My Doctor and Supplements Today

[LadyD]

Hi Everyone,
I went in for a routine check up with my diet doctor and she had the nerve to tell me to stop taking my biotin, flaxseed and my other supplements. I asked her if something showed up in my blood work and she said no. She then wanted to know why I was taking this stuff in the first place and looked at me like I was a nut when I told her for hair growth. She says that's ridiculous and said a healthy diet provides everything you need. She thinks that one multi is enough. I tried to tell her that not only have I had more growth my hair is thicker now than it's ever been. She laughed like she was hearing the best joke ever.

My primary doctor has no problem with supplements and even suggests them for different things.

Should I chalk this up as a difference of opinion in doctors or do you think I should stop? I will be working with this women for the next 12 weeks but so far we are not off to a good start. Has anyone else ever had their doctor say anything about taking supplements?

 

[aileenadq]

If you have had good results and your primary care says it's ok, then continue. You said she's a "diet doctor". Do you mean a nutritionist? I know that a healthy diet may not provide all that you need. I for one annot process certain protiens, so no matter how much I eat, they pass through with little to no nutristional benefit.

Who is this diet doctor? Is she actually an MD? Is she trying to sell you stuff? I would be wary of anyone who deals in absolutes.

 

[Allandra]

If you have had good results and your primary care says it's ok, then continue. You said she's a "diet doctor". Do you mean a nutritionist? I know that a healthy diet may not provide all that you need. I for one annot process certain protiens, so no matter how much I eat, they pass through with little to no nutristional benefit.

Who is this diet doctor? Is she actually an MD? Is she trying to sell you stuff? I would be wary of anyone who deals in absolutes.

Very good point.

 

[LadyD]

Who is this diet doctor? Is she actually an MD? Is she trying to sell you stuff? I would be wary of anyone who deals in absolutes.

She is a regular MD. There is a nutritionist I have to see also but she is someone different. This doctor does your exam and helps with planning a diet for you. She also sees you every other week and does blood work to make sure your doing okay. This is a program through MMPC.

Thanks for your response. I am gonna continue to take them. All my bloodwork is fine and my primary doc has no problem with it. I just won't let this doctor know, I don't want to have to argue with her every week about it.

 

[*ElleB]

Maybe she needs to be educated on the benefits of taking supplements....Why would a diet doctor, of all people be against you getting your Omega-3s (from Flaxseed) Doesn't she know that we don't get enough in our diet? Doesn't she kow they are beneficial to heart health? Helps metabolism? Gets rid of bad fats?

 

[sweetcashew]

I was told by one of my girlfriends that her Doctor told her to stop taking supplements for hair growth. He said that after a time your body becomes dependent on it causing your growth to slow down dramatically if you ever stop using it.
I guess it's like how if you abuse laxatives, your body becomes dependent on it and won't know how to function without it.

 

[ubavka123]

Also, what kind of doctor would she be advising you about nutrition and supporting that you get all of your vitamins from pills? If she is really concerned about your nutrition, of course she is going to be a proponent of as much of your nutrients as possible coming from food, not supplements. All vitamins contain what foods contain naturally. Of course, if you can get the nutritional value from food, that is best. But in today's fast-paced society, we make little time for three squares. And of course, for those of us growing our hair, that is another story all together. I think her answer, from a professional perspective, makes a lot of sense. She is not the first or last doctor to support trying to get your vitamins from food. It's not such a bad idea (that is, if you are not trying to grow 1 inch of hair a month! ) She also can't be liable for giving you the okay to take 2,000% + of your RDA of biotin and other vitamins. She has to cover her butt, too, you know...Those guidelines are there for a reason. That being said, don't sweat it. Just keep doing what you are doing, but IMO a doctor cannot support taking large amounts of supplements for hair growth. Their concern is our health, not our beauty.

 

[PaperClip]

...after a time your body becomes dependent on it causing your growth to slow down dramatically if you ever stop using it.

This is how I understood the "overuse" of supplements as well....

 

[Isis]

Although it's just beginning to change, doctors are not trained in nutrition. I don't ask my doctors about any supplements I take, I go to a nutritionist for that.

