take one and call me sometime
I used to buy a bottle of vitamins once a year or so and then remember to take them bi-annually, letting them expire on the shelf, only to be tossed and restocked with “fresher” ones. The funny thing was, after each time I actually remembered to take one, I always felt a little proud, like, “yeah, I take vitamins, I took one a last February – this proves that I’m actively interested in my health.”
(actual type of vitamins I bought)
But I spose that is the issue: you don’t really notice what a vitamin does. For all its obvious benefits, that one pill may very well have done wonders for me. The last couple months (by moving the vitamin bottle out of the cabinet and onto the counter next to my toothbrush – amazing!) I have been actually taking one every night. But here I am, 60 pills later, and I am not sure if I am any healthier. When I take an aspirin, I know when it works because my head stops aching. Same thing with most medications that a doctor provides, anti-biotics for an infection, pain meds, sleeping pills, there is some measurable result, usually. The only thing different about me now is that I just bought my first a new bottle of vitamins before the old ones expired.
Is my B6 level higher? I think so, according to the bottle, I ingest 150% of my daily recommended value. Same figure for Vitamin E. Is 300% of B12 good? Seems excessive. I realize that each of these is good for me in general, but really, aside from what I am told by the wikipedia, how can I really tell? Each pill contains:
1 Tablet. Amount Per Serving: Vitamin A 3500IU, Vitamin C 90mg, Vitamin D 400IU, Vitamin E 45IU, Vitamin K 20mcg, Vitamin B-1 (Thiamin) 1.2mg, Vitamin B-2 (Riboflavin) 1.7mg, Niacin 16mg, Vitamin B-6 3mg, Folic Acid 400mcg, Vitamin B-12 18mcg, Biotin 30mcg, Pantothenic Acid 5mg, Calcium 210mg, Magnesium 120mg, Zinc 15mg, Selenium 105mcg, Copper 2mg, Manganese 2mg, Chromium 120mcg, Potassium 100mg, Lycopene 0.6mcg.
Vitamin C helps with immune systems, though (right?), so perhaps that is keeping me a little sharper during Swine Flu Days. But what about lycopene? 0.6mg of that. Only 3% of my potassium, sadly. 100% of Folic Acid. w00t! In truth, aside from the mental knowledge of my improved health, I don’t feel any different. I’m still tired all the time, I still grow a patchy beard when I try, and I still can’t see things far away without them looking a little fuzzy.
I’ll keep taking them though – they are right there, afterall. They aren’t hurting me and I prolly should keep doing it. We’re supposed to, right?