Supplements

[Bananna]

I am hearing all kinds of talk of super foods and things...I'm not So much interested in super foods as I basically understand they are full of primarily antioxidants.

...but what about B vitamins in general, B12, vitamin D...I don't know..iodine, iron.

Do you supplement, what's your philosophy on it and what do you buy or eat in being mindful of said philosophy?

Thanks!:D ...I just ask because I am an official vegan now, largely raw, but now I am just thinking more about this...why now, I don't know, I should've cared a lot more previously...but anyways...I'll shut up now and let you talk, lol. :o

[sarahrjm]

IM only RAW a month - I am only taking b12. I wasn't and I was always tired - I am taking it now and I am fine. I only keep taking it because I noticed a HUGE differences in my energy after starting. I am going to stop taking it after I am RAW for longer to see how I do!

The B12 supplement I am taking is made up of all whole foods from a company "Standard Process", My chiropractor who is into RAW (not 100% he "dabbles" swares by them. I figure it is better then getting some yucky unknown brand!

I do hope to not have to suppliment at some point!

[HolyGuacamole]

I take supplements.
I sold them for years and years and have heard just as many stories of miraculous recoveries attributed to them as I have heard attributed to raw.

I think getting your nutrients from food is far preferable, and raw gets you a heck of a lot closer to being able to do that, but with our modern hybridized produce that often travels, unripe, across the globe to get to my plate, and that's been grown in soil that's been hugely depleted of minerals, my personal feeling is that supplements are useful and do more good than harm.

I also think there are tons of crap vitamins and supplements out there and you have to take care to choose quality products, and that you should approach the whole issue thoughtfully and not just do it 'cause you think you should.

I have total respect for those who don't take supplements and expect to get all their nutrients from food. Unfortunately, I track what I eat in fitday and I know that without supplementation, even though I strive to, I wouldn't be getting all the nutrition I need. I also believe that the RDAs are just baseline numbers, keep-you-alive-and-functioning guidelines, not the levels that are required for optimal health.

[sarahrjm]

Well said HolyGuacamole!

[Nayeli_Raw]

I used to take a vegan multi with extra B12 but no I switched to prenatals.

[Bananna]

ok...I can buy that Holy Guac.

What about iodine? Is that in supplements or do you just eat seaweed stuffs or do you not worry about it?

[Nayeli_Raw]

I completely agree with you Holy Guac. What brand do you prefer? I take Apex. I have had so much training on the product from working at the gym, I have a certification in it as well, but I am always open to learning about new products.

[michigan roman]

- brewers yeast for the b's , which of alot arent in my basic vegi/fruit/nut/seed diet . as a whole food cooked vegan i previously derived them from grains , now i feel im lacking thusly the non raw yeast .

- vegan b12 supp on an light intake level for insurance

- now turning to seaweeds for iodine , along with their broad mineral containing spectrum . and maybe hopefully some b12 in them which is debatable i guess ide say.

- i grind flax seed for its omega

- i feel as though im getting all else from my vegi / fruit / nut / seed diet , amongst which im focused on calcium / vitas A-C-E / iron + protein and health fats .

[Raspberry4]

Holyguac - I agree with that too. In fact I have been looking for vegan, gluten free supplements that are in liquid or powder form. Are you able to provide a reference?

[michigan roman]

possibly interesting =

http://www.rawfreedomcommunity.info/forum/showthread.php?t=1086 ..

[RawPaw]

INOSITOL

Anyone suffering from acne should take 1 or 2 capsules of this B vitamin. It's cheap and organic. I've never had anything work so well—even raw food. And it strengthens the hair. Buy a $10 bottle and see what happens.

[RawKnitster]

As far as I know B12 and D are the only vitamins not available in plant food. I don't like yeast and spirulina may not be a good source of B12. Where I live the sun is not an adequate source of D in the winter. I prefer to take supplements to avoid the problems that can be caused by a deficiency. I'm taking a B12 of Methylcobalamin, it says it contain milk, but it's got to be so little I'm okay with it. I also take a D3 (as cholecalciferol from wool oil). It's made from combing the sheep wool. As a knitter, I don't have a problem with that.

Since I started taking the supplements a few week's ago, I do feel a higher, more consistent energy level. If I forgot to take them, I'm reminded to take them when I feel my energy dip. I don't think it's my imagination or a placebo effect. The supplements seem to make a real difference for me.

