mantra, the lower the fat content, the better. The FDA had it at the top of the pyramid to be only used sparingly.

Now, oils are good for you.

Unfortunately, it takes some kookiness like that to finally get Americans to sit back and say, "Wait a minute. . ."

Just saying, "Go forth and be moderate. . ." is kind of vague.

[Joan.of.the.Arch]

I started using sunscreen the month I found out (1974?) such a thing existed because I knew that otherwise I was looking forward to many painful burns. I was the kid who had blisters on her cheeks and nose, and huge bubbles of blister (like shoulder pads!) on my shoulders. I developed what seem to be sunspots on my back and shoulders by the time I was twelve. When I was in high school and PABA came out, I spent money from my first job to buy it. Those were hard times for my family financially, yet I even prioritized sunscreen purchases over deodorant and shampoo--which is a huge deal for a teenager, but that is how sun sensitive I am. To me it was a godsend.

Of course, now we know that that PABA was letting damaging rays through.

I still use sunscreen everyday and I am outside nearly every day except in winter. Being outside 25-30 hours a week, I think I probably get enough sun for vitamin D purposes, even with the sunscreen. But you know what, this is the first year I can remember EVER that I did not get a sunburn anyway by this time in the summer.

Ha-ha, I'm a queen of big straw hats, too, but that is as much because my eyes are also so sensitive as it is to protect my skin.

I have wondered if my friends whose only body parts to ever get sun are face and hands could be getting enough vitamin D. I know they grew up without supplemented dairy products, too. One of them has had disabling rheumatism since fairly young and that makes me wonder, too. She was just showing me her prescription bone building supplements a couple of weeks ago. I don't remember whether vitamin D was one of them.

[Scanner]

As far as your dietary approach, if you say you are not vegan and don't need your approach in supplementation to be vegan, and you have a Vit. B deficiency, how about a juicy cheeseburger 1-2x/week? Or even better, but less available, some salmon?

Seriously, you'll find your proteins contain Vit B (is it a Vit. B12 deficiency or some other?) barring any intestinal problems that affect absorption. I think clams have the highest. . .not a big clam lover but I love mussels. I am going to a mussel feast in about 4 weeks in NJ. Nothing like mussels and beer (which brewer's yeast is a source of Vit. B, also)

So. . .I drink beer for health reasons and to get my vitamins

[Radiance]

Scanner, for some reason I can never get enough from food. I love clams and seafood in general, I eat salmon very often (every week or every other week) and I can do stake once a week. No matter what I do, I end up needing some more. I noticed it is also stress triggered. When under stress my sciatic starts hurting and some vitamin B stops the pain. (it also repels mosquitos, hehe)
It runs in my family, on my dad's side.My dad takes it every day. I only consume it when I am reminded by the pain. Same with calcium magnesium for my legs.

As per my baby, I am just concerned overall whether I am giving him a good variaty of nutritious food. He doesn't consume any junk food or sugar. Nothing with preservatives. No Kids cuisine or Mac Donalds, That is a start.

[Scanner]

Scanner, for some reason I can never get enough [sic: Vit. B] from food.

If that's really the case, then you may just be resigned to needing the B12 shots (again, I am assuming it's B12). The problem isn't your diet/injestion; you just don't have the ability to transport it across your intestine.

I'd hate to see you stressing over your supplementation (and the $$) when it may be better spent on a 1x/month copay to your PCP. And be patient with your PCP. . .sometimes I know they have to fiddle around with the dosage until they settle in on what you need, or at least it seems from what patients have told me (too much, too little, etc.)

Good luck.

[MarketingMama]

I think vitamin/mineral supplementation is NOT a category to penny-pinch on. There are so many supplements out there that not only don't really work, they are flat out BAD for you. The binders and fillers that they put in there are horrible.

I take an awesome liquid supplement that is $80 a month and worth every penny. My naturopathic doctor recommended it a while back. I have Lupus and am prone to lots of fatigue. When I started taking this, I noticed an increase in my energy right away. So my mom tried it and now she's hooked. Then she introduced it to a friend at work and now SHE's hooked!

The only problem is you have to have a doctor recommend the product. The company doesn't sell it to just anyone "off the street" because there is a protocol for taking it correctly and they want doctors who will explain it. (Not that it's difficult or anything, but I guess they want to make sure everyone's getting the most out of it, not overdoing or underdoing it, etc.)

Anyways, I am all for saving money but you couldn't pay ME to give up this supplement! LOL

~Lisa~

[Joan.of.the.Arch]

What binders and fillers? Off hand, magnesium stearate seems the most common. Surely you don't find that horrible.