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!!

i have just had a pedicure, due to sandall weather
but declined a manicure due to garden weather

I used to take a lot of supplements but changed my diet hugely because my mum was told she had taken too many in 00s and her kidneys were affected. So now I just take vitamin d but I make sure to have red meat, leafy greens and eggs. Am definitely considering adding protein supplements though for age proofing!!

protein is the latest gimmick which i fell for recently,
greek yogurt with high protein

Meant to add I’ve started adding turmeric to my food recently and I feel better but can’t describe how😅 Also biotin for hair health as mine was falling apart

Time released vitamin b complex. I noticed within days if I stop taking it. I just feel better mentally.

I take b vitamins as advised by doctor, it contains biotin. I take vitamin d and also omega combo with evening primrose.
I have a collagen protein powder I have after exercise.

i have a triple magnesium supplement i was told to try for sleep but so far it upset my stomach so i have stopped.

I am also on combined pill to manage the pmdd.

I don’t take anything except a good quality multivitamin. Had breast cancer in my late 30s and am too worried about the conflicting studies re collagen and creatine being linked to recurrence to take them. Even a slight worry is too much of a worry for me.

I wouldn't if I didn't have a history of severe nutritional deficiencies (as in GP saying they didn't know how I was upright with the levels I had).

I take Vit D and a multivitamin that has no more 100% (some put in the cheaper vitamins to ridiculous amounts, which has its own risks).

I do also buy protein powder though I use it more to flavour my overnight oatmeal and replace some of the flour in baking (a few family members on my husband's side are diabetic, it's in some of their recipes they've passed to me) than really taking it to supplement protein.

Absolute tosh. Get out for 20-30 mins per day and eat leafy greens.

Everyone should be on Vitamjn D in the winter and omega 3 if they don’t eat oily fish twice a week.

After that, if you don’t have any specific issues or deficiencies then fine to get everything from a balanced diet. But this is assuming your diet is perfect!

For example, if you drink alcohol
that leaches B vitamins.

I try and manage my ADHD with supplements rather than meds
so that’s individual to me. I take Lions Mane and Saffron for mood and focus.

I sleep terribly. HRT has helped but I also need magnesium glycinate. I ran out recently for a few weeks and was back to waking up for hours in the night.

I do take creatine as I’m trying to build more muscle mass with weight training at 50.

So for me, yes it’s expensive but very tailored to what I need and don’t get in my diet.

can I ask which one you take?

B vitamins, clears my head and makes eyes less dry. Vitamin C. Vitamin D. Probiotics, I take L.Reuteri, it improves my mood and loo habits and sleep depth.
Eye vitamins, I’m scared of eye problems, have friends with various issues.
at night I take fish oil and magnesium. Magnesium helps me sleep through the night.
oh and I take pumpkin seed oil capsule every morning, stops me getting needing to go for a pee every hour!
So I guess I’m a supplement junkie… and I’m now wondering if I should try creatine, from reading this thread!

You won’t get any vitamin D in this country from the sun between April and Oct. Can’t get enough from diet. You do need to supplement- it’s a hormone not a vitamin and bee important.

I was in a study looking at the link between low vitamin D levels and breast cancer outcomes.

In my 70's. I use a multivit oral spray and a vit D oral spray.

I've taken Icaps for the majority of my adult life because I have a massive fear of developing macrodegenerative eye disease.
The last year I've been taking VitaminD - recomended by the GP. And also vitamin B complex because I dont think I get enough because of my almost vegetarian diet.
I have absolutely no idea whether these supplements are effective or not.

I think media pressure is a factor and fear sells! There's little actual scientific evidence that a lot of stuff that's sold 'for menopause ' actually has any measurable benefit, that said if you feel some of this stuff works for you then why not.

A lot of it is expensive particularly if you take several supplements/ potions. I have friends who spend fortunes on it and say it works for them, but I notice they have really good lifestyle habits, so I'm not convinced it's the supplements. I don't take any, and can't say I have anymore issues than the next person.

Sleep, water, reasonable diet and stress management, do things that make you feel good, I feel have far more benefits than a supplement and don't come in at £££££ so maybe of little interest to the multi million pound 'health and wellness' industry.

I'm in my 50's. I fell into the Nutrition Geek trap for a while. I didn't notice the slightest bit of difference. Then something traumatic happened in my life and I completely forgot about taking them for several months. So I didn't feel any better when I was on them and I didn't even notice that I wasn't on them. They went in the bin. I take absolutely nothing now.

Unless you have a diagnosed deficiency, in my view, the best thing they do is offer a placebo effect, nothing more.

High dose HRT (and I'd double the oestrogen if I could!)
5000iu Vitamin D/K2 100mg in oil on advice of private uro-gynae
Magnesium glycinate
Probiotic on advice of GP
Collagen on recommendation of private orthopaedic surgeon
Omega 3

Plus fexofenadine x3 a day in GP advice and asthma treatment and gaviscon for the menopausal reflux (and not related to the supplements 😂)

Plus a shed load of protein in my diet plus high fibre.

I didn't realise there was anyone who DIDN'T take supplements!

I don't. I'm in my early 60s.

I've switched to decaf coffee & homemade wholemeal bread,, try to eat 30 different fruit & veg a week and eat a mix of meat, fish and veggie dishes. Running for aerobic exercise, karate for core strength.

It seems to have solved tiredness, colds and given me back glossy hair & strong nails.

Vaginal oestrogen would help more than pumpkin seeds oil.

Try plain magnesium glycinate. The triple has citrate in which is used for constipation.

Omg I had the worst doctors appointment of my life asking for this for this issue. I got treated like I was taking gobblydigook. I have to try again, Thankyou for reminding me.

We had a nutritionist come and talk to us at work about nutrition for the menopause, and she was very clear that there is little to no scientific evidence that most of these supplements actually do anything other than cost you money. She basically listed 4 actual vitamins that were worth taking, but emphasised only if you were deficient in them. One was Vit D (which most people should take, at least during the winter), then B12 I think, and then I forget the others (iron I think was one). She also pointed out that some supplements can be dangerous if you don't need them - iron for example can build up in your system and so should only be taken if advised by a doctor.

Vaginal oestrogen is so good for bladder issues. And is very safe (breast cancer patients can have it). I do also try and eat pumpkin seeds
as a double whammy.

Doctors really need to get up to date with this stuff.

I know how you feel, OP. I was with a group of women last week, mainly aged between 55-70 and they were all talking about collagen and turmeric.

I’m 65 and don’t take any supplements.