Vitamins, Minerals and other body supplements

[In2work]

I was just wondering how many people here get their nutrition from other sources then the food in the meals they eat. What kind of supplements they use and how often and why. Any information you feel happy enough to divulge would be apreciated. I merely ask out of curiosity.

Myself, I take three 1000mg of fish derived Omega 3 oils a day (I've stopped recently because I found it can be an anti-inflamatory for joints and I have a joint I want to exercise more to help it heal. Beiing on the fish oil hasn't helped and now I'm going to use Glucosamine to help that heal, I didn't take the fish oil to help it heal, I just think maybe I should let joint be inflamed a bit if thats what the body wants..)
So yeah, I'm going to be taking Glucosamine soon enough as well.
I also take a multiviamin packed with A B's, C, D, E Calcium, Magnesium, a few other vitamins and minerals as well as Acidopholous and Bifodopholous cultures as well.
Before a work out I'll drink some sustagen as well, Sustagen Sport in fact, because it has amino acids and the regular stuff doesn't.

I only ever take the supplements as they are recommended and I'm aware that too much Vitamin E and A can be harmful so I makes sure what I'm taking isn't going to go over the top. I'll not take the multivitamin if I'm going to take the Sustagen.

So what are your thoughts?

I don't take creatine. Or steroids or anything like that. I don't even really work out body for maximum muscle gain, I'm more into strength and explosive energy. But I work at it until I have that kind of power at a level where I can use it again and again. diet and workout routines sometimes take a knocking from the kind of work I do and travel, so its not easy to keep it all together, but I seem to juggle well enough.

So tell me something about yourself.

[Boss Man]

It's not just A and E, it's also D and especially K, that can result in toxicity, when oversconsumed.

So you may be better to prevent possible Vitamin toxicity, in the long term, by restricting yourself to 1/2 a Multi vit, either first thing, or post-workout.

Also if you have a Shellfish allergy, avoid Glucosamine, as you'll react to the Chitin content.

If you don't think you have said allergy, then should you experience anything you feel is not as it should be, discontinue use, and consult a doctor.

Other than that, if you want to use it fine, or take something like Cod Liver Oil Capsules for Joints. Seven Seas do something for that, but if said brand is not available to you, you can go with some other brandname CLO.

I'd avoid having both Glucosamine and CLO together though. Can't say for definite you'd get a problem, but just incase they react, better not to use both.

You might get a reaction, or possible competition, or just no additional benefit, and then a slight waste of money.

As for me, I get bottled drinks from Gym, when I'm there, I use Protein Bars, make no secret of the fact, and I also use Glutamine.

I use it after workouts, and before bed. Especially as when I use drinks, the ones I get contain basics, like Protein, Carbs, and Maltodextrin, so topping up the Glutamine content from freeform is good, and I tend to have Glutamine at night anyway, about 1-2 hours after a snack, not with a final snack, so I'm boosting the bodies protection of muscle reserves, I feel, for a few hours.

[In2work]

I've just been reading up on the toxicity levels of the vitamins we've covered and it appears when I add up whats in the multivitamins and the sustagen that I'm only getting 25% of the RDI in each of them. So no real worries there as diet is great and I take these as an extra defence for immune system and I think it may help with recovery from work outs.

I only take the sustagen on days when I'm working out (2 - 3 times a week) and that's enough for me. So basically, I've checked out that what I'm doing (which is all according to the label's recommendation) is not going to make me ill in any way. It's not surpassing any RDI's, except in the case of Vitamin C. I read up about that and it appears that I'm not at any level that should cause problems either.
Which is great.

What's Glutamine and what's in your protein bars? soy/whey protein type stuff?

I'm not allergic to any seafood or shellfish, but I'll make sure I'm not taking cod liver oil or natural fish oils for Omega 3.
Thanks for the advice.

[Boss Man]

Bars just contain basic Whey in about equal Protein to Carb ratios.

Glutamine is an Amino acid found in Proteins.

It's useful for

A: Synthesising Protein.

B: Boosting Immune System

C: Potentially increasing recovery from exercise.

D: Better sleep.

As a supplement, bearing in mind it is virtually side effect free, I would reccomend it to anybody.

I usually take 1tspn after workouts, and before bed.