What supplements do you take?

[BarbeyGirl]

...and why?

I don't take many supplements, as I prefer to get my nutrients in their natural form, from food. However, I do take:

- Fish oil, if I haven't eaten fish in a given day -- partly because I got it free from the MDA contest, and partly because I do eat a lot of conventional meat.

- Juice Plus+ (temp-controlled, dehydrated veggie & fruit capsules) -- because I believe in the benefits of fresh produce and since going low-carb, I don't eat as many as I did while flegan, though I still get 6-10 servings most days. This product has a lot of independent, peer-reviewed research to back its efficacy, and I figure it's a good way to get the nutrients without the sugar/carbs (yes, the sugar is removed).

- Living Flora probiotics -- just started on these a few days ago, to see whether I can detect benefits. (Have any of you guys noticed a difference with probiotics?)

- MSM -- to help reduce inflammation related to a chronic back problem, which has been much reduced thanks to strength training!

[tribecalledfit]

Hi, BarbeyGirl! I'll chime in here as I also use supplements. I cover the details my fish oil usage in the thread on that topic. In addition, though, most days I will take a multivitamin as well as CoQ10 and grapeseed/resveratrol. My own feeling is that a multivitamin may be overkill if you're getting a good Paleo (or even near-Paleo) diet, but I also feel that a good multi is a relatively cheap way of ensuring that my body receives good coverage across the range of nutrients known to be beneficial to our bodies. I may look back on the CoQ10 and resveratrol in a few years and wonder how I fell for that "fad" but honestly, for now, I'm convinced that our Neolithic environment requires additional supplementation (particularly in the form of anti-oxidants and anti-inflammatories) to help combat these strange toxins that quite frankly didn't exist in Paleo times.

[Tarlach]

None.

If you eat correctly, they aren't necessary.

[BMcD]

Although I take cod liver oil and sometimes high vitamin butter and vitamin D, I'm really torn on supplements. Tarlach is obviously right. But the life I choose to lead makes a 100% paleo diet/exercise/lifestyle difficult to pull off. So I supplement. Yet I have this sneaking suspicion that they're not really doing what I hoped they would.

[klcarbaugh]

I take vitamin D becasue I don't get enough sun and my blood levels are low.
I take krill oil becasue I don't eat all pastured animals.

If I lived somewhere warm and ate good quality animals I wouldn't supplement at all.

[BarbeyGirl]

None.

If you eat correctly, they aren't necessary.

I agree.

But I wouldn't call consuming CAFO meats and conventional veggies "eating right." :(

What do you say to the argument that these modern versions of food are lacking in nutrients due to inappropriate livestock feeds, depleted and chemically fertilized soils, etc?

Would you say supplementation is necessary (or, perhaps, an appropriate precaution) for those who are not eating wild/grass fed meats and/or wild/organic plants?

I should note that I'm speaking of natural supplements only. Those synthetic things scare me, and it only makes sense that, if I'm going to supplement, it should be with concentrated foods (JP+, fish oil) rather than isolated vitamins. The synergy thing, you know.

[Posy]

None, I don’t take anything.
I think it’s processed foods that can cause either a depletion or even an over absorption of nutrients. That might give the impression supplements are required. Maybe they are if a person can’t eat well, but I still doubt sups are a replacement (or fix) for how the body actually deals and reacts to processed foods.
So personally I think it’s more important to lose the processed foods first and forget sups in most cases. Even if the more optimal meats etc aren’t an option right away for what ever reason.