It's Safe to Be Slender: Vitamin & Mineral Supplements

30 October 2010

I proclaim that it is indeed safe to be slender. I declare that I wish to lose weight the healthy way. Little by little, I am making life style changes that I can maintain long-term.

Starting on the 27th of August of 2010, I began taking vitamin and mineral supplements to help maintain my health. While getting chemo for breast cancer, the oncologist did not allow this as it would deplete the positive effects of the chemo. But after completing chemo treatments and having a double mastectomy on the 11th of August of 2010, I was declared to be in remission from breast cancer. In other words, there are no more cancer cells in my body.

As a result, it was now safe to start taking these health supplements to help my body and immunity level regain full strength.

Krill Oil vs. Cod Liver Oil vs. Fish Oil

Isabel De Los Rios of "The Diet Solution" strongly urges that people should take Krill Oil for weight loss. Knowing the value of Omega 3, I decided to follow at least that suggestion. I went to a vitamin shop in another city and found a number of brands. I settled on Krill Oil (1000 mg) from Mercola.com. Isabel suggested people should ideally take two caplets a day. I just took one as the capsules were rather expensive.

When that bottle emptied, I went to the Health Barn in my local area. The lady there felt that Krill Oil was not ideal. She suggested I take Cod Liver Oil instead. I bought a bottle of Rexall Norwegian Cod Liver Oil (415 mg) that states it helps promote bone, Immune, Eye, and Skin Health.

Tonight, I spent about three hours researching Krill Oil vs. Cod Liver Oil vs. Fish Oil. I almost made myself crazy. Some websites supported the idea of taking Fish Oil in the summer when people naturally get more exposure to sunlight and Cod Liver Oil in the winter months when Vitamin A and D are more necessary. Other websites warned that there is a danger of getting too much Vitamin A and D. Since I have to take Vitamin D with Calcium to counteract the low-dosage chemo tablet I will be taking for five years to prevent the onset of Osteoporosis, I wondered whether Cod Liver Oil in addition to the Multi-Vitamin I am taking might have me overdosing on Vitamin A and D. Some websites really pushed the benefits of Krill Oil. Others did not. Then should I decide to take Krill Oil rather than Cod Liver Oil or Fish Oil, then how do you choose among the huge number of options out there?

I will meet with a nutritionist soon and will ask for her expert advice. I will go back into this article and add the details of what I learn. I'll make a comment in the comment section when that happens so you can check back at that time.

I am leaning toward Enteric Coated Super Fish Oil from the Omega Store (http://tinyurl.com/29qd3yf) as the price is extra affordable and the nutrition label seems to far outweigh a bunch of the others that I saw.

Calories - 30
Calories from Fat - 30
Total Fat - 3 g (4%)
Saturated Fat - 0 g (0%)
Polyunsaturated Fat - 2 g (Daily value not established)
Monounsaturated Fat - 0 g (Daily value not established)
Cholesterol -
Fish Oil - 2800 mg (2.8 g) (Daily value not established)
EPA (Eicosapentaenoic Acid) - 1294 mg (Daily value not established)
DHA (Docosahexaenoic Acid) - 506 mg (Daily value not established)
Total Omega-3 Fatty Acids - 1800 mg (Daily value not established)

This particular brand claims that it is odorless and burp-free. It has also been purified to eliminate mercury.

Once again, I want to check with my nutritionist before I make a final choice.

Multi-Vitamin

I was taking one kind of multi-vitamin where the milligram count was not that high. When that bottle emptied, I decided to invest in One A Day Women's that supports bone and breast health.

The nutrition facts sound, to my ears, ideal:

Total Carbohydrates - Vitamin A - 2500 IU (50%)
Vitamin C - 60 mg (100%)
Vitamin D - 1000 IU (250%)
Vitamin E - 22.5 IU (75%)
Vitamin K - 25 mcg (31%)
Thiamin (B1) - 1.5 mg (100%)
Riboflavin (B2) - 1.7 mg (100%)
Niacin 0 10 mg (50%)
Vitamin B6 - 2 mg (100%)
Folic Acid - 400 mcg (100%)
Vitamin B12 - 6 mcg (100%)
Biotin - 30 mcg (10%)
Pantothenic Acid - 5 mg (50%)
Calcium (elemental) - 500 mg (50%)
Iron - 18 mg (100%)
Magnesium - 50 mg (13%)
Zinc - 15 mg (100%)
Selenium - 20 mcg (29%)
Copper - 2 mg (100%)
Manganese - 2 mg (100%)
Chromium - 120 mcg (100%)

Biotin & Rosemary Oil Promotes Hair Growth

Knowing that I went through chemo, you probably have guessed correctly that I lost all my hair. I gave 24 inches of hair to Locks of Love back in January of 2010. I had about four weeks of hair that was mid-neck length. Then, fifteen days after my first of 8 chemo sessions, the rest of the hair fell out. I went about town wearing either a cap or a scarf. When I did storytelling performances, I wore a wig.

