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’m 59 and just take multivitamins. Do any of these companies run actual tests? Are there any studies that prove these things work? Maybe it’s a placebo effect?
I’m vegetarian and my diet is shocking. I just eat whatever I fancy and it’s normally junk food and I’m always tired and no energy, so if there’s some proof any of this stuff works then I’m up for it

Is there iron in the multivitamins? So taking iron on top does it not make you feel sick?

Not read whole thread but my friends are like this too (late 40s / early 50s).

I cannot relate. I only take vit D.

lately I’ve been so bone tired over the weekend I decided to start taking magnesium.

Took one with dinner last night and have had upset stomach since. Nothing agrees with my gut!

I think the iron in the multi is quite low. But no, I don't have any side effects at all.

I take Vit D with K all winter, calcium and high iron as been extremely unwell with anaemia in the past. Also collagen, creatine (in the gym 3 times a week) omega 3's, also on green tea capsules, milk thistle and NAC. Oh on plant sterols too (high cholesterol, will stop if it reduces). No idea if any of it works (apart from the iron which definitely does). It's an insurance policy for me really..I'm late 50's.

You may have taken the wrong form. Glycinate helps with sleep, citrate treats constipation...

I’m not

I couldn’t take anything that was a powder and mixed into food or drink, boak

I’m 63 and don’t take anything, not sure what I’m missing, if I ever had to visit a doctor they might tell me! Hoping that genetics will help, my mum got to 97….

Agree - but also you can't get out in the sunshine when there is none, or it's too weak to do anything.

Genetics won’t magically make you create vitamin D in the winter months.

If you don’t supplement you will
be deficient.

In most cases (normal diet, no significant health issues) all it adds up to is expensive wee!

Creatine has a good evidence base in the context of training (zero good evidence of day to day benefits)

Collagen is a scam-A bit of extra protein won’t hurt but expecting collagen (which your body breaks down in to amino acids like any other protein) to find your face more quickly than an egg does is unreasonable.

This is an excellent podcast on this topic-

https://www.prescriptionstrength.co.uk/podcast/

Creatine magnesium and 7 mushroom blend have measurable effect on me. I can tell if I don't take them

Vitamin d and a multivitamin, otherwise I get mouth ulcers I only have to miss a few days Have taken this combo for many years I'm 48, not sure what it is but it works for me

50, take creatine and wouldn’t be without it.
also magnesium which has stopped me waking up 20 times a night.

Good for you! I've had issues across time and I find supplements treat them well. I suspect I'm a lot older than you.

Agree.
Glycinate for the sleepy win!

I take vitamin e and ferritin. Both are on medical advice.

Biotin only works if you're biotin deficient and there's no evidence that collagen does anything that dietary collagen doesn't

What’s wrong with creatine? I haven’t seen any negative research.

i looked into collagen but was uncertain about it
where do you get it naturally?

Yep, citrate is a potent osmotic laxative. Great if you're bunged-up, not so great if you're after a refreshing night's sleep.

creatine definitely has side effects i dont like the look of

I don’t because they interfere with the prescription medication I’m on and almost always give me the 💩

What are you concerned about in particular?

I take pills. I tried it in powder form, but it is the most disgusting stuff I've ever consumed.