Vitamins, supplements, Ensure?

[Tailgate]

For those of a certain age, do you find any OTC product to give you any energy? Vitamin B-12...particularly Ensure, any other supplement from the health food or grocery store?
DM (87) was purchasing some kind of pricey supplement from a 'friend' who sold it on the side (yep, I know).. anyway, she's off of that stuff, but says she feels a little 'blah' and wonders if at OTC product would help.
Many Doctors I've spoken with are ambivalent about such vitamins, etc. I wonder if anything might work, or at least be an effective placebo.
BTW, she's as healthy as can be. Just had a physical and her Doctor is amazed at her bloodwork results.

 

[sturbridge]

Does she get any sort of physical activity? Even some chair yoga could help with the energy.

 

[Tailgate]

Does she get any sort of physical activity? Even some chair yoga could help with the energy.

Yes, she's fairly active for her age.

 

[ER Eddie]

I drink green "superfood" powders, and I think they help my energy (I can't guarantee it's not placebo, but that's been my experience). Nothing wrong with a multivitamin (I take those, too), but I like the powders because of all the extra nutrients, and it's an easy way to get the benefits of fruits and veggies. I used to juice, but I gave it up after a year and switched to powders, because juicing is too cumbersome (all the grocery shopping, cutting up, cleaning the unit over and over, etc.) and powders provide most of the same benefits.

For example,
https://smile.amazon.com/Amazing-Gr...488500103&sr=8-34&keywords=amazing+grass&th=1

Lots of different vendors/flavors/combos. I avoid the ones that say "energy," since that just means added caffeine.

 

[Marita40]

If she's got fantastic bloodwork and is healthy I'd just make sure she is eating highly nutritious foods, drinking water, exercising, sleeping, getting sunshine, etc. I'm doubtful that anything over the counter would give a boost beyond that.
At my last bloodtest I was borderline low in iron. I took some iron supplements and felt almost immediately 100% better--more energy. So you may want to scrutinize her blood test results again to see if anything looks a bit out of range, or close to it.

 

[Tailgate]

If she's got fantastic bloodwork and is healthy I'd just make sure she is eating highly nutritious foods, drinking water, exercising, sleeping, getting sunshine, etc. I'm doubtful that anything over the counter would give a boost beyond that.
At my last bloodtest I was borderline low in iron. I took some iron supplements and felt almost immediately 100% better--more energy. So you may want to scrutinize her blood test results again to see if anything looks a bit out of range, or close to it.

Good idea... BTW, her best friends name is Marita[emoji2]

 

[sengsational]

Mainstream doctors are pretty lax on what constitutes good blood work, and they won't test for a lot of stuff that can be improved using natural or OTC or low risk measures. So if you go to a doctor that concentrates on improving wellness instead of treating symptoms, there might be a possibility of optimizing something a more old school doctor would have not considered.

 

[harley]

Before I went no carb I used to use a particular pepper-upper, and I found it to be pretty effective. I used Trader Joe brand, but they were a lot cheaper than what I'm seeing now, maybe $5.99 for 14 oz. But here's the best price I can find for some on Amazon - Chocolate Covered Espresso Beans. Tasty, effective, and good for you (dark chocolate).

 

[Marita40]

Has she had her thyroid checked?

 

[Tailgate]

Has she had her thyroid checked?

Yes, and the numbers are good.

 

[Tailgate]

Mainstream doctors are pretty lax on what constitutes good blood work, and they won't test for a lot of stuff that can be improved using natural or OTC or low risk measures. So if you go to a doctor that concentrates on improving wellness instead of treating symptoms, there might be a possibility of optimizing something a more old school doctor would have not considered.

I went to great lengths to make sure her Doc is a geriatric specialist and it's the best thing I could have done for her.

 

[sengsational]

Yes, and the numbers are good.

Thyroid is a perfect example of what I was trying to get at with the kind of doctor you employ. Has she had several consistent tests where TSH has been between 1.0 and 2.0 µIU/mL? What your doctor might mean by "good" is "within reference range" (0.45-4.5 µIU/mL). But an optimal range would be between 1.0 and 2.0. If the doctor is looking for disease, that wide reference range means "no obvious disease", but it doesn't mean "optimum health" either. Also, since TSH can fluctuate, several consistent tests would be required. The problem is that most doctors have to deal with their mega practice breathing down their neck, and also insurance companies telling them when things are medically necessary. So they end up ruling out obvious disease, but not helping your DW live a healthier life.

 

[audreyh1]

Are they measuring her vitamin B12 and vitamin D levels? They might be "in range" per the blood work report, but far from optimal. And getting into the optimal range might make her feel much better.

 

[eytonxav]

As pointed out, blood test results that are in range are not necessarily optimum and most Drs won't say anything for a result that is in the acceptable range. A good D.O. who takes a more holistic approach to medicine might be able to give much better advice of how to achieve optimum levels.

