Vitamins / Supplements / Meds = What works & what doesn't?

[s1conrad]

Over the years, I've spent hundreds of dollars on useless "health food" supplements. Only a handful have been effective (a few have actually made me ill). I've compiled a list of products that work for me and others that don't. My background: I'm in my late-50s, I workout 3x per week. Non-smoker, light drinker. I'm slightly overweight. I'm on no prescription meds; my cholesterol, thyroid, blood pressure are all in a healthy range---however my PSA level is on the high side of the normal range (my doctor wants me to be tested every 6 months). I strive to eat a balanced diet--greens, avocado, bison, chicken breast, lowfat dairy, and limit processed foods & sugar (though I'm guilty of occasionally binge-eating after a stressful day at work). Here's my list of supplements I take and ones I avoid.

 

EFFECTIVE:

 

DHEA = I take 50 mg daily and 100 mg on days that I work out. It is listed as a testosterone booster, however it doesn't really affect muscle-growth. Instead it gives me more energy, balances out my moods, and most importantly it helps me focus (my thoughts get a little scattered, but DHEA helps with my memory and recall). Example: shortly after I started taking DHEA on a daily basis, I was at a social function and was introduced to 5 new people--I not only remembered all their names, but where they were from as well. I could never do that before.

 

TUMERIC = I take a tumeric-based joint support called Solgar 7. I used to get terrible knee pain, but after a week of taking this supplement the pain level went way down. I works much better than glucosamine.

 

CREATINE = I take creatine monohydrate powder with my post work-out shake (followed my lots of water). It helps repair muscle tissue + gives me a fuller look. I have to watch the dosage--if I go over 5mg, it makes my stomach cramp and gives me the shitz (like a laxative).

 

CASEIN PROTEIN = I have shake a few hours before bedtime and it seems to help with muscle repair. I also use whey protein isolate for a quick meal.

 

BORDERLINE:

MELATONIN = When I first started taking this sleep aid it made me drowsy. The longer I took it, the less effective it became. Now I only take melatonin on long flights or if I'm anxious before bedtime.

 

CIALIS = Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. If my mood, the environment, or the vibe ain't right, it has marginal impact.

 

MULTIVITAMINS = I take a men's over-50 multivitamin almost daily. It might be psychological, but I feel a little sluggish when don't take them for a while.

 

DON'T WASTE YOUR MONEY!:

BCAAs = As a pre/post workout drink it was like drinking sugar water. Didn't affect my energy or muscle growth whatsoever.

 

GLUTAMINE = took it on and off for several years. The verdict: no effect.

 

GLUCOSAMINE = for almost a year, I took glucosamine tablets on a daily basis--it did not help my joints as tumeric did almost immediately.

 

HOMEOPATHIC ANYTHING = if you see a sleep aid, prostate formula, allergy relief pill or mood enhancer listed as "homeopathic" avoid at all costs--it's a total scam. In fact, I took a sleep aid listed as "all natural homeopathic" and it gave me terrible muscle spasms for about 4 hours---needless to say, I did not sleep well.

 

ECHINACEA = Did not prevent colds; it made me sick to my stomach.

 

TYLENOL ARTHRITIS FORMULA = Doesn't help with joint or back pain. Baby aspirin gave me more relief.

 

VIAGRA = the effects are fleeting--definitely not 4 hours! I have better results with a shot of coffee, a big serving of watermelon and Vaseline rubbed on my dick.

 

THE SHITLIST = Horny Goat Weed, Saw Palmetto, GNC Nugenix, Gamma Orizinol, Emu Oil, to name a few. Total scams.

 

Again, the supplements listed are from my experience. You may have a completely different result and some of them may work for you. I realize that a quick-fix pill is not going to cure all your ills; lifestyle, diet, mental outlook, environment and genetics all play into it. I'd love to hear any suggestions or feedback.

[+ OliverSaks]

Multivitamins are sure fire path to expensive pee and little else. It’s so sad how this industry preys on peoples’ fears.

