Hi everyone!

I have been looking into multivitamins and their benefits etc. The reason for this is that if there is some flu or something going around - I'll end up with it! So I thought maybe I'm not getting enough vitamins.

So I started googling multi vitamins and there seems to be alot of articles that go against eachother. One article I read said it increases your risk of cancer, another article said it decreased your risk of cancer. Another said they were usless and there were even some that said you would die sooner if you take vitamin suppliments.

So now I'm just plain confused.

Are mutlivitamins good for you? Do they offer any bennifets? Or do they just hinder our health?

Unless someone can convince me otherwise and sorry if this is crude, but essentially they are just very expensive wee. Your body will only use the tiny amounts it needs and the rest ends up in the loo.

I've been sick three weeks in a row with colds/flu and other problems so I understand where you're coming from. What I'd recommend is odourless garlic tablets (Blackmores make good ones) and at the very first tingling, overdose on these for the duration of the illness. If it doesn't stop the cold, it greatly reduces the severity and length. I had tonsillitis last month and again two weeks ago (yep, I'm very run down) and taking the garlic meant I could still function normally and it didn't flatten me like it used to. I'm so sure of it, I even managed to convert my sceptical husband.

The other tip is to, strangely, rub chest rub (ie Vicks or Euky (sp?) Bear) into the soles of your feet and wear very heavy socks. That part of your body is the most receptive to the therapeutic contents of the eucalyptus. I swear by this method too and it makes the soles of your feet really soft. lol

Agree with Nep.

My understanding is that they are only useful if you know you are lacking in something in particular, i.e. iron. If your diet is good and varied and you don't have any actual medical issues then a multivitamin is unecessary.

Personally I think that if you are lacking in something, then you are far better off taking a supplement for that particular thing (ie: calcium, iron, etc) as multivitamins are just a whole heap of something you may not need and are purely wasting, whilst not getting enough of whatever you do need. More often than not, the amount of each vitamin and mineral in a multi isn't enough to help if you are deficient in something.

Perhaps see your doc and get a health check and bloods done, check all your levels and see where you are at.

Garlic, horseradish and vitamin C are better for warding off colds and flu

Personally I think that Multi-Vitamins can be a good thing, not necessarily all the time but they can be great for times where you are feeling run down or stressed, or over cold/ flu season in Winter. I think if you take them over periods of time like this then they are great for giving you that extra 'boost' somehow.

The other thing that people swear by for avoiding colds and flu's etc is Olive Leaf extract. I took it for a while when I was getting chronic recurrent tonsillitis (before I got them taken out!) and found it helped a lot. It does taste a bit yucky/ bitter at first, but if you don't like the taste put it in some fruit juice and you can't even taste it . Another remedy to try is Manuka Honey which you can just get from the supermarket... one spoonful a day does wonders. I know people that use either one of these remedies regularly over Winter and absolutely swear by it saying that they never get cold or flu's because of it.

I've always been a sceptic too - unless you're lacking something, I don't really see the benefit and if you know your deficient in something, then take that specifically (but also look at how you absorb it because a complementary vitamin might be needed also).

A blood test last year showed I was low in iron and Vit D so I took supplements in both and felt the difference. I've recently had a sore neck and my osteo suggested taking fish oil instead of Panadol and it's definitely helped.

I guess multi-vitamins have their place too if you know your diet isn't the best, then they are a good way to give you an instant boost while you build up to a better diet maybe?

I was going to ask the question today coincidentally about kids and multi-vit's. Might go do in the right section

That seems like a much better idea. Thanks!

Thanks for all the reply's. It does make sense to take the particular vitamin your lacking rather then take a whole heap that you dont actually need.

I've been taking vitamin supplements for some years now and I think if you take the right ones and talk with your doc about it, they can really help and make you feel better. I take vitamin E and B12 pills and I feel much more balanced and active than before. However, I wouldn't take any supplements without the consent of a physician.

I had this talk with DH just yesterday.

He always gets angry with me because I dont take muiltivitamins which of course equalls me not looking after myself when we are meant to be TTC and all that jazz..

But I took them for 5 or 6 months, and I honestly didnt feel a difference at all, if anything, I felt MORE tired, I'm sure that is more circumstance than anything else.

Brett says that my migraines stopped, which they did, but I also got new glasses that have a different prescription and I stopped driving as much... So.. Hmm..

I agree with what the other girls said too, about getting bloods done and seeing if there is any paticular thing you are lacking.

Bloods definitely. I find B vitamins make a difference for me and I do notice that I am more tired on the days I forget but there is no reason that I should be deficient and the science does say that it tends to just go through you, so maybe it is just in my head.

The best thing to do is make sure you eat meat, fish, beans, fruit and vegies high in a range of vitamins, some people have deficiencies that need to be corrected especially iron. I cringe when I here people having "double dosed" on things because too much of some vitamins can be harmful.