 

[twolfy]

Magnesium gets overlooked quite a bit. A lot of people don't get enough in foods they eat.

 

[Sojourner]

Many Doctors I've spoken with are ambivalent about such vitamins, etc. I wonder if anything might work, or at least be an effective placebo.

BTW, she's as healthy as can be. Just had a physical and her Doctor is amazed at her bloodwork results.

At age 87, if her doctor is "amazed" at her blood test results, then I'd say that's a very good sign that she doesn't need any vitamin supplementation. Most people who eat a healthy, varied diet don't need extra vitamins or nutrient supplements, although some certainly do. I wouldn't advise your mom to randomly start taking any sort of specific or general nutrient supplements, because an approach like that is likely to be a huge waste of time and money.

The only supplements known to provide an actual energy boost are caffeine, Asian ginseng, and vitamin B-12 -- and for B-12, only if you're deficient will taking more do any good. Probably better to ensure your mom is getting enough sleep, eating a healthy & balanced diet, getting some exercise, etc.

 

[braumeister]

It may be "tired blood" for which the answer is always ... GERITOL!

 

[W2R]

I feel like fresh or frozen blueberries year around give me energy. It may just be psychological, though, because I love blueberries. But also they are high in some vitamins and nutrients.

Since last summer I have been taking Centrum along with Viactiv for extra calcium and vitamin D. Haven't noticed any effect at all.

 

[JPatrick]

I believe in the daily vitamin as well, but for treating the morning blahs (like a cold coming on) the only thing that provides that instant lift for me, is a glass of Airborne. Besides the lift, it provides a shot of vit C.
Pick your favorite flavor and give it a shot.

 

[RAE]

As pointed out, blood test results that are in range are not necessarily optimum and most Drs won't say anything for a result that is in the acceptable range. A good D.O. who takes a more holistic approach to medicine might be able to give much better advice of how to achieve optimum levels.

This is so true. Just in the past year, both DW and I have experienced health issues related to things that our doctors said should be "nothing to worry about", based on our blood test results. In my case, my serum iron and ferritin were somewhat high (but at the upper limit of the reference range), and DW's serum B12 was somewhat low, but again, within the reference range. Well, I started experiencing all sorts of weird symptoms which ultimately were determined to be caused by too much iron in my system (iron overload). Donating blood a few times made the symptoms go away. DW started having serious neuroligical issues that were ultimately traced to her being deficient in Vitamin B12. Doing the weekly (and now monthly) B12 shots has completely cured her, though it took some time. In both cases, the doctors (and these were different doctors) assumed that everything in the blood test results were fine, since the numbers were "within the reference ranges". I've since discovered (through lots of research) that the reference ranges used by most labs in the USA (for things like ferritin, B12, and probably many other things) are far broader than those used in most of the rest of the world, including Europe and Japan. My advice: be the #1 advocate for your own health, and don't always believe everything your doctor tells you, especially if your symptoms persist. Invest some time in doing your own research....it's worth it.

 

[Aerides]

For those of a certain age, do you find any OTC product to give you any energy? Vitamin B-12...particularly Ensure, any other supplement from the health food or grocery store?
DM (87) was purchasing some kind of pricey supplement from a 'friend' who sold it on the side (yep, I know).. anyway, she's off of that stuff, but says she feels a little 'blah' and wonders if at OTC product would help.
Many Doctors I've spoken with are ambivalent about such vitamins, etc. I wonder if anything might work, or at least be an effective placebo.
BTW, she's as healthy as can be. Just had a physical and her Doctor is amazed at her bloodwork results.

I think your placebo idea is on the mark. She was taking something (probably useless) but felt good. Find a good MV (harmless) supplement instead. A good women's silver type, but maybe repackage so it's not just "oh i can get that at the store so it's not special".

 

[RetiredGypsy]

Everything I've read, every doctor I've spoken with, suggests that unless you're low or high on any vitamin, there's really no point in supplementing.

I found this interesting from the NIH, a study about vitamin A that included information about excessive intake.

I have found it extremely interesting that I am chronically low in vitamin B and D to the point I've have a prescription for both for years, apparently have a genetic disposition that causes this, and yet I'm more energetic than literally everyone else I know.

 

[twolfy]

"My advice: be the #1 advocate for your own health, and don't always believe everything your doctor tells you, especially if your symptoms persist. Invest some time in doing your own research....it's worth it"

+1
RAE are you in da UP or the northern part of the lower peninsula?
Tom

 

[ER Eddie]

+1 ^

No offense to any physicians on the forum who do know their stuff, but doctors often are not terribly well educated about nutrition. They tend to know more about medication. Unless you are fortunate to have a doctor who is really well versed in the area of nutrition, find other sources of information. I wouldn't want to rely on just what an average physician, their blood tests, and the FDA tell me.