Vitamins & Supplements

S. Pinkfontaine

Nov 15, 05 6:23

Post #1 of 40 (4637 views)

I know this topic comes up about 38 times a week, but I want to bring it up a 39th time this week and since I'm at work and I don't want to work, this is a great way to kill some time (searching for a past thread isn't as time consuming).

Over the last few years, I'm opening up myself to taking supplements to help with my training, specifically vitamins. I believed that since I eat very healthily, that I get most of my required vitamins and minerals through my diet. This winter I'm going through an experimentation phase (not the two freshmen coeds type of experimentation) and I'm trying to play with different things in regards to my diet, nutrition, and training nutrition. I'm looking at what other supplements to take.

Currently, I'm taking glucosamine and chondroitin for my knees and I've been taking that for years. I've also starting taking 1000mg of flaxseed oil every day as well. Are there any other supplements that I should take in addition to this? What about a multivitamin? That is my biggest question: what multivitamin should I take that is well balanced with vitamins and minerals and isn't insanely expensive? Something that I could get at Costco would be great.

Once you started taking more supplements and vitamins, what kind of changes did you notice? Did you get sick less? Did you have more energy and feel better overall? Did your training become easier to deal with?

Thanks.

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http://trainingoferic.blogspot.com/

Re: Vitamins & Supplements [erichollins] [ In reply to ]

Nov 15, 05 6:28

Post #2 of 40 (4625 views)

Calcium and B-complex vitamins would be my suggestions to add.

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Re: Vitamins & Supplements [erichollins] [ In reply to ]

Nov 15, 05 6:29

Post #3 of 40 (4617 views)

glucosamine and chondroitin - do you think it helps? what is the flaxseed oil for?

thanks

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Re: Vitamins & Supplements [frogonawire] [ In reply to ]

S. Pinkfontaine

Nov 15, 05 6:30

Post #4 of 40 (4616 views)

The G&C is for my knees and I think it helps a bit. The flaxseed oil is for the omega-3 fatty acids. I usually eat fish (salmon or tuna) at least twice a week so I don't know how helpful the flaxseed oil is.

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http://trainingoferic.blogspot.com/

Re: Vitamins & Supplements [erichollins] [ In reply to ]

Nov 15, 05 6:31

Post #5 of 40 (4616 views)

There was a thread on gordo's site a while ago where people recommended their multivitamin: http://www.coachgordo.com/...x.php?showtopic=5532

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Searching for the bliss of ultimate exertion.

Re: Vitamins & Supplements [erichollins] [ In reply to ]

Nov 15, 05 6:32

Post #6 of 40 (4613 views)

I am 22 years old and swear by Centrum Silver (yeah the one for old people). It has all the needed vitamins plus some extra minerals and other good nutrients. I have definitely noticed that I have been sick less since I started taking it (1 cold in 2 years and many cold rainy bike rides and runs). I did a fair amount of research and most people stated that if it is good for you when you are old it can't hurt you when you are young and will probably help in the long run.

One thing I did notice, I had always had 20/20 vision, I went to get my driver's license renewed and I was better than 20/10, there is something in Centrum Silver that is supposed to help with eyesight, this could be completely coincidental but I was pretty psyched either way.

Portside Athletics Blog

Re: Vitamins & Supplements [erichollins] [ In reply to ]

Nov 15, 05 6:49

Post #7 of 40 (4592 views)

I'm trying the same thing this winter, too. Taking G&C, flax seed oil, fish oil and a multi-vitamin (centrum).

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mcoker

Re: Vitamins & Supplements [mcoker] [ In reply to ]

Nov 15, 05 6:54

Post #8 of 40 (4586 views)

A multivitamin every day and a few glutamine pills. I swear the glutamine speeds up recovery. Anyone else experience this?

Re: Vitamins & Supplements [mcoker] [ In reply to ]

S. Pinkfontaine

Nov 15, 05 6:56

Post #9 of 40 (4581 views)

Now, why would you want to take both flaxseed oil and fish oil? I'm assuming that you are taking both for the omega-3 fatty acids? If not, can you explain yourself, please? I'm just curious as to why you would take both of these oils?

Thanks.

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http://trainingoferic.blogspot.com/

Re: Vitamins & Supplements [Orbilius] [ In reply to ]

Nov 15, 05 6:59

Post #10 of 40 (4576 views)

Yeah, I'm a fan of Glutamine powder - I think it helps with recovery also (I combine it with whey protein). I also take a multivitamin, flaxseed oil, and 100mg CoQ10.

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Searching for the bliss of ultimate exertion.