 

A balanced diet is key, Vitamin D in the winter for much of the US is probably a good idea too.

[+ Charlie]

I only take the things that my doctor says my most recent tests show that I need, such as Vitamin B complex and testosterone. My need for Vitamin D fluctuates according to how much time I spend outdoors in the sun (e.g., when I am playing a lot of tennis and swimming outdoors, my level is well into the normal range, so I don't take the supplement).

[marylander1940]

Multivitamins are sure fire path to expensive pee and little else. It’s so sad how this industry preys on peoples’ fears.

 

A balanced diet is key, Vitamin D in the winter for much of the US is probably a good idea too.

 

As a vegan how do you do to grow muscle? What kind of protein do you eat?

[Guest LeonTrotsky]

A workout partner of mine recommended a sleep aid product called Somatomax, which has as one of its active ingredients Phenibut - I must say that not only does it aid in sleep, but it also makes me super aware and engaged the next day.

[Deadlift1]

I am a big believer in tumeric as well.

[caramelsub]

I can’t sleep without taking melatonin anymore. It’s the only drug/supplement that will knock me out. Besides that, I take extra dosages of vitamin c such as emergen-c, whenever I feel like I’m coming down with a cold, and most times it cures me before my cold gets worse.

[thickornotatall]

I am a big believer in tumeric as well.

 

I take Curcumin instead of turmeric....

Jarrow Formulas Curcumin 95, Provides Antioxidant Support, 500 mg, 120 Veggie Caps

[+ OliverSaks]

I eat the same type of protein that the food you all eat for protein eats. The focus on absurd amounts of protein being necessary for satiety and muscle growth are just marketing schemes... Elephants and other big ass, strong animals eat only plants - it isn’t magic.

 

I eat soy, brown rice, green leafy vegetables, pea protein, nuts, seeds, pulses, legumes - this is definitely the most common question I get asked being vegan. I’m not saying this to attack you, I just think it is funny how people suddenly become protein and nutrition experts when asking me to defend my food choices, but I am not the person with an unbalanced diet, and I am more intentional with planning every meal than most omnivores I’ve ever met.

 

Last night at dinner, at Next Level burger in SF, 100% vegan dinner with 40 g’s of Plant protein because I’m on a bulking phase.

 

As a vegan how do you do to grow muscle? What kind of protein do you eat?

[+ OliverSaks]

Vitamin C for immune boosting powers have been thoroughly debunked in the medical literature. Emergen-C is no more effective than Tang. Since many (upper) respiratory viruses are short lived, people *feel* like they knock out the infection with that stuff, but it would have resolved in the same time course without the vitamin C dosing. If it makes you *feel* better, no worries.

 

I can’t sleep without taking melatonin anymore. It’s the only drug/supplement that will knock me out. Besides that, I take extra dosages of vitamin c such as emergen-c, whenever I feel like I’m coming down with a cold, and most times it cures me before my cold gets worse.

[marylander1940]

I eat the same type of protein that the food you all eat for protein eats. The focus on absurd amounts of protein being necessary for satiety and muscle growth are just marketing schemes... Elephants and other big ass, strong animals eat only plants - it isn’t magic.

 

I eat soy, brown rice, green leafy vegetables, pea protein, nuts, seeds, pulses, legumes - this is definitely the most common question I get asked being vegan. I’m not saying this to attack you, I just think it is funny how people suddenly become protein and nutrition experts when asking me to defend my food choices, but I am not the person with an unbalanced diet, and I am more intentional with planning every meal than most omnivores I’ve ever met.

 

Last night at dinner, at Next Level burger in SF, 100% vegan dinner with 40 g’s of Plant protein because I’m on a bulking phase.

 

Why would you be attacking me at all? I was just asking and I respect your choices.

I think we all should eat more vegetables as A.O.C. said. We're 7 billion and counting and obesity is a national security thread as pointed by the Pentagon.

 

What about eggs (if you eat them at all) and tofu?