The middle of October of 2010, my hair was finally long enough that I could stop wearing a scarf around town and a wig when I did storytelling performances. I was told at the beauty salon that Biotin is great to help hair grow in thicker and longer. It has seemed to help. I take Spring Valley Super Potency Biotin 5000 mcg or 5 mg that promotes skin, hair, and nail support.

I also use a shampoo kit I purchased at Sally's Beauty Supply that also is supposed to help Hair Re-growth.

Lastly, I learned that rubbing Rosemary Oil into the scalp also promotes hair growth. I purchased a body of the Rosemary Oil at Health Barn in Greeneville, Tennessee.

Other Supplements I take

* I take Cinnamon 1000 mg that provides Sugar Metabolism Support.

* I take Vitamin C 1000 mg with Rose Hips that supports Immune System Health.

* I was taking B-12 and D; however, the pharmacist indicated that I was getting plenty in the multi-vitamin I was taking.

* He did suggest that I continue to take Vitamin E as a separate supplement. I am taking one that is 400 IU that promotes Heart & Immune Health.

* To counteract the low-dosage chemo tablet that I will be taking for five years, I also take two Calcium pills with Vitamin D daily. The Calcium is 1200 mg. The Vitamin D is 1000 IU.

* Lastly, I take a Stool Softener to counteract a lot of the supplements I am taking.

Benefits of Vitamin D

I have learned from a doctor's wife and from reading the web that Vitamin D is reported to help keep people from getting the flu. The doctor's wife told me that her husband told all his patients to take a high milligram count of Vitamin D. None of his patients got the flu but all of his nurses did. Apparently, he did not tell them to do the same.

Since my husband does not want to get a flu shot, I have put him on Vitamin D. I am hoping that will help since he visits his mother in the nursing home daily. They seem to trade viruses in that environment. I wish him to remain immune.

Vitamins for Weight Loss

According to a nutritionist named Anne Collins of http://tinyurl.com/27k76fc, there are vitamins you can take that help with weight loss. She states "The most important vitamins and minerals for weight loss are: Vitamin B2, Vitamin B3, Vitamin B5, Vitamin B6, Choline (part of B-complex), Inositol (part of B-complex), and Vitamin C." Check out her website to read the details of how each of those are reported to help.

Looking at my Multi-Vitamin ingredient list, I was pleased to see that I am getting the following:

* Riboflavin (B2) - 1.7 mg (100%)
* Vitamin B6 - 2 mg (100%)
* Vitamin C - 60 mg (100%)

Unfortunately, I am not getting this group:

* Vitamin B3 - She states "Like B2, vitamin B3 is essential for normal thyroid hormone production. Vitamin B3 is also part of the glucose tolerance factor (GTF) which is released every time blood sugar rises."

* Vitamin B5 - She states "Any deficiency of Vitamin B5 interferes with our capacity to utilise fat. Vitamin B5 also plays an important role in energy production and assists adrenal function."

* Choline (part of B-complex) - She states "A member of the Vitamin B complex, choline is not a real vitamin as it is made in the liver. Choline is needed for efficient fat metabolism. Choline deficiency leads to fats becoming trapped in the liver."

* Inositol (part of B-complex) - She states "Like choline, inositol is a member of the vitamin B complex and is also manufactured inside the body. Inositol combines with choline to assist in fat metabolism."

I will have to check to see whether these are vitamins I can purchase separately at a store.

Minerals for Weight Loss

According to a nutritionist named Anne Collins of http://tinyurl.com/2bqhovm, there are also minerals you can take that help with weight loss. She indicated that several are helpful. She particularly recommended the addition of chromium, manganese, and zinc. Read her website to find out why.

Looking at my Multi-Vitamin ingredient list, I was pleased to see that I am getting all three:

Chromium - 120 mcg (100%)
Manganese - 2 mg (100%)
Zinc - 15 mg (100%)

In Conclusion

In conclusion, when I meet with the nutritionist, I will find out whether she feels like I should add or subtract any other vitamin and mineral supplements for the healthiest outcome possible. Naturally, I will share what I learn on this site.

My goals are to not only lose 60 pounds but to be healthy and whole for life.