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Post by jacki on Feb 15, 2016 13:42:03 GMT
Is the use of "supplements" increasing in the equine world, and if so, is it a good thing? A few years ago, I began hearing a lot about glucosamine and such, and I thought the medical world seemed to be making great strides in alternative (non-drug) treatments for arthritis. Now, years later, there are full-length radio and TV shows devoted to supplement use. And one day I walked into a health food/"whole food" store, and the owner was putting pills into quart-sized ziploc bags. Each bag contained a colorful assortment of 30-50 pills. When I asked her what she was doing, she explained that each bag contained ONE DAY's supplements for her. So now I wonder "How much is too much?" I do not take any drugs on a routine basis, and the least dose possible when necessary, but I am in my 50's and wondering about the benefit of vitamins/supplements. I have not had good luck with them in the past - I was given vitamins specially designed for pregnancy, for the baby's health, but I couldn't take them because they made me so dizzy I would nearly pass out. What criteria is there for labeling something a "supplement" as opposed to a "vitamin" or "drug", and are there any studies as to their long-term effects?
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Post by rideanotherday on Feb 15, 2016 14:15:03 GMT
Is the use of "supplements" increasing in the equine world, and if so, is it a good thing? A few years ago, I began hearing a lot about glucosamine and such, and I thought the medical world seemed to be making great strides in alternative (non-drug) treatments for arthritis. Now, years later, there are full-length radio and TV shows devoted to supplement use. And one day I walked into a health food/"whole food" store, and the owner was putting pills into quart-sized ziploc bags. Each bag contained a colorful assortment of 30-50 pills. When I asked her what she was doing, she explained that each bag contained ONE DAY's supplements for her. So now I wonder "How much is too much?" I do not take any drugs on a routine basis, and the least dose possible when necessary, but I am in my 50's and wondering about the benefit of vitamins/supplements. I have not had good luck with them in the past - I was given vitamins specially designed for pregnancy, for the baby's health, but I couldn't take them because they made me so dizzy I would nearly pass out. What criteria is there for labeling something a "supplement" as opposed to a "vitamin" or "drug", and are there any studies as to their long-term effects?
The supplementation business is booming! Vitamins and drugs must undergo rigorous testing protocols under the guidance of the FDA. Not all supplements are making medical claims on the labels and do not fall under the same legalities. That said, the majority of the micronutrients (vitamins fall under that category) can be eaten in food, rather than pill form. Processed foods often lose nutritional value due to the heat of processing and replacement or fortification vitamins and minerals are added in excess to make it through processing or in a form that is not affected by processing. Sometimes the form that will make it through processing isn't "bio-available", which means that it can't be digested appropriately and absorbed. I find that most pill vitamins are little more than expensive wastes of time. You already have to eat, so why would you want to pay for a pill? Labeling for supplements, hell. That's a really long discussion. They have to be very careful about what and how they say what a supplement can do. Best thing is to do your research and talk to your doctor. Is there a particular supplement that you are interested in?
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Post by jacki on Feb 15, 2016 14:44:23 GMT
No, nothing in particular. In fact, I have always preferred to get my vitamins from food! Most of the women in my family take something daily for thyroid issues. My Mom took Synthroid daily for years (doesn't anymore), while my Aunt uses things like kelp (in pill form). I am feeling what I believe to be the onset of arthritis, and I watched my mother and several acquaintances develop diabetes from longterm use of cortisone injections. So far, I have decided to simply build up my pain tolerance; however, I figure some day I may want to try something for it - years down the road - and would prefer an alternative to drugs. At this point, I'm merely curious. We seem to be surrounded by "pushers" of these things. My husband had a blood clot the entire length of his leg several years ago and had to go on blood thinners (he's been off of them for a long time now, thankfully). When he first went in to the lab for a bloodtest to determine the thickness of his blood, they did not believe him when he told them he takes no medication or supplements of any kind. I found that eye-opening. Even our public schools are in the business of handing out fluoride tablets - I have always declined these, and I think subliminally they are teaching our kids that they can't be healthy unless they take some sort of pills each day. I'm not in favor of this "trend" and wondered if it is an issue in the horse world.
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Post by rideanotherday on Feb 15, 2016 15:14:58 GMT
I think people are over using supplementation for horses as well. Good nutrition is good nutrition though and most feeds are pretty solid. Feeding a horse well makes people feel good and I think there's something to "cupboard love". It is possible to over supplement.
Horses are typically over fed and under exercised.
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Post by rideanotherday on Feb 15, 2016 19:12:34 GMT
The other thing about taking vitamins in pill form - it's possible to over dose on the vitamins that are fat soluble. (A, D, E, K). The rest are water soluble and not as likely to over dose on as long as you intake enough water. It can be done through supplementation, though it's still not as easy. Usually you are just peeing your money out.
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Post by jacki on Feb 15, 2016 19:48:25 GMT
That could explain why the pregnancy vitamins made me so ill. Thanks for confirming my doubts about the efficacy of vitamins/supplements in the onslaught of sales and marketing in this area. For now, I will continue to eat healthy and exercise. Be well!
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Post by rideanotherday on Feb 15, 2016 20:09:19 GMT
That could explain why the pregnancy vitamins made me so ill. Thanks for confirming my doubts about the efficacy of vitamins/supplements in the onslaught of sales and marketing in this area. For now, I will continue to eat healthy and exercise. Be well!
Well, the majority of people are operating at least partially malnourished. And they are often still obese. Eating well typically provides enough nutrients to support pregnancy. They do like to have a mild overdose so that the baby isn't stealing from the mother. Most often it's calcium and magnesium that the baby has to resorb from the mother.
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