[+ OliverSaks]

Why would you be attacking me at all? I was just asking and I respect your choices.

I think we all should eat more vegetables as A.O.C. said. We're 7 billion and counting and obesity is a national security thread as pointed by the Pentagon.

 

What about eggs (if you eat them at all) and tofu?

I do not eat eggs, nothing that is taken from an animal. The egg industry is a horrendous cause of animal deaths/suffering (google what happens to chicks that they find out are male ?)

 

Tofu is made from soybeans and I eat it a lot.

 

Wanna know something better than scrambled eggs, better for you and for the animals and for the planet?

Tofu scramble (google for precise recipes... so easy to make)

Silken tofu + nutritional yeast + turmeric + garlic / onion + chickpea flour + olive oil

 

Pairs well with anything that scrambled eggs go with

 

JUST Egg is a mung bean based (https://www.ju.st/en-us/products/consumer/egg) product that does so close to what eggs do, but I’m a frugal vegan so I avoid this product until it gets cheaper / I like tofu scramble a lot already and it is less processed and at least as nutritious (if not more)

[Deadlift1]

Doesn't soy raise estrogen levels in men?

[+ OliverSaks]

No... soy is so demonized, so many myths, but just a couple of sources:

 

https://nutritionfacts.org/topics/soy/

 

https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/soy/

 

Tin foil hat Dr Saks thinks there has been an effort to demonize soy (alt right peeps call liberals “soy boys” for instance) probably from the meat industry - we feed most soy in this country to the livestock you all eat!

 

 

 

Doesn't soy raise estrogen levels in men?

[+ OliverSaks]

https://www.instagram.com/nimai_delgado/?hl=en

 

This vegan bodybuilder dispels lots of myths, is easy on the eyes, and I think has lessons for ALL bodybuilders - he’s a smart, well-spoken dude

[MassageAdam]

No... soy is so demonized, so many myths, but just a couple of sources:

 

https://nutritionfacts.org/topics/soy/

 

https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/soy/

 

Tin foil hat Dr Saks thinks there has been an effort to demonize soy (alt right peeps call liberals “soy boys” for instance) probably from the meat industry - we feed most soy in this country to the livestock you all eat!

Yeah, so everything about vitamins and research is wrong, but everything good they write about TOFU is fucking accurate. SMH....Do what you want to do, but don't demonize vitamins and act like being vegan is the best thing. Please.....

[+ OliverSaks]

http://www.onlinejacc.org/content/71/22/2570

 

https://sciencebasedmedicine.org/routine-vitamin-supplementation-mostly-useless/

 

https://annals.org/aim/fullarticle/1789253/enough-enough-stop-wasting-money-vitamin-mineral-supplements

 

If you need more sources, or help interpreting the research, I’m happy to help. I didn’t go to school for 8 years for nothing ?

 

Yeah, so everything about vitamins and research is wrong, but everything good they write about TOFU is fucking accurate. SMH....Do what you want to do, but don't demonize vitamins and act like being vegan is the best thing. Please.....

[MassageAdam]

http://www.onlinejacc.org/content/71/22/2570

 

https://sciencebasedmedicine.org/routine-vitamin-supplementation-mostly-useless/

 

https://annals.org/aim/fullarticle/1789253/enough-enough-stop-wasting-money-vitamin-mineral-supplements

 

If you need more sources, or help interpreting the research, I’m happy to help. I didn’t go to school for 8 years for nothing ?

I have 3 degrees myself.... Plus I've known plenty of vegans that after a few years of living like that, said they felt pretty shitty and went back to eating meat. If it works for you great, but don't act like you are better than everyone else because you are vegan or put down someone who wants to take vitamins.

