Vitamins & Supplements...??

NIC68

wants to get super fit!
Hi everyone, I was just wondering if anyone takes any of the above? I bought some multi vits yesterday (Centrum A-Z) and was just wondering if I need anything extra? I'm worried in case my body isn't getting all the nutrients it needs although I physically feel ok. My hairdresser said my hair was thinner though :(

Any suggestions would be very much appreciated!
 
Nic, I've tried a lot of multivitamins and supplements and, to be honest, I just don't know how effective they are. I lost my hair several years ago after coming off the pill (Dianette) and in desperation I tried loads of things. The hair loss was hormonal and related to my PCOS, and someone recommended Saw Palmetto to me. It's an anti-androgenic and it inhibits the production of dihydrotestosterone - often responsible for hair loss and thinning. I've been taking it ever since and my hair has grown back (nowhere near as thick as before, though!) so it could be worth a try if you think the thinning is hormone-related.

I also take one tablet of the multivitamin Perfectil each day, and a couple of H&B's EPA fish oil concentrate 1000mg capsules. Again, no real idea how efficacious they are, it's just become a habit. My skin's a lot clearer these days than it used to be, but I really do think that's probably down to having a clean diet and eating so much fruit and vegetables. I know that my symptoms of PCOS have virtually disappeared since I lost the weight, so I think the food I'm eating must take the credit for that. If I have a day where I don't eat as much fruit and veg as I do normally, I really do feel the difference - much less energy and more sluggish feeling.

I think if you're eating a reasonably balanced diet you don't have to worry too much. Go by how you feel!
 
Iris - Thanks for sharing as a fellow pcos lady one of the main reason for wanting to lose weight was in hope i could reverse my symptoms, so far it's regulated my period and my face is becoming clearer long way to go to but energy is much better , for years i was told how hard it was to lose weight with pcos that i kinda just didn't bother thinking what's the point it's hard and i will only gain it again thankfully and mainly due to the internet and support forums like this i realised it is possible and reading your post makes me feel the closer i get to go the less pcos symptoms .. just might be able to kick it in to touch :D ...

Nic on the subject of Vitamins etc i take hair & nail one from boots you can get it on buy 3 for 2 as my hair was thinning, my nails are so strong now hair not as thick as it used to be but not losing as much now (3 months on pills )
 
Thank you both! Iris as wise as ever with your wonderfully explanatory replies! I will persevere with the multi vits (it can't do any harm can it!) and will get some of those hair and nail ones too. One point though......can you OD on them?????!!
 
Iris - Thanks for sharing as a fellow pcos lady one of the main reason for wanting to lose weight was in hope i could reverse my symptoms, so far it's regulated my period and my face is becoming clearer long way to go to but energy is much better , for years i was told how hard it was to lose weight with pcos that i kinda just didn't bother thinking what's the point it's hard and i will only gain it again thankfully and mainly due to the internet and support forums like this i realised it is possible and reading your post makes me feel the closer i get to go the less pcos symptoms .. just might be able to kick it in to touch :D ...

*hug* PCOS can make it tough to get the weight moving but if you hang in there it does get easier with time. And the alleviation of symptoms as the weight comes off is a great incentive to stick at it. I went along to see my GP recently, thought I'd better check that I had the green light to take off the last few pounds, and she was nearly as pleased as I was at the improvements. You'll be in the same boat soon, I can feel it!
 
Thank you both! Iris as wise as ever with your wonderfully explanatory replies! I will persevere with the multi vits (it can't do any harm can it!) and will get some of those hair and nail ones too. One point though......can you OD on them?????!!

I think you can, Nic. I remember watching some documentary a while back about liver damage due to consumption of excess amounts of Vitamin A in multivitamin tablets, I think it was. There was a trend for a long time for the manufacturers to include crazy amounts of each vitamin - like 700% of the recommended daily allowance, because people buying them thought the more the better. I think they've changed that, though, but there's usually a warning on the packs not to exceed the one multivitamin a day.
 
I have had additional hair loss lately and I think it may down to a low calorie diet for a long period of time. About 2 months ago I started taking Holland and Barret, Hair Skin and Nails formula, A Flaxseed supplement and a green tea supplement. No sign of any improvements yet but its still early days I guess. My hair loss has been freaking me out though.
 
I have had additional hair loss lately and I think it may down to a low calorie diet for a long period of time. About 2 months ago I started taking Holland and Barret, Hair Skin and Nails formula, A Flaxseed supplement and a green tea supplement. No sign of any improvements yet but its still early days I guess. My hair loss has been freaking me out though.

It's traumatic, isn't it? I know it can sound superficial to outsiders, but giant tufts of hair in the shower made me cry.

It could be hormonal? But if you've been going very low with the cals for a long period then I guess it's just a natural symptom of the body cutting out any energy expenditure that it doesn't deem essential to keeping you alive and healthy. Maybe try upping the good fats? It's easy to go too low fat when you're very low cal. Kippers, sardines, brazil nuts, avocado, that kind of thing? Seems to really give the old mop a boost.
 
For people on a diet suffering hair loss it's a good idea to go to your doctor and get a blood test to see if you have any vitamin or mineral deficiencies, particularly iron.
 
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