morningstar
Cathlete
So, 6 months into my supplement experiment (here's a link to the thread from 6 months ago: http://www.thecathenation.com/forum/showthread.php?t=266704), I thought I would give an update. I stopped using some supplements (mostly, anything that I felt was useless, dangerous, too expensive, or had a mood-altering effect):
On the positive side: I have really found that my blood sugar has leveled out. I haven't had an incident of reactive hypoglycemia in months and that was one of my major issues. My PMS is much more manageable, and my cramps are much better too. I'm back on the coffee - that didn't last long! I have to say, my diet hasn't really gone to hell, but I eat an awful lot (way over maintenance level) and some of it (chocolate, I'm callin' you out!) isn't so great for me in the amounts I eat it in. That being said, for the last 6 months I have bounced around within the same 5 pounds, and I really think I should be gaining weight, all things considered. Most helpful for me, I think: L-Glutamine and L-Tyrosine for blood sugar issues and Milk Thistle for PMS issues. I think the ferrous gluconate increase has been really helpful as well.
On the negative side: my sleep has not improved at all, and may even be worse, as I rarely get more than 6 hours a night, and 5-5.5 hours is more usual. Somehow I manage to work out on even 4 hours a night sometimes, but it helps to not really know how little sleep I actually got!
- Zinc citrate
- Chromium
- Copper (stopped, but get it im my multi-vitamin/mineral)
- DHEA (stopped)
- Licorice Root capsules (stopped)
- Angelica capsules (Dong Quai)
- Grapefruit Seed Extract (stopped)
- Fish Oil Capsules
- Milk Thistle (silymarin)
- GLA (Evening Primrose Oil)
- Aloe Vera Juice (stopped)
- Flaxseed oil
- Calcium
- Magnesium
- Potassium
- Vitamin D3
- 5HTP (stopped)
- GABA (stopped)
- Taurine (stopped)
- L-Carnitine (stopped)
- L-Glutamine
- L-Tyrosine
- D-Phenylalanine (stopped)
- Iron (Ferrous Gluconate) (increased, due to doctor's advice, based on low iron tests)
- Vitamin C
- B-Complex:
- B1 (Thiamin)
- B3 (Niacinamide)
- B12
- Folic Acid
- B5 (Pantothenic Acid)
- Biotin
On the positive side: I have really found that my blood sugar has leveled out. I haven't had an incident of reactive hypoglycemia in months and that was one of my major issues. My PMS is much more manageable, and my cramps are much better too. I'm back on the coffee - that didn't last long! I have to say, my diet hasn't really gone to hell, but I eat an awful lot (way over maintenance level) and some of it (chocolate, I'm callin' you out!) isn't so great for me in the amounts I eat it in. That being said, for the last 6 months I have bounced around within the same 5 pounds, and I really think I should be gaining weight, all things considered. Most helpful for me, I think: L-Glutamine and L-Tyrosine for blood sugar issues and Milk Thistle for PMS issues. I think the ferrous gluconate increase has been really helpful as well.
On the negative side: my sleep has not improved at all, and may even be worse, as I rarely get more than 6 hours a night, and 5-5.5 hours is more usual. Somehow I manage to work out on even 4 hours a night sometimes, but it helps to not really know how little sleep I actually got!