Re: Vitamins & Supplements [Orbilius] [ In reply to ]

S. Pinkfontaine

Nov 15, 05 7:00

Post #11 of 40 (4576 views)

Yeah, L-glutamine has been known to speed up recovery. It's quite common in the weightlifting world and from what I can tell it is spreading to the endurance/triathlon world as well.

Speak of supplements, I occaisionally use this:

http://www.naturesbest.com/index.html?section=Shopping&id=3004&catSec=207&pid=17382&-session=thisSession:B435C1867D9495CB7A44798CEF7B22D5

Two scoops have pretty much 50% of all of your daily vitamins. I would like to use this as a supplement, but I just can't bring myself to drink one of these per day. It also has L-glutamine and a ton of amino acids as well. I'll find the ingredient list as well here:

http://shop.store.yahoo.com/carbsmart/natbesperisw.html

Thanks.

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http://trainingoferic.blogspot.com/

Re: Vitamins & Supplements [erichollins] [ In reply to ]

Nov 15, 05 7:04

Post #12 of 40 (4567 views)

Actually, if I'm remembering things right (not always reliable, so take it for what you paid for it), there's a balance of omega-3 and omega-6 acids that is "ideal". I think there's some info on this at the Udo's Choice site (beware, they ARE trying to sell you something).

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Some are born to move the world to live their fantasies...

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http://www.mjolnircycles.com/

Re: Vitamins & Supplements [brider] [ In reply to ]

S. Pinkfontaine

Nov 15, 05 7:07

Post #13 of 40 (4562 views)

According to Wikipedia (aus_tri, you are so right about it being a time waster), the correct ratio is 4:1 of omega-6:omega-3.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Omega-3

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http://trainingoferic.blogspot.com/

Re: Vitamins & Supplements [erichollins] [ In reply to ]

Nov 15, 05 7:49

Post #14 of 40 (4518 views)

I don't do IMs or marathons (anymore) so I am not up on the state-of-the-art thinking about vitamins and supplements for these long distance events. I don't take any vitamins, supplements or medicine because my natural chemistry so far has provided me with good energy. I think sleeping at least 8 hours a day helps also.
So, based solely on the experience I have had with my body so far, my point is that maybe what nature gave you does not need to be supplemented.

Re: Vitamins & Supplements [erichollins] [ In reply to ]

Nov 15, 05 7:57

Post #15 of 40 (4510 views)

My girlfriend doesn't like fish, so I rarely eat it. And it was on sale at whole foods :)

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mcoker

Re: Vitamins & Supplements [MPB1950] [ In reply to ]

Nov 15, 05 8:04

Post #16 of 40 (4497 views)

"So, based solely on the experience I have had with my body so far, my point is that maybe what nature gave you does not need to be supplemented."

May work for you but some of us do not eat properly (for myriad reasons) and need supplements.

For example, the aforementioned wikipedia article mentioned that Omega-6 : Omega-3 ration should be 4:1 or less but based on the average diet it is much higher.

Last edited by: kac94: Nov 15, 05 8:05

Re: Vitamins & Supplements [ In reply to ]

Nov 15, 05 8:08

Post #17 of 40 (4485 views)

I have good luck with E and C ( Ascorbic acid ) which I overdose on C , when I am stressed . Find your stomach tolerance 1000 mg - 3000 mg < 500mg every 4 - 6 hrs > . It boosts your immune system , helps build collagen and connective tissues , helps absorb iron . Back off to sub 500 - 100 mg on health days.

I try to eat healthy and avoid WONDER pills ,but too much personal / basketball buddies , evidence of back -neck - joint improvement to discount its benefits .

Last edited by: Helitech: Nov 15, 05 9:07

Re: Vitamins & Supplements [erichollins] [ In reply to ]

Nov 15, 05 8:14

Post #18 of 40 (4475 views)

E-Caps has a lot of information on supplementation (it is their business).

http://www.e-caps.com/...EXT=Fueling%20Guides

Re: Vitamins & Supplements [erichollins] [ In reply to ]

Nov 15, 05 8:32

Post #19 of 40 (4458 views)

I'll tell you about my personal experience.. since I came to triathlon I've always taken multivitamins and iron supplements and all that junk even if I'm having a healthy diet. The thing is... I've never noticed a difference between periods of "taken" and "non-taken" although this last periods are more often but I'm sure it makes a difference if I don't control/focus on the things I eat.

You live in the Cetrum country. Cetrum is one of the best (if not the best) you can find around. Ok, you should add iron since Cetrum is kinda weak on that point. Anyway, Cetrum isn't that expensive and gets the job well done.

It's indeed a fact that I don't get sick very often since I started taken multivitamins but then again that also started when I began a regular healthy daily diet.

