[HLTH] Vitamins

[chairborne commando]

What vitamins do you consider essential? Are they a part of your preps?

Now suppose you were going to a Third World country for an extended
period of travel-how would you change the mix? Or is a multi-vitamin
enough?

Anyone know of a chart that would detail a vitamin regimen for either
men/women/children or various age groups?

Feel free to include herbal extracts/herbal teas or even just herbs if you
use them.

 

[AddisonRose]

I have in my preps (all food based): Multi-vitamin, trace minerals, Vitamin B (stress), digestive enzymes (food digestion, inflammation), Vitamin E (antioxidant, heart), Calcium Lactate (bones, acid/base balance), Vitamin C (immune system, collagen repair), Echinacea (immune system) (herb), Garlic (immune system) (herb), Acidophilus and a few other organ specific (heart, thyroid, thymus, etc). I am sure I have fogotten a few.

Not too sure what is allowed vitamin wise in other countries, but I would for sure take an acidophilus product in the event of dysentery, and depending on how long I would be gone, just a multi and trace mineral product. That should cover you for the short term.

 

[summerthyme]

CC- the newer "high end" multi vitamin and mineral formulations are actually pretty good- not "mega doses" like some take for certain specific things, but awfully good for a basic "CYA" or "fill in the holes" for a questionable diet.

Men should AVOID taking extra iron... it builds up in the system and they don't lose it like women do every month.

Women of child bearing age who have any chance of getting pregnant need to take a vitamin that contains extra folic acid. This has been shown to prevent most cases of spina bifida- but it needs to be taken VERY early in the pregnancy- like before most women would even be sure they are pregnant.

B complex vitamins are used up by the body under stress, and they also help the person cope with stress. We take extra B complex when ever things get crazy(er)!

Vitamins C and E are potent anti-oxidants which can be tremendous help for the immune system. In a foreign country, you will be exposed to "bugs" which are unfamiliar to your body- and which you have no immunity to.

Be careful taking extremely large doses of ANY vitamins, though. It used to be thought that only the fat soluable vitamins- D and A- were able to be toxic, and build up in the body. It's now been found that even the B vitamins and Vitamin E can cause toxicity problems in *extremely* large doses. Interestingly, they often cause the same symptoms the people were taking them to alleviate- especially nerve symptoms.

I wouldn't want to be without garlic, elderberry extract and echinacea for immune system stimulation and fighting infection. After those basics and a good multi vitamin and mineral, it would depend on my own perceived needs... some people have chronic health problems which they will want to be able to treat with the herbs they find useful.

Summerthyme

 

[Herbmountain]

What Summerthyme said. Good ideas. I would also add some parasite formula that contains black walnut and artemesia. I never go anywhere with out Pau De Arco and Red Clover for anti-viral and blood cleansing. Never! If I did not have them I would not go.

Another little tip. Vitamins and Minerals last up to 5 years if fresh and of good quality and kept out of heat and light.

Herbs in capsules will last 2-3 years if stored in the same fashion.

Probiotics need to be refrigerated as they degrade the quickest of all formulas.

 

[workerbee]

Vit D, E, A, and K are fat soluble and can cause toxicity if taken in large doses.

However, C, B, etc are water soluble and are eliminated fairly easily via kidneys (urine).

B complex is essential! Also, essential fatty acids/omega 3 oils, fish oil/flaxseed oil/olive oil (walnuts are good too) improves mood/cardiovascular/brain function.

I also LOVE colostrum by symbiotics. It has improved my life more than any other supplement. Most of my family take it now too. http://www.symbiotics.com/

Great thread!

 

[suzy]

Chairborne, we take a vitamin/mineral combination specifically designed for each one of us personally, based on what our bodies need. My set of vitamins/minerals is different from what my husband takes. We have had better luck with this than any other process we've used.

The gal who set up our regimen, is in another state, but was able to do some testing, and then provide a detailed list of what each of us were to have, based on body types, propensity for illness, and all those other factors. This was NOT a costly process either.

The way we are doing it NOW, has made more of a positive difference than anything we randomly grabbed off the shelves.

suzy