Comments on: Glucosamine’s a Flop for Knee Pain

By: Tracey

Tracey — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 02:23:56 +0000

The very reason I’ll keep taking glucosamine!

By: mat

mat — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 01:00:47 +0000

i have been taking echinacea for the last 3 years and havent had a cold so who knows

By: Tracey

Tracey — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 22:41:31 +0000

If you really don't get a lot of nutrients from fruits and vegetables, a multivitamin is probably a good idea. The research on the usefulness of vitamins and supplements is still hotly debated, but the reason some experts say vitamins are worthless is because most people get plenty from food. If your diet is restricted so you don't get any vitamins from food, then you'll have to get them from somewhere--and that's how a multivitamin can help. If you're low on nutrients, you can feel sluggish or tired, which could explain why you feel better when you take vitamins. As far as essentials, vitamin D is currently in the spotlight as the must-have vitamin today. Calcium is also important, and if you don't eat dairy or calcium fortified-foods, it can be hard to get enough of the mineral. Many doctors recommend taking this pill to prevent osteoporosis, like you mentioned. Here's a super-helpful article on vitamins. But, remember, the experts here are talking about people who generally get vitamins and minerals in food.

By: Jill

Jill — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 04:06:48 +0000

Some people seem to swear by vitamins while others make jokes about vitamins being useful if you’re looking to have very expensive pee. I certainly don’t get enough through food and, unless it’s in my head, feel a bit better since I started taking them. Do vitamins really matter? I keep hearing about the benefits of omega-3s — even in preventing autoimmune diseases. Aside from that and vitamin D are there any essentials? What about calcium– if you aren’t drinking enough milk, is it important to take supplements if you don’t want to be hunched over by 60? Isn’t there an age when calcium no longer helps? Do you think of vitamins as useful to take or are you in the expensive pee camp?

By: Tracey

Tracey — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 04:19:21 +0000

I think it’s always smarter to get nutrients from food versus a pill. I take fish oil pills daily because I can’t realistically eat enough fish to get my dose of omega-3s. And glucosamine and chondroitin aren’t available from food. As far as multivitamins go, I skip ‘em. I do take a vitamin D pill, which is important because I certainly don’t get my recommended 10 minutes of sun per day. Since you really can’t get enough vitamin D from food (even if you chug vitamin D-fortified OJ), taking a supplement is a good idea.

By: Joy Manning

Joy Manning — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 02:55:37 +0000

I take nothing. In general, I have such a diverse diet of whole foods that I figure if anyone gets all the vitamins and minerals they need, it’s me. But I know I should take a multivitamin for insurance. I just can’t seem to make a habit of it.