Q: my vitamin d- 25-oh was <12.8 when ref range 30-80. do i have a health problem or do i just need a supplement?

Not necessarily: Low Vit D levels increase risk of many serious health problems and can cause many different symptoms, but a young otherwise healthy person may have no significant health problems that have yet developed. Most adults need 5-8000 iu of D3/day to achieve optimal levels, though this time of year being in the mid-day sun can give your adequate D. See http://bit.ly/1eKkVkv &amp; http://bit.ly/1dC7vnA

Q: what health supplements or vitamins should a girl in her 20s take to build up her immune system? i constantly have problems, would like to correct it.

See answer: Most important things you can do to improve and maintain good health and a strong immune system include: heart-healthy diet, regular daily exercise, adequate sleep, reducing stress. Though taking vitamins and nutritional supplements are a way to fill in gaps in your nutrition, there is more and more controversy over their benefits. Women your age need adequate iron, folic acid, calcium, and vit d.

Q: my vitamin d was 18 and it raised to 31 from diet alone, so far. i can't tolerate supplements due to chronic health condition and cannot take vit. d pills. is this encouraging that i've been able to raise it with diet? i plan to continue eating well?

: Lots of speculation and myths regarding Vitamin D, very little medical science. Sure, eat fish, omega 3 fatty acid, fish oil or (in San Diego) get some sun. Last is probably the most fun

Q: would you recommend daily vitamins for adults? i try to take glucosame, omega fatty acids, and a women's health supplement every day. it seems like more and more data is suggesting these pills are unnecessary and do not help keep my body healthy in the lo

In : In my humble opinion, if you are eating a diet rich in fruits and vegetables and low in fat and cholesterol then you should not require additional vitamin supplementation or an adjunct to lower cholesterol or triglycerides. On the other hand if you are a woman approaching menopause or one that does not get a lot of calcium in the diet then I do recommend calcium with vitamin d two to three times a day with meals. On the other hand, if you feel these vitamins are having a healthy impact on your life and well being, then there is no harm in taking the daily recommended dosages. Please discuss this with your health care provider if you need further explanation or another opinion.

Question 1

can consuming supplements be bad for your health? herbs vitamins etc

Accepted Answer

No: Supplements can be helpful, but need to be right type.

Question 2

what are the best books about overall health, nutrition, vitamins and supplements?

Accepted Answer

Many good ones: Hard to say which are &quot;best&quot; but some great ones include The Encyclopedia of Natural Medicine and The Encyclopedia of Nutritional Supplements, both by Michael Murray, Staying Healthy with Nutrition by Elson Haas, Prescription for Nutritional Healing by Phyllis Balch, Total Wellness by Joseph Pizzorno, The Four Pillars of Healing by Leo Galland and Optimal Wellness by Ralph Golan. 
Enjoy!

Question 3

hai, doctors.... i daily take vitamins c supplement, did't because i take every days it's will be side effect to my health?

Accepted Answer

Little benefit: Vitamin c deficiency is extraordinarily rare in the first world diet.  There is no proven benefit to extra supplementation and there are many studies that draw this conclusion.  This is an area in which marketing of c supplements has way exceeded the need.  Your health will be much better improved with regular exercise, intelligent diet control and keeping yourself productively busy.

Question 4

what vitamin supplement should i take  for energy  and good overall health - commuting daily to and from work, age 47, asian,  weighs 52 kilos,.

Accepted Answer

Good Health: I admire your interest in maintaining good overall Health which needs to include:
Physical Health
Intellectual Health
Emotional Health
Social Health, and
Spiritual Health.
For your high blood pressure, see your Physician for diet, exercise and stress management.
Discuss hormonal replacement, Calcium, Iron and Multivitamin supplement.

Question 5

is having vitamins and supplements for good health actually good or bad?

Accepted Answer

Good if good quality: There are many different vitamins ; supplements. There is strong evidence that good-quality vitamins and appropriate supplements can be beneficial for both preventing and treating a wide variety of health problems, but many are poor quality, have toxic additives or are not appropriate for everyone. Thus, like all therapeutic agents they are best used wisely. See http://bit.Ly/18xyule.