[+ OliverSaks]

I’m trying to save people from being preyed on by an industry that markets based on fear to sell useless products, by promoting the evidence base in the literature that is more robust than testimonials by supplement makers or by in vitro or theoretical observations that don’t translate to anything clinically significant (eg antioxidants and heart disease / CV events, based on theory that didn’t pan out, but still is a driver of crazy marketing craze about antioxidants)

 

Not eating meat is first and foremost an ethical choice, for the animals, and I would never go back to eating meat. People who don’t put enough intention/attention into what they are eating can feel bad on any diet, including a vegan one. With the options that exist today, there is no reason that one can’t live a very satiated, healthy life on a vegan diet, at all phases of life (according to American Dieticians Association)

 

The bonus is that I don’t have to waste money to supplement unnecessary shiz and can use those savings to buy more tofu and kale ?

[+ keroscenefire]

I've started to take Vitamin B12 since I have been eating a mostly vegan diet the last year or so and developed a deficiency. It can cause neurological problems. I started to develop a bit of a pins and needles feeling in my extremities, so my doctor tested and found the b12 deficiency. It's fairly common in vegans since B12 is not found in any plants. It is sometimes found fortified in breakfast cereals but I am on a fasting diet and don't typically eat breakfast. The symptoms subsided when I took the vitamin so if you are vegan and have odd neurological symptoms, you may want to look into it:

 

https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/vitamin-b12-deficiency-can-be-sneaky-harmful-201301105780

[Deadlift1]

Mediterranean diet. Everyone I know that follows it usually enjoys very good health.

[instudiocity]

https://www.instagram.com/nimai_delgado/?hl=en

 

This vegan bodybuilder dispels lots of myths, is easy on the eyes, and I think has lessons for ALL bodybuilders - he’s a smart, well-spoken dude

Um, and he's a salesman earning a living from his advocacy... Not necessarily an IMPARTIAL source...

[marylander1940]

Um, and he's a salesman earning a living from his advocacy... Not necessarily an IMPARTIAL source...

 

@OliverSaks has always talked about the benefits of his vegan lifestyle on here. In this thread he has contributed with several links supporting his date and he even took time to reply to my questions while having an interesting yet respectful disagreement with @MassageAdam

 

I think it's clear that we should eat healthier specially considering how expensive healthcare is in our country because of self inflicted wounds.

 

Who is impartial on here? We all have our point of views, right?

 

Are you impartial when it comes to gun control because of all the guns you have at home waiting for the next riots?

 

(He has talked plenty of times about all his semi-automatics, etc. I'm a member of Pink Pistol, I'm not impartial about that subject but not a fanatic like him)

[MassageAdam]

I’m trying to save people from being preyed on by an industry that markets based on fear to sell useless products, by promoting the evidence base in the literature that is more robust than testimonials by supplement makers or by in vitro or theoretical observations that don’t translate to anything clinically significant (eg antioxidants and heart disease / CV events, based on theory that didn’t pan out, but still is a driver of crazy marketing craze about antioxidants)

 

Not eating meat is first and foremost an ethical choice, for the animals, and I would never go back to eating meat. People who don’t put enough intention/attention into what they are eating can feel bad on any diet, including a vegan one. With the options that exist today, there is no reason that one can’t live a very satiated, healthy life on a vegan diet, at all phases of life (according to American Dieticians Association)

 

The bonus is that I don’t have to waste money to supplement unnecessary shiz and can use those savings to buy more tofu and kale ?

Vitamins and supplements help me and I have lab results to prove it.. Enough proof for me. I'm also helping people not waste money on TOFU and kale...

[Deadlift1]

@OliverSaks has always talked about the benefits of his vegan lifestyle on here. In this thread he has contributed with several links supporting his date and he even took time to reply to my questions while having an interesting yet respectful disagreement with @MassageAdam

 

I think it's clear that we should eat healthier specially considering how expensive healthcare is in our country because of self inflicted wounds.

 

Who is impartial on here? We all have our point of views, right?

 

Are you impartial when it comes to gun control because of all the guns you have at home waiting for the next riots?

 

(He has talked plenty of times about all his semi-automatics, etc. I'm a member of Pink Pistol, I'm not impartial about that subject but not a fanatic like him)

You love to gaslight!

Ps I hate tofu.