 

[Candy_C]

doctors always use their own personal opinions in their work. It is merely their point of view, they are not you, and nopt your body...i dont deal with doctors..unles sits vital. reason being when i was 2 my mum KNEW i had asthma by my symptoms...the doctor said "no, shes just doing it for attention" (the wheezing)...yeh, my "my yearning for attention" made me end up in a machine helping me to breathe in childrens hospital...i had a fullon asthma attack and could've died!


doctors smoctors, i dont trust em. they are too quick to diagnose antibiotics for everything aswell!!!!!

 

[sunnyjohn]

Too may supplements CAN be dangerous for you and hurt your health.

I am always concerned when I see folks on LHCF taking lots of supplements. What most people on LHCF are taking are considered Mega doses. Some of the stuff we are taking can damage heart tissue, kidneys and the liver. In addition large doses screw with the % of vit/supplement actually absorbed by the body.

We may not see it that way, but Vitamins and supplements should be given their due respect and should be considered as potent as any drug. Mother Nature can help us, but if we don't respect her she can harm us.


After being on LHCF awhile, most folks tend to start eating better, watching their diet, cutting out junk, exercising and taking better care of their bodies. Adjust your supplements to coincide with this better life. I don't take nearly as big a does of my vits and supplements as when I first started, because I am in MUCH better shape physically and mentally. I've learned how to eat high value foods.

Whatever you see someone on here taking cut it and half and spread it out over 7 days. You'll get the same benefits without endangering your body. That's what I do. Make sure you multi-vitamin IS NOT duplicating your intake of single viatmins and supplements. That is the best way to enjoy the benefits without the harm.

 

[Tene]

doctors always use their own personal opinions in their work. It is merely their point of view, they are not you, and nopt your body...i dont deal with doctors..unles sits vital. reason being when i was 2 my mum KNEW i had asthma by my symptoms...the doctor said "no, shes just doing it for attention" (the wheezing)...yeh, my "my yearning for attention" made me end up in a machine helping me to breathe in childrens hospital...i had a fullon asthma attack and could've died!


doctors smoctors, i dont trust em. they are too quick to diagnose antibiotics for everything aswell!!!!!

I agree with this, I don't even bother going to doctors cause majority of them no nothing about proper nutrition or healthy eating. All they know how to do is prescribe medicine. I've also read that their rda recommended amount for vitamins isn't even enough.

 

[Gryphyn]

Too may supplements CAN be dangerous for you and hurt your health.

I am always concerned when I see folks on LHCF taking lots of supplements. What most people on LHCF are taking are considered Mega doses. Some of the stuff we are taking can damage heart tissue, kidneys and the liver. In addition large doses screw with the % of vit/supplement actually absorbed by the body.

We may not see it that way, but Vitamins and supplements should be given their due respect and should be considered as potent as any drug. Mother Nature can help us, but if we don't respect her she can harm us.


After being on LHCF awhile, most folks tend to start eating better, watching their diet, cutting out junk, exercising and taking better care of their bodies. Adjust your supplements to coincide with this better life. I don't take nearly as big a does of my vits and supplements as when I first started, because I am in MUCH better shape physically and mentally. I've learned how to eat high value foods.

Whatever you see someone on here taking cut it and half and spread it out over 7 days. You'll get the same benefits without endangering your body. That's what I do. Make sure you multi-vitamin IS NOT duplicating your intake of single viatmins and supplements. That is the best way to enjoy the benefits without the harm.

This is very good information. Thank you

 

[SleekandBouncy]

I've found that many doctors don't "believe" in vitamins, it's not too long ago that vitamins other than a multi was seen as the work of "wacko" vegetarians or alternative doctors. If you're regular MD says it's fine I don't see the problem.

 

[KiniKakes]

Too may supplements CAN be dangerous for you and hurt your health.

I am always concerned when I see folks on LHCF taking lots of supplements. What most people on LHCF are taking are considered Mega doses. Some of the stuff we are taking can damage heart tissue, kidneys and the liver. In addition large doses screw with the % of vit/supplement actually absorbed by the body.

That is scary.... but good to know. Thanx. Now correct me if I'm wrong, but doesnt our body naturally excrete (via our urine) any excess vitamins/supplements that we dont need in our system?

 

[SohoHair]

Our bodies can only flush out water soluble vitamins (like Vitamin C). Fat soluble vitamins (like Vitamins A and E) get stored in the fat in our liver and too much of can be toxic, or cause serious harm to your liver and other body tissue. I think vitaminis are like everything else in life, everything in moderation. Vitamins help our bodies, so taking some is good, taking none is not so good, and neither is taking too much.