Then you can take glutamine and protein shakes for a better recovery, iron when you go to altitude, vitamin C to improve the iron absorption but hey... I'd say: if you eat healthy on a regular basis, you won't need "drugs" at all. The tough part is to eat healthy when you don't lunch at home and you work on a place with cafeterias and a donkin donuts right across the street.

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Re: Vitamins & Supplements [kac94] [ In reply to ]

Nov 15, 05 8:45

Post #20 of 40 (4440 views)

[reply]"So, based solely on the experience I have had with my body so far, my point is that maybe what nature gave you does not need to be supplemented."

"May work for you but some of us do not eat properly (for myriad reasons) and need supplements."

If we had a poll about good eating/bad eating habits, I'd be in contention for the bad eating crown. I eat whatever tastes good to me (including a lot of junk food). It's like Back to the Future II when Doc puts garbage into his DeLorean for fuel. I think all of this focus on eating trail mix, fruits and salads, etc. is overdone, just like the vitamins and supplements. But that's just my unscientific opinion.

Re: Vitamins & Supplements [frogonawire] [ In reply to ]

Nov 15, 05 8:48

Post #21 of 40 (4431 views)

New research on G & C suggest that it does indeed work:

http://deseretnews.com/...49,635161145,00.html

Re: Vitamins & Supplements [erichollins] [ In reply to ]

Nov 15, 05 10:41

Post #22 of 40 (4373 views)

Here's the problem with taking supplements:
Unless you know exactly what your doing (and I'm SURE no one in this world does), at best, your body will tolerate and at worst, you will have problems. Example: many people take Vitamin C, claiming all kinds of benefits from it, and there are BUT do you know how Vitamin C works and why you can benefit from it and why it can be harmful. I know this first hand and have seen it in others - when you take too much Viitamin C (even tho it's water soluble) you will start to have cramping problems - WHY, because that's how Vitamin C works, it flushes the system of water and in the process gets rid of toxins BUT at the same time it dehydrates your cells. Typical problems like this are true of other supplements - Example the multitude of B Vitamins. Each B vitamin must be present in the proper ratios to each other. ANY shortage in any one of them is the same as being short in all of them. Another example, protein supplements which most everyone takes. Unless you take the right amount it works fine BUT if you take too much you will start having kidney problems. Another example is Vitamin A - in supplement form you can overdose because it's fat soluble and is stored in the body, but if you got your Vitamin A from say carrots, you could never overdose. This goes on and on for all the supplements. Your best bet is take the time and expense of eating a proper diet (the gov't pyramid of foods) is a good place (use that extra money you spend on all those supplements and buy good food) to start and let your body take what it needs from them. Foods will always contain the right ratios. Remember one thing, anything that has an immediate affect on your system or is some kind of miracle supplement has a flip side which is usually bad.

Re: Vitamins & Supplements [polarbear] [ In reply to ]

Nov 15, 05 10:55

Post #23 of 40 (4351 views)

Another example, protein supplements which most everyone takes. Unless you take the right amount it works fine BUT if you take too much you will start having kidney problems

I agree with the general theme of your post, except for this part. I have heard this claim before but if you look into this topic you will see that it takes a massive amount of protein over a large period of time to adversely effect the kidneys.

Portside Athletics Blog

Re: Vitamins & Supplements [SwBkRn44] [ In reply to ]

Nov 15, 05 11:07

Post #24 of 40 (4336 views)

I agree, it takes time and the amount of time it takes is directly proportional to the excess amount of protein. My brother was a strong believer in supplements and he took a lot of them!! He eventually died at a relatively early age of 63 from kidney failure. I'm from a family of 8 and when I check all my relatives back to my great grandparents, no one else had kidney problems or failure. That pretty well pointed his problem in the direction of his consumption of all those supplements. I learned a lot from him while I grew up and learned what not to do.

Re: Vitamins & Supplements [Klep] [ In reply to ]

Nov 15, 05 13:37

Post #25 of 40 (4291 views)

If you ever qualify for a national team, and are ever going to be going to a World Championships and/or an Olympic Games they hand you this massive binder that essentially says DON"T TAKE ANY SUPPLEMENTS OF ANY KIND. Reason:

1) They may be contaminated with who knows what and you may get an in advertant positive drug test for a PED

2) Numerous studies have shown that beyond a healthy well rounded diet there is not much that any of these vitamins and other supplements can do for you.

Claims of impoved performance and health abound, but there is little if any real and statistical evidence that any of these supplments do what they say they are going to do.

Fleck

Steve Fleck @stevefleck | Blog

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