Do you budget for food supplements?

[ESMonitor]

E.g. I take Carlson's cod liver oil (fish oil), probiotics, mineral and veggie supplements, and super foods such as maca root.

I buy most of these items at Whole Foods for the sake of convenience. In my life they matter so I have a monthly budget set up for them.

Do you budget for something similar? If so how much do you budget each month for food supplements and what do you take?

[disneysteve]

If there is a supplement that has a well-proven benefit for your particular health condition, then sure, include it in your budget.

I think a far bigger problem is the billions of dollars Americans spend on supplements that basically amounts to flushing money down the toilet since exceedingly few of those products actually do anything of value. People would be far better served by following a healthy diet and getting regular exercise.

[dawnwes]

It's all in my grocery budget unless it is doctor prescribed, then it is medical.

[disneysteve]

It's all in my grocery budget unless it is doctor prescribed, then it is medical.

If you have an HSA, you may be able to get OTC stuff with those funds if your doctor writes a prescription for them.

[dawnwes]

If you have an HSA, you may be able to get OTC stuff with those funds if your doctor writes a prescription for them.

So far they have paid out even without a doctor's prescription.

We just save the receipt, at least for allergy stuff and pain meds.

Although I don't think vitamins and probiotics count, but I should check!

[ESMonitor]

I exercise regularly. I ran five (5) miles yesterday morning. My diet is no China diet, it's more of the American diet, so I know I need to improve.

I have a friend of mine who has a thyroid condition. He actually gives a hair sample each month for lab analysis. He takes the supplements his body balance program advises him. He has energy as if he's still in his 20's. He's 46.

I have sleep apnea (wear a CPAP) and I took notice of that. My energy levels have increased substantially since I started with the supplements. He was the one who urged me to start taking supplements, particularly minerals.

Another buddy he had a heart attack, 95% blockage. He's very lucky to be alive. His heart doctor instructed him to take Carlson's cod liver oil. I took notice of that. I was taking Nordic Naturals, but I made the switch. I'd drink a river dry for the sweet, sweet fish oil...it has a myriad of health benefits.

These supplement products, or the ones I take, are not cheap so I had to set up a monthly budget, a spending cap. I was curious to see if anyone else on this forum does the same.

[Nika]

We don't buy any kind of vitamins or supplements. We spend a lot of money on fresh foods and actual veggies and fruits instead. Almost nothing we buy comes in a box or a can.

[MichaelHulse]

For me doing exercise is beneficial. It may give you proper health with that have proper nutritional vegetables.

[lakersgirl]

Hey guys. I just joined. I recently started a more healthy life style so I am now paying a lot more attention to what I eat I do like food supplements. I have to say that I really do like the effect they have on me. I know that the main aspect of a healthy lifestyle is the food and regular exercise routine but supplements are a good thing for me since I do live up North. I have talked with many different GPs and they all suggested I need supplements. I do like the effect they have on me because I have more energy and my sleeping has normalized. I have tried different brands in the past couple of years and I really like this one brand, I have read a lot of info regarding the brand that I use right now and I picked them because I read somewhere that they are designed for the Scandinavians (I might be wrong thought) so they are suited better for me since I live in Alberta. If you guys are interested you can red a little bit more about the brand online (they are called Nordic Naturals if you guys are interested). I would suggest that you need medical approval before taking them but I hope I was helpful.

[james.hendrickson]

Hey guys. I just joined. I recently started a more healthy life style so I am now paying a lot more attention to what I eat I do like food supplements.

Why not just have a healthy, balanced and organic diet?

[cypher1]

Although I don't think vitamins and probiotics count, but I should check!

I've bought my multi-vitamins and fish oil with my HSA the last 2 years.

Separate topic, but I wish HSA would let us use to pay for gym membership. Luckily my employer gives us $300 for health reimbursement account (HRA) each year to apply.

[cypher1]

Why not just have a healthy, balanced and organic diet?

I just realized this thread is from 4 years ago. But back to the subject, I agree a healthy diet for nutrition and lifestyle are the core essentials for overall well-being. As with sleep, and regular exercise behind it. But supplements can also contribute or compliment for healthy habits. In no way am I saying they should be the primary focus in well-being, without focus on nutrition and lifestyle first.

[james.hendrickson]

I just realized this thread is from 4 years ago. But back to the subject, I agree a healthy diet for nutrition and lifestyle are the core essentials for overall well-being. As with sleep, and regular exercise behind it. But supplements can also contribute or compliment for healthy habits. In no way am I saying they should be the primary focus in well-being, without focus on nutrition and lifestyle first.

Solid point - I take multivitamins also.

[myrdale]

There is an awful lot of miss information out there on supplements in general.

First and foremost, you're not going to die of scurvy or rickets in today's society. You could go though life and never take a single pill and come out OK.

Secondly supplements are not magic bullets (unless you have scurvy or rickets). They will help you reach you're goals but you still have to put in the work.

Despite natural, balanced, healthy diets, I still like the idea of a good multivitamin.

If you're looking at burning fat, CLA and L-Carnitine are suppose to be a good combo to take. But keep in mind, this is to burn fat, that means you are working out.

I've had doctors who have pushed vitamin D supplements above and beyond what is in the multivitamin.

I've got mixed fillings about Omega 3 fish oils. I eat a lot of tuna and salmon as is.

Whey is good if you're building muscle.

Creatine is pretty well misunderstood also. I thought this was some type of steroid that makes you go nuts. It's not. Your body produces it naturally. It's used in the ATP cycle your muscles use for energy. It will make you retain water also in your muscles. It may look nice but it's just water.

I scoff at the vitamin C claims. A glass of cranberry juice here and there and you're good to go. Our body's inability to produce vitamin C is actually a strong argument for evolution.

Probiotics are extremely important. There are studies of taking flora from a healthy individual and giving them to an obese one and it greatly affecting weight loss. Do you need a $150 bottle of refrigerated cultures, or can the occassional yogurt get you there (much less licking the back of your hand)?

An occasional iron supplement doesn't hurt.

Human growth hormone is bad.

There is arguments over what is the ideal dose. Is 100% of the daily value good enough? Are there some that it is more optimum to exceed (or greatly exceed) that amount?

Some supplements are fat soluble, some water water soluble. You're body is going to expel what ever is in excess, especially of the water soluble.

I should imagine you could do liver or kidney damage by taking too much of certain things.

The main point to most of my ? is I am not an expert and most of what I have read varies from source to source.

Considering you can spend $150 a month easily in GNC, I would absolutely educate myself and figure out what my goals are, then come up with a plan and stick with it. And if it is much more than the occasional bottle of One A Day, I'd put it in the budget.

[myrdale]

I just realized this thread is from 4 years ago.

HA I didn't catch that myself.

To the new OP Lakersgirl, welcome to the forums.