GNC sucker

I went to GNC to buy some psyllium, and walked out with that plus a mega multi vitamin, double strength fish oil capsules, and immune system booster thing. According to the fitday calculator, I am getting most of my daily vitamin requirements through my food.  They told me at the GNC that everyone's daily requirements are different, depending on gender, stress level, and a bunch of other factors.  I walked out with a lighter wallet and a spinning head.  How do I make sure I'm getting what I need - or not more than I need?   If that fish oil stuff gives me fishy burps, its getting returned for my 10 day money back guarantee - that's for sure!!! 

Have your doc run blood work to check your vitamin and protein levels.  Ask for a minimum of CBC, CMP, Iron Panel, Vitamin A, Thiamine, Folate, Vitamin B12, Vitamin D, Zinc and Selenium. Ask him/her if there any other tests that he would recommend. When the results come in speak with your actual doctor and not just his nurse. Ask that a copy be sent to you. Ask you doctor if he recommends any supplements if any of your levels are low or if he thinks supplementing may make you feel better overall. An example of a need to supplement would be if your HDL is low. You would need to supplement with Omega-3, ie fish oil pills. Typically it is enough to take a daily multi-vitamin. I take Centrum daily and am thinking about taking a fiber treatment since I don't get much fiber from my foods. There are 13 vitamins used in the human body. 4 are fat soluble and 9 are water soluble. You only need to worry about taking too many of the fat-soluble vitamins. (A, D, E, K) Excessive ADEKs will store up in your liver and can be detrimental to your health. If your diet is very low in fat then you may need to supplement with fat soluble vitamins.  Your doctor will tell you so if you do. Your body will expel most of the water-soluble vitamins that you cannot use.  For example, Vitamin C is taken in large doses when one becomes ill. The point of taking the large doses isn't to ramp up on vitamin C but rather to keep the levels at the highest possible amount so that the body can make use of the vitamin to product the required antibodies. If your urine is any other color besides yellow or clear then you are most likely expelling water soluble vitamins that you could not use. However, if you are taking massive amounts of vitamins your body may not have time to process them and that could cause problems. You shouldn't need anymore than a daily multi-vitamin. Your doctor can tell you more! :)

I just visited GNC last week as well.  Luckily they have a money back guarantee. It might be worth it for you to check with your dr. to see what he recommends for you.  If you haven't had bloodwork in awhile, he might check your levels to really give you a good idea on what you need.  Last fall I had to get a ton of bloodwork done pre-op for my VSG and I found out I was low on B12.  Now I supplement and am in the "normal" range, whatever that is.

the fish oil tabs prolly will give you burps, but ask about the buffered type - not supposed to do that to ya.  Those cost more, so i put up with the burps - it passes, doesn't bug me too much.  Yes, most people if eating like 1400 cals daily (no garbage like desserts, high salt high sat fat items, and chips, etc)  in a variety of foods are probably getting all they need. Under that, it is hard to do.  Kriz gave good advice - I also listened to my GYN - she is a great holistic thinking doc and named off certain things to make sure my multi includes.  GNC's women's pack has all the ones she cited!  Go to a bin store for the psyllium - much cheaper!