Stretching - do you do it?

I'm back to the questions.

The glamorous Karen asks:  I've been reading in fitness magazines about all kinds of different supplements. What do you know about those? Do you take any?

I know that a lot of fitness magazines advertise a LOT of supplements.  LOTS of them.  I have an innate suspicion of most of them.  I think that if you eat carefully, you can get a majority of what you need from your foods.  I'm suspicious by nature of anything that has a bunch of warnings on it - this has not been tested by the FDA - or those types of supplements.  Especially the ones that say These results are not typical.  Or things that have been outlawed in the Military or other countries.

I take a multi, Coromega 3-6-9, Calcium Magnesium, Cultrelle probiotic, and a B complex if I'm feeling stressed.  That's it. I use protein powder once a day and eat a protein bar if I'm having a hard time getting to a good meal.

I guess I'm confused.  Where you asking about a particualr supplement, like Creatine? 

What supplements do you take?  Why?  What do you stay away from?  Why?

Comments

[mary]

I take a few, I always feel like a healthy diet covers most of it. :) I take a multi with calcium, chromium to help increase metabolism, B-12 for energy and just added fish oil. My Dr said if I take one thing for the rest of my life it should be fish oil...what do you think of that??
I have tried those vitamin packs, a few kinds and they always upset my stomach or I cant remember to take them so forget it right? I think they are all about me spending more $$$$ anyway!

[Katie]

Most multi-vitamins upset my stomach, I used to have a heck of a time with prenatals. Sometimes I take one of the kids' chewables. I'm pretty good about taking a calcium supplement (love the chocolate chewy ones, lol) but that's about it.

[Anna]

I'm a pill popper. ;)
I take calcium/magnesium, vitamin B complex and a multivitamin.
I don't drink milk, so I need the calcium. The vitamin B is *crucial* for my mental health.
The multi is because I'm either nursing or pregnant, and I don't want to risk not having those vital minerals, etc, for development.

[Emily C]

I eat plenty healthy, but can't seem to get enough nutrients no matter how much I eat. Reckon, I'm nursing an 18-month-old and pregnant.

I take Alive! every day, calicum/magnesium, vitamin C powder (so much better than a pill--it absorbs fast), and vitamin E.

The Alive! is a whole-food multivitamin with extra goodies like chlorella and spirulina. I take calcium because if I don't I have a lot of pain in my hips and legs, vitamin C is for digestion (and keeps me from getting congested when the temperature changes drastically), and the vitamin E helps my complexion.

I try not to take anything that doesn't make a significant difference in how I feel after taking it for a few weeks.

[ashley]

I sometimes take a multi-vitamin. But after reading about supplements and vitamins in In Defense of Food I realize how little evidence we have that supplements do any good outside of food. (i.e. in processed foods or vitamin supplements.)

It's an interesting concept. I recommend you read the book, it's fantastic!