[freshlight]

My philosophy looks like this: I discovered I was deficient on v.B12 and started taking supplements and injections.
Instead of feeling better, I started feeling worse than ever. I bought the best kind you can ever get apparently: methylcobalamin directly from the States.
I decided to stop taking them (after spending €200,- on them! ah well, it's a learning experience ;) ) and after a water fast the test showed that I'm not deficient on B12 at all!
Just listen to your body and your inner voice. I'm also a vegan raw foodist since 2003 and I don't think we need any supplements at all. The healing energy of the human body is very strong and if you allow it to work for you,-you'll be fine. jmho :)

[RawSar]

I agree with what HolyGuacamole said.
I do take some supplements. I try to get everything through food as much as possible but do think that it is impossible to do. After getting blood tests done my B12 levels were extremely low. I now get regular B12 shots which have made a HUGE difference in my energy level!! As well as keeping me happy ;)
Needles don't bother me at all so I don't find them painful. I've read a lot on Vitmain B12 and that once you become low and live the vegan/vegatarian lifestyle that you most likely will have to continue with some kind of B12 supplement. For awhile I decided to see what happens when I stop the shots and my energy sucked, I wasn't feeling as good as I did and my levels had gone back down at my next check up. I'm happy to get regular shots :)
For Vit. D I get away to a hot sunny spot as much as I can in the winter.
I think that it is healthy as well as important to be taking supplements ONLY if you think your levels are low (getting regular electro dermal screening tests are a safe and effective way of finding this out)
I am also getting a liquid iron supplement. If my next naturopath appt shows that my levels are good I will stop taking the supplement.
Experiment with supplements (do make sure they are a good quality) and listen to your body.
I Use some New Chapter supplements/LifeGive from Hippocrates..

[Eva]

I don't supplement -- but I am being careful to include a variety of green smoothies and rejuvalac and other fermented foods to help my intestinal flora remain healthy enough to produce B12 like it's meant to do. I also go pretty light on onions and garlic since they kill both good and bad bacteria in the body.

I may change my game plan if I feel less than stellar, but it's working pretty well for me at this point!

[rawstrength]

Vitamin B12 and vitamin D are the only vitamins you can't get from plants. There is a small amount of vitamin D in nettles, that is the only exception.
I take vitamin B12 supplements, Jarrow Formula's methlycobalamin. To get my vitamin D in the snowy, dark winters here, I go to the tanning salon.

[ShelShel]

I think everyone's body and diet are different and if you can eat enough variety of raw to get all you need...that's awesome and you totally rawk! :D I'm one of those people who needs a bit of help.
I take a super b vitamin everyday and have for three years.
I just started taking wheat grass.
I feel fabulous now that I've started eating raw again.
I also find it hard to get enough calcium when I'm raw, but I've countered that with finding out which foods I might eat more of. So, now I eat a lot more sesame seeds, broccoli and greens. If I can do it through food...I do, if not I supplement. ;)

[rawviveyourself]

Hey Banana Leaf,
I started studying BioAcoustics in the mid-1990s. The voice is tested by recording it. The outcome is you can see what your excesses and deficiencies are in that moment. Then you supplement in any way you choose - by food, by bottled supplements, or by sound. Yeah, sound. Since everything is frequency, it has long been established that each substance has a very specific frequency associated with it. Additionally, the sounds work synergystically (for example, if you are too low with Boron, it will cascade into affecting your vitamin D levels, since D needs Boron [magnesium, calcium, etc.] in order for your body to assimilate it, etc. etc.)
Obviously, it's a lot more complex to explain, but since you asked....that's how I view supplements. And also why I believe everyone is truly unique in their needs and one's own instincts on what they put in their body are vital!
If you want to do your own testing and research: http://nutrasounds.com/

[rawstrength]

Shel Shel,
I'm so happy for you! It's great that you are back to eating raw and feeling great.
Be careful/mindful about taking those calcium supplements, though. They may be contaminated with nanobacteria, try typing "David Wolfe on calcium" into youtube and watching all seven videos, and you'll know more about calcium than you ever wanted to know.
Remember that we need less calcium on a raw vegan diet because raw foodists don't eat calcium-leaching animal protein. The China Study confirms this; countries that eat the least dairy suffer from the least levels of osteoperosis, contrary to what the USDA would want us to think.
I believe in taking the minimal supplementation necessary to maintain good health.