Am I the only middle aged woman NOT using supplements?

I’m early 40s and take iron (known deficiency) and Vitamin D. I take magnesium glycinate before bed due to TMJ issues.

From time to time I take creatine as well.

Collagen, electrolytes etc daily seems like a massive waste of money.

I take one tablet of Calcium with Zinc and Magnesium, and another for Vitamin D. I have very low Vit D, so need to take it. I was taking B12 as it was low, but it's above normal now, so have stopped. I have some aches and pains, and word salad (use one word, mean another!) issues so have just started collagen for former and Gingko Bilboa for the latter. Not sure if those help yet. I tend to take things I am deficient or low in. I do Vitamin profiles with private blood tests. I am not on HRT yet.

I know the feeling re pills!

do you take the prebiotics as a pill too or is it in food stuff too?

noted re tic tacs being more useful than collagen

It depends what effect you want them to have.

I do but I target specifically where I am deficient or don’t have ‘optimal’ levels. I get private bloods done by Thriva every so often and tweak accordingly.

It has made an enormous difference to my health. As soon as I got my iron, Vit D, B12 and folate levels up to where they should be (NOT the NHS cut offs as they are too low) I have more energy now than I did ten years ago.

I take nutirian geeks lionsmane and found that has made a huge difference to brain fog. I also take a marine collegen powder supplement and again, think it makes a difference to my skin. That's it though.

Eating healthily and getting plenty of fresh air and sunshine mitigates the need for supplements IMO.

A basic google would tell you that this is incorrect.

I only take Vitamin D. If you take collagen your body will only use it where it needs it the most, and that’s not necessarily on your skin. I eat plenty of protein but do add bone broth to some meals for flavour primarily.

I care more about what I breathe in and what I absorb through my skin. Eating healthily and getting plenty of fresh air and sunshine mitigates the need for supplements IMO.

If you take a look at the recent Royal College of Physicians report on air quality (including healthy indoor air) and the impact that stale or polluted air has on health, then people might care less about supplements and more about living in healthy buildings and healthy cities.

What we eat is a tiny part of the equation on what keeps us healthy later in life.

YANBU. I’m 40 and I don’t take any supplements. I do walk, swim, garden, spend time outside, eat relatively healthily and ensure I get plenty of sleep though.

I take none, I’m not getting any symptoms and I’m probably post menopause though hard to say because I have a mirina. Could be speaking too soon but my mum had no issues so perhaps I got lucky genes

I'm 48 and very much in peri. I take a soluable multivitamin, cod liver oil with added vit D, creatine and collagen pepitide powder everyday. If i feel tired or have a bad period i'll take spatone for iron and vit B complex. I want to avoid muscle and bone density loss, and any deficiencies which can lead to tiredness or low immunity.

If you do take protien and creatine you HAVE to be doing regular exercize for it to have any effect.

Low vitamin D is linked to a whole host of diseases. I guess the mechanism isn’t known but the studies are there. It’s a hormone that helps immune function so I guess that’s the link. Also low vitamin D would contribute to brittle bones, muscle weakness, fatigue. Low levels also linked to dementia. It’s helpful for mood.

It’s really important to have good levels.

Yep, vitamin D massively helps my mood in winter and it also helps my anxiety.

Can contribute to dementia.

I am 49 and don’t take anything at all and never have. Have gone through the menopause fine, and am strong and fit and don’t feel like I need anything. I exercise daily, don’t ache, am thin and I eat really well and get outside for at least an hour a day, usually longer.
What happens if you’re lacking in vitamin D?!

I take Vit D when I remember. Making sure I get some daily sun now the weather’s good. I didn't realise how important Vit D is for your brain health until I came up as slightly deficient in a blood test.

I use Glowwa hair food (meno). I now get no breakage and hardly any loss. I started using it after getting my colour done again in a salon. I can see the difference in thickness. I occasionally take gummies with iron and folic acid in, because I can run a bit low. I wasn't given HRT when I should have been, so my hair suffered. My skin and nails have improved. My DD has noticed a difference after putting turmeric in her morning smoothie. She hasn't been sick over winter.

Look people can not take all other supplements and feel heathy. But do not ignore the government advice to supplement with Vitamin D in the winter.

Quite literally. Because you pee most of it out.

I take iron, vit B12 and D because I'm chroniclly low in them.

Yes. It’s important for so many functions of the body. It also helped me with SAD.

I’m 59 and haven’t taken supplements since the evening primrose oil fad of the 1990s. I would like to say it was a deliberate decision based on research and long deliberated personal preference, but it’s because I NEVER remember to take anything unless failure to do so would result in my imminent death. And even then … 😆 I have finally managed to get into the habit of taking my glaucoma medication (eyedrops) because I don’t want to go blind. Obviously. But no amount of timers or reminders will ever help me to take supplements. I feel alright though. Apart from tiredness. But that’s because I’ve been a terrible sleeper my whole life.

😂

I’m 60. No supplements. I don’t know where I’d even start. Thankfully, I’m quite healthy and in full time work.