Question 6

are vitamins and supplements better from the health food store than from a pharmacy at wal mart?

Accepted Answer

Generally no: In general there is no difference between vitamins, however, you must know the different forms of the product you choose.  For example, calcium can come as calcium citrate, or calcium carbonate. They are absorbed differently by the body. You need to compare apples for apples. Same names for same names - then there should be no difference.

Question 7

my vitamin d- 25-oh was <12.8 when ref range 30-80. do i have a health problem or do i just need a supplement?

Accepted Answer

Not necessarily: Low Vit D levels increase risk of many serious health problems and can cause many different symptoms, but a young otherwise healthy person may have no significant health problems that have yet developed. Most adults need 5-8000 iu of D3/day to achieve optimal levels, though this time of year being in the mid-day sun can give your adequate D. See http://bit.ly/1eKkVkv
&amp; http://bit.ly/1dC7vnA

Question 8

what health supplements or vitamins should a girl in her 20s take to build up her immune system? i constantly have problems, would like to correct it.

Accepted Answer

See answer: Most important things you can do to improve and maintain good health and a strong immune system include: heart-healthy diet, regular daily exercise, adequate sleep, reducing stress. Though taking vitamins and nutritional supplements are a way to fill in gaps in your nutrition, there is more and more controversy over their benefits. Women your age need adequate iron, folic acid, calcium, and vit d.

Question 9

my vitamin d was 18 and it raised to 31 from diet alone, so far. i can't tolerate supplements due to chronic health condition and cannot take vit. d pills. is this encouraging that i've been able to raise it with diet? i plan to continue eating well?

Accepted Answer

: Lots of speculation and myths regarding Vitamin D, very little medical science. Sure, eat fish, omega 3 fatty acid, fish oil or (in San Diego) get some sun. Last is probably the most fun

Question 10

would you recommend daily vitamins for adults? i try to take glucosame, omega fatty acids, and a women's health supplement every day. it seems like more and more data is suggesting these pills are unnecessary and do not help keep my body healthy in the lo

Accepted Answer

In : In my humble opinion, if you are eating a diet rich in fruits and vegetables and low in fat and cholesterol then you should not require additional vitamin supplementation or an adjunct to lower cholesterol or triglycerides. 
On the other hand if you are a woman approaching menopause or one that does not get a lot of calcium in the diet then I do recommend calcium with vitamin d two to three times a day with meals.
On the other hand, if you feel these vitamins are having a healthy impact on your life and well being, then there is no harm in taking the daily recommended dosages.
Please discuss this with your health care provider if you need further explanation or another opinion.

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Doctor answers about:

Vitamins and health supplements

A member asked:

Can consuming supplements be bad for your health? herbs vitamins etc

A member asked:

What are the best books about overall health, nutrition, vitamins and supplements?

A member asked:

Hai, doctors.... i daily take vitamins c supplement, did't because i take every days it's will be side effect to my health?

A member asked:

What vitamin supplement should i take for energy and good overall health - commuting daily to and from work, age 47, asian, weighs 52 kilos,.

A member asked:

Is having vitamins and supplements for good health actually good or bad?

A member asked:

Are vitamins and supplements better from the health food store than from a pharmacy at wal mart?

A member asked:

My vitamin d- 25-oh was <12.8 when ref range 30-80. do i have a health problem or do i just need a supplement?

A member asked:

What health supplements or vitamins should a girl in her 20s take to build up her immune system? i constantly have problems, would like to correct it.

A member asked:

My vitamin d was 18 and it raised to 31 from diet alone, so far. i can't tolerate supplements due to chronic health condition and cannot take vit. d pills. is this encouraging that i've been able to raise it with diet? i plan to continue eating well?

A member asked:

Would you recommend daily vitamins for adults? i try to take glucosame, omega fatty acids, and a women's health supplement every day. it seems like more and more data is suggesting these pills are unnecessary and do not help keep my body healthy in the lo

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