Am I the only middle aged woman NOT using supplements?

[PoliteSquid]

Away on a weekend with friends and the conversation was constantly turning to supplements… probiotic powders, protein, creatin, bone broth and so many more!!!!
I’m no paragon of health but WTF? Where has all this come from? I can’t afford the prices mentioned, but I am starting to wonder if I’m the odd one out for not using any supplements at all!!

If you have nothing to supplement, then you don't need a supplement?

Following with interest. I am 46 and take a lot. I have the nutrition geeks menopause bundle and was very sceptical but after suffering hot flushes for 6 weeks, they have all but stopped. That's magnesium, tumeric, ashwaganda and lions mane. Also take vit B12, C, D and cod liver oil. And collagen.

Feels like a lot but I've justified all of it...

I only take multi-vitamin, iron and creatine. Creatine has been a staple for the last 10 years. It is important for women as it preserves bone density and muscle mass in aging. Multi and iron I take on and off. I do experience anemia-like fatigue a couple of times a year and a course of iron helps with that.
I get enough protein from my diet so don't need to supplement.
A 500g bag of creatine is less than £15 and lasts for three months so it's not a huge investment.

It’s just pissing money down the drain. I take vitamin D, that’s it.

I take iron supplements if I’m flagging but I swing into being anaemic. Otherwise I don’t. I try and eat decent home cooked food and drink water. I’m supremely sceptical about all the companies trying to take my money claiming their supplements will solve all issues related to aging. But I’m a miserable cynic 🤣

I’ve tried various supplements and not noticed any difference with any of them! Doesn’t mean I won’t be roped in to buy more in the vain hope it’ll slow down the aging process!

Just focus on eating a healthy diet and exercise. It’s cheaper!

Nope, I'm not on anything. Might be willing to give it a try if I had specific needs. That said should probably be taking cod liver oil as my joints are likely to go to hell for various reasons.

I'm 57 and I don't take anything.

I think most are just a waste of money and preying on women to try to make them plug a gap where there is none.
That said, I take HRT and I take some vitamins as my diet can be a bit samey.
And this has reminded me to take some creatine before I exercise today.

If something is missing, then supplements are necessary but otherwise watch where you are spending your money.

Eat a well rounded diet and you're probably just fine.

I do take creatine for strength training (and now reported brain health benefit - bonus) and vit D in the winter.

I take vit D and folic acid as I've been found to be deficient in the past.

i had a weekend away with girlfriends and it was the same!! Two of them turned up with little pill boxes full of pills they took each morning. All supplement type stuff, no actual health concerns 😂.

it’s low key making me anxious that I should be taking stuff too or in 20 years time I will look 100 and they will look 30. But it’s overwhelming, I keep looking into it briefly then giving up. Also I’m bad at long term routines and I know after a couple of months when the initial batches all run out I’ll forget to reorder and it will all end anyway.

Watching the thread with interest.

44 ....i take loads. Biotin, collagen and many others that I can barely remember the names of 😂

I had a lot of diffuse but miserable symptoms a few years ago and it turned out that my vitamin B and D levels were very low. Feel much better now I take those.

I have low iron and vitamin d noted in bloodtests, so I take both of those

If you’ve had a blood test and have a known deficiency, fair enough get supplements, but otherwise it’s just marketing and making money out of people

I'm taking Diosmin/Hesperidin capsules, which were recommended to me, to help with lymphatic drainage, cramp and cold feet.

To my surprise, my legs are slimmer and the cramps I've had for years have stopped.

The other one which has genuinely helped me is turmeric, for arthritic pain. I've definitely noticed an improvement since starting them.

I'm very sceptical about supplements generally, though, and I don't take protein powder. If I needed extra protein, I'd eat an egg or some cheese.

68 now and take a multivit + iron, and magnesium glycinate for sleep. That's it.

I am post meno. I have had issues like frozen shoulder as a direct result. So sometimes I take Joint Ace and sometimes I take Menopace. I don’t take them all the time and if I was way for a weekend, I wouldn’t bother bringing them.

48 and I can barely remember to take vitamin d in the winter.

Everyone should take vitamin D in the winter because there’s not enough sunlight to make your own.

I’m only 35 but I usually take iron and high dose C. It helps with iron absorption and some evidence that it helps you get over colds quicker. I have germy small children and am prone to slight anaemia.

I'm 56 and take calcium and vit d / k all in 1 tablet. I don't tend to take them if I'm away, only at home.

Dh is also on vit D, and gets b12 supplements as was found to be low in b12. And d.

i don’t. I get everything I need from my meat and fish. Recent blood test has confirmed this.

You might want to look up what creatine does. If you are building muscle then yes.

I take vitamin D all year round, iron and a multi vit