Maca and Spirulina and MSM, Oh My!

[Shell]

Hello everyone! I'm still relatively new to raw (3 weeks), and I was wondering what the ESSENTIAL supplements are, to a raw diet. I have maca powder, hemp protein powder, and spirulina. I've been hearing about MSM, digestive enzymes, and a slew of other supplements, and was wondering if I'm missing anything from my repertoire! I'd appreciate any advice...I'm a bit overwhelmed by all the information! Thanks!

[Veganforlife]

Oh - I was picturing you walking down the "yellow brick road" like Dorothy, the lion, the tinman and the scarecrow did. (Wizard of Oz?)
::looks around for Toto::

I use spirulina and maca and Alissa's green food powder in my green smoothies. GOOD good stuff. MSM I have not read enough about it yet. But I am.

Alissa's enzymes are very beneficial especially for those starting out and transitioning into raw...

[Shell]

Oh - I was picturing you walking down the "yellow brick road" like Dorothy, the lion, the tinman and the scarecrow did. (Wizard of Oz?)
::looks around for Toto::


I use spirulina and maca and Alissa's green food powder in my green smoothies. GOOD good stuff. MSM I have not read enough about it yet. But I am.

Ha ha....that was the reference! I feel a bit like Dorothy, only instead of OZ, I'm lost in rawZ!!
I just asked my health food store guy about MSM, and he said that I only need to take that if I'm experiencing joint pain, which I'm not.....I bought some enzymes though, and I feel good about that!

[codajess]

I had spirulina powder that I added to smoothies. I went through a bottle of it and never really noticed anything so I haven't bought it since.

I do still take maca. I don't know if I notice a difference with it.

I also take MSM, as it's supposed to help with skin. I'm not quite sure about that, either.

So if they're helping with anything, I'm not noticing. Then again I don't really notice anything after eating goji berries; but I do tell myself they're all good for me even if I don't feel any differently. Who knows if they actually are though.

[Shell]

Hey codajess! I know what you're saying about not noticing anything with the supplements. I haven't either....I just figured they were more like food...to complete the diet and add the necessary proteins. Besides the Spirulina and Maca, I don't really know if I NEED anything else.....although I'm curious to see how the digestive enzymes pan out...it's all so personal, and there are SO MANY different opinions.....aaahhhh!

[codajess]

Exactly. I'm still on my first pound of maca and my first bottle of msm, but i'm guessing once they're gone I probably won't repurchase. If I start to feel differently afterwards, maybe I will buy more then. Maybe i'll keep taking MSM (i dont take it daily, but more like a few times a week) because I think it might help my hair and nails.

[SmilingRawDancer]

I use maca daily, but I don't notice much of a difference.....I'm 18, so being...er...*coughs*....randy...*coughs* is pretty normal anyways...0_0
and it hasn't "fixed" my cycle yet, but I dunno if it needs to be "fixed"
I don't bleed, but I get all the usual symptoms of menstruation, only lighter. No cramping or bloating, just more emotional, craving more food etc.

The only supplements I use that I notice a difference with are Iron, B-Complex and ......I'm waiting on the MSM. I've started using it religiously last week, but I've heard it takes about a month. I HOPE IT FIXES MY ACNE!!

[Davylp25]

Hmmm If your taking Spirulina, MSM etc and not noticing any benefits, Im guessing you are taking only tsp, That aint gonna do much.
For Spirulina info...

http://www.chlorellafactor.com/

[Shell]

I use maca daily, but I don't notice much of a difference.....I'm 18, so being...er...*coughs*....randy...*coughs* is pretty normal anyways...0_0

Ha ha.....yeah, I definitely don't need maca for THAT reason either, even at 27!!;)

Thanks, Davylp25, for the link.....it was very informative, and reaffirmed my suspicions that I wasn't taking enough spirulina. It's so hard to know how much of everything you're supposed to take....there are so many different schools of thought.....but it's getting a little easier with all the information coming in! Thanks everyone!
Oh, and was the guy at the health food store right about MSM? Is it only necessary for easing joint pain? Still confused about that one....

[Davylp25]

MSM-
MSM helps our bodies absorb more nutrients (vitamins and minerals) Pantothenic acid, Vitamins A, D, and E, inter-enzymes, amino acids, selenium, calcium, germanium, collagnol and dismuzyme are just some of the things we know the body does not utilize properly unless it has MSM to lock with. A lot of the vitamins we take go through the body without being fully used. With more MSM in the body, vitamins can be utilized more effectively and therefore become much more beneficial. There is a joke that Americans have the most expensive urine in the world because of all the vitamins that go down the drain. Vitamin C does a lot of healing by itself, but without MSM to lock with, it doesn't toughen capillary walls. When MSM is added to the diet and taken with Vitamin C, chronic nosebleeds, easy bruising and varicose veins may be relieved. Vitamin C and MSM work synergistically together. Every body is different, so you would need to find what works for you, but it is important when taking Vitamin C to make certain it has the bioflavinoids with it because it is then a complete food. Sulfur regulates the sodium/potassium balance in and out of the cell. This makes the cell more permeable and better able to drive nutrients into and wastes out of, the cell. Very vital to the detox process. MSM regulates blood sugar imbalances.

[Shell]

Wow, ok, thanks Davy! I just may go to the hfs and get some, just to try....

[rawxanne]

[QUOTE=Davylp25;314974]Hmmm If your taking Spirulina, MSM etc and not noticing any benefits, Im guessing you are taking only tsp, That aint gonna do much.
For Spirulina info...

http://www.chlorellafactor.com/[/QUOte


hey! I was wonderingexactly that as I have just begun starting with spirulina so - how much do you take to get benefits???? :)

Thanks!

Rawxy.xx

[Shell]

Rawxanne, I copied this from the site Davy provided:

Spirulina

* Disease-fighting dose: 20 grams / day
* Maintenance dose: 10 grams / day
* Athlete dose: as much as 60 grams / day
* Upper limit: there is no upper limit. You can eat spirulina like food. If you eat "too much," you will simply get full.

Chlorella

* Disease-fighting dose: 10 grams / day
* Maintenance dose: 5 grams / day
* Upper limit: there is no upper limit, but introduce chlorella into your diet gradually and monitor your stools. Since chlorella can result in mild diarrhea in some persons, introduce it slowly. (Your body will adapt over a period of a few weeks, allowing you to take more.)

I definitely wasn't taking enough....don't think I'm going to buy the MSM though.....sticking with the supplements I feel I absolutely need, not any more, not any less.

[rawxanne]

thanks for that!! I will definately scoop more into my juice tomorrow!!

Good luck with taking more - I hope you get the results you want! :)


R.xx

[Shell]

Thanks Rawxanne! I hope I get them too! And thanks to all the replies....I feel more confident in my supplement choices now....although I'm sure I'll have more questions as I go on!