Hello all: maybe this will revive this interesting and useful thread. I am a holistic doctor and rely on supplements a great deal in my practice over the past 16 years. Generally, vitamins don't work quickly, as for instance in your example of calcium and nails. For one thing, nails grow slowly anyway. Another consideration is that your nails require much more than just calcium: they are mostly protein, and your body requires many nutrients to properly make keratin, the protein in skin, hair, and nails.
The vitamin D examples are interesting, because Vitamin D can work incredibly quickly. What is amazing about Vitamin D is that it is much more like a hormone than it is like a vitamin. And if your level is below 20, you're better off taking a larger amount than 1000 mg / day. Vitamin D toxicity is almost unheard of, so if you only take it for a month or two, you're unlikely to get even close to a dangerous level.
Another thing about Vitamin D: people with dark skin do not make it very efficiently when they are in the sun. So african-american and south indian and other dark-skinned people, especially those who live in cloudy climates or places with a long winter are much more likely to require Vitamin D supplements.
One of the most useful supplements, magnesium, which is a mineral, can take many months or years to have its effects when taken as a supplement, though I've seen people respond to it quickly.
Dietary supplements and vitamins are useful, despite all the misinformation that has been in the news lately. They certainly don't make food and proper diet any less important. And neither do they work rapidly like drugs do.
Best of Health
Dr. Daniel Heller
www.pmscomfort.com
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Hello all: maybe this will revive this interesting and useful thread. I am a holistic doctor and rely on supplements a great deal in my practice over the past 16 years. Generally, vitamins don't work quickly, as for instance in your example of calcium and nails. For one thing, nails grow slowly anyway. Another consideration is that your nails require much more than just calcium: they are mostly protein, and your body requires many nutrients to properly make keratin, the protein in skin, hair, and nails.
October 26, 2011 - 3:03pmThe vitamin D examples are interesting, because Vitamin D can work incredibly quickly. What is amazing about Vitamin D is that it is much more like a hormone than it is like a vitamin. And if your level is below 20, you're better off taking a larger amount than 1000 mg / day. Vitamin D toxicity is almost unheard of, so if you only take it for a month or two, you're unlikely to get even close to a dangerous level.
Another thing about Vitamin D: people with dark skin do not make it very efficiently when they are in the sun. So african-american and south indian and other dark-skinned people, especially those who live in cloudy climates or places with a long winter are much more likely to require Vitamin D supplements.
One of the most useful supplements, magnesium, which is a mineral, can take many months or years to have its effects when taken as a supplement, though I've seen people respond to it quickly.
Dietary supplements and vitamins are useful, despite all the misinformation that has been in the news lately. They certainly don't make food and proper diet any less important. And neither do they work rapidly like drugs do.
Best of Health
Dr. Daniel Heller
www.pmscomfort.com
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