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Ask HN: Which vitamin supplements do you take?

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Re: Ask HN: Which vitamin supplements do you take?

#21

Post by WesleyJohnson »

jgrahamc wrote: post #19
WesleyJohnson wrote: post #15

I'm a terribly picky eater. So terrible in fact, that there is a single green vegetable I'll consume and zero fruits. Sure, I'll eat things comprised of processed vegies (love me some pizza), but I won't sit down and eat a tomato, pees, bananas, etc. Okay, I eat potato's too, but that's a stretch. So while I haven't done any research on the matter, I'd say it's pretty conclusive I don't get a good portion of nutrient…

At the risk of sounding like someone's mother: snap out of that ridiculous picky eater nonsense. Unless you've got an actual medical condition that prevents you from eating certain foods you are likely doing yourself a hell of a lot of harm by only eating processed food. And spending your $ on supplements isn't going to make up for all the complex stuff in vegetables and fruits that you are missing.

I don't really understand why people consider this "nonsense"? I agree with you that suppliments don't come close to doing what a natrually balanced diet would do for me, but why do people who aren't picky eaters think this is something that can just be "snapped out of"?

Few people I know like or would willingly consume anything put in front of them. Surely there is something out there you wouldn't eat, don't like, etc. Why is it so hard to imagine that there are people out there (like me) who don't just have this adversion to eating a few things, but rather quite a few?

I'll finish by saying that in the interest of health, I most certainly should be forcing myself to eat things I don't particularly care for or even find downright disgusting. However, to assume that the reason I don't eat such things is nonsense isn't a fair assesment in my opinion.

Re: Ask HN: Which vitamin supplements do you take?

#22

Post by rosejn »

If you are younger than 40 and in good health you should focus on a varied diet full of fresh fruits and vegetables rather than supplements. They will provide the vitamins and minerals you need while also providing lots of anti-oxidants and micro-nutrients which help fight cancer, and help to make better use of the standard vitamins. If you search around you will find numerous reports of daily use of supplements causing higher instances of cancer. It probably couldn't hurt to take a multi-vitamin sporadically just to make sure you get everything, but the focus should be on your diet and exercise. In terms of omegas, start throwing flax-see oil or ground seeds on your cereal in the morning. It's the best (and possibly only) non-animal source for the stuff, and it also provides you with a lot of fiber.

Re: Ask HN: Which vitamin supplements do you take?

#23

Post by Luc »

WesleyJohnson wrote: post #21
jgrahamc wrote: post #19

Earlier quoted context omitted.

At the risk of sounding like someone's mother: snap out of that ridiculous picky eater nonsense. Unless you've got an actual medical condition that prevents you from eating certain foods you are likely doing yourself a hell of a lot of harm by only eating processed food. And spending your $ on supplements isn't going to make up for all the complex stuff in vegetables and fruits that you are missing.

I don't really understand why people consider this "nonsense"? I agree with you that suppliments don't come close to doing what a natrually balanced diet would do for me, but why do people who aren't picky eaters think this is something that can just be "snapped out of"? Few people I know like or would willingly consume anything put in front of them. Surely there is something out there you wouldn't eat, don't like, e…

As a rule of thumb, by just repeatedly eating the food you don't like, you will get used to it and learn to like it. This is all it takes - just eat spinach 10 times, and you'll learn to like spinach. It's likely you'll prefer it prepared this way rather than that way, but your tastes will change.

I like to make it easier on myself by putting lots of pepper or chilli sauce on the food, until I am used to the taste.

By the way, this is how culinary schools work (at least here in Belgium). The kids arrive when they're 14 and need to learn to appreciate all kinds of food, so the rule is that they need to finish their plate, no exceptions.

Re: Ask HN: Which vitamin supplements do you take?

#24

Post by thejash »

WesleyJohnson wrote: post #21
jgrahamc wrote: post #19

Earlier quoted context omitted.

At the risk of sounding like someone's mother: snap out of that ridiculous picky eater nonsense. Unless you've got an actual medical condition that prevents you from eating certain foods you are likely doing yourself a hell of a lot of harm by only eating processed food. And spending your $ on supplements isn't going to make up for all the complex stuff in vegetables and fruits that you are missing.

I don't really understand why people consider this "nonsense"? I agree with you that suppliments don't come close to doing what a natrually balanced diet would do for me, but why do people who aren't picky eaters think this is something that can just be "snapped out of"? Few people I know like or would willingly consume anything put in front of them. Surely there is something out there you wouldn't eat, don't like, e…

If you force yourself to eat more of something, you will grow to like it. I've heard this before, and I've definitely noticed it with myself, my friends, and my family, but I could not find a scientific article to back it up (though I didn't look that hard)

So your picky eating is literally "nonsense" because there is no logical, sensible reason for it--if you would only force yourself to eat other foods (for an extended period of time), you would almost certainly begin to like them.

EDIT: and while I looked for those articles, someone else posted the same comment. Oops.

Re: Ask HN: Which vitamin supplements do you take?

#25

Post by cmars232 »

chipsy wrote: post #9

Dear naysayers: It's straightforward enough to take supplements at breakfast and then build on that with later meals. And it's actually quite a lot of fun to experiment with something fundamental to well-being. I currently take a multivitamin, Omega 3, 600mg calcium + 400 IU Vit D, plus 6000IU of D separately, and variable amounts of whey protein. The multi is an all-arounder, the Omega 3 is for perceived brain power…

Vitamin D also seems to improve my mood. So does lying in the sun all afternoon, but Vit D is safer and more practical :)

Re: Ask HN: Which vitamin supplements do you take?

#27

Post by terra_t »

Purified Omega-3 1000 mg, 4000 IU Vitamin D, 100 mg CoQ10, 1000 mg Calcium, 800 mg Magnesium; thinking seriously of capping up KCl and taking that too... idiots that kill themselves with potassium overdoses mean you have to pay prescription prices for what ought to cost a few pennies a day.

Re: Ask HN: Which vitamin supplements do you take?

#28

Post by retube »

As far as I understand, the vast majority of vitamin supplements have no independently demonstrated or scientifically evaluated benefit whatsoever. In fact, many supplements have been shown to do more harm than good. They are basically a huge con. Eating a balanced diet of meat, fish, staple cereals/crops, vegetables and fruit is the best thing you can do for yourself.

The _only_ supplement I am aware of that genuinely has a benefit is Folic Acid, which pregnant and planning-on-getting pregnant women should take. This is available free on the NHS.

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