vitamin absorption question

[diane]

I hope one of the educated crowd can help me! I went into a Natural health/chiropratic doctor today for a gem med test. (a test to give you your resting metabolism) The doctor also performed a Biopedance analysis-- I think it is something similar to that scale that tells your body composition.

Well, after looking at the numbers of the biopedance, this doctor has me hold my arm out why he pushes down on it, while touching various parts of my body (like acupunture points) THEN he opens a bottle of vitamin b5 and b6 and has me suck on them because he thinks I have a problem absorbing them. I think he was just trying to sell me these expensive vitamins. Also I had been fasting for 12 hours and I know I was dehydrated so the results of the Biopendance test would of been wrong.

I have been taking b vitamins for a long time---but not expensive ones. How would I know if I was absorbing these bs for all these years? He seems to really believe I have a problem. I was considering buying some more expensive brands but I do not want to spend a fortune. Any suggestions on brands and your opinions on vitamin absorption, if I should buy liquid (which I am afraid will taste horrible) would be greatly appreciated.

Sorry if this is a little long winded!
Diane

 

[Debra L]

They're both widespread in foods & we absorb nutrients from food better than we absorb supplements. Is there something special about your diet that you wouldn't be getting the nutrients in your diet? And if there is a reason you're not aborbing the nutrients, taking more of them wouldn't solve the absorption issue would it?

I'm a natural skeptic so take my comments with a grain of salt.

Debra

 

[diane]

>They're both widespread in foods & we absorb nutrients from
>food better than we absorb supplements. Is there something
>special about your diet that you wouldn't be getting the
>nutrients in your diet? And if there is a reason you're not
>aborbing the nutrients, taking more of them wouldn't solve the
>absorption issue would it?
>
>I'm a natural skeptic so take my comments with a grain of
>salt.
>
>Debra

Debra I thought the same thing---if I have a problem absorbing vitamin b, what is so special about his that I will absorb it? Of course I didn't think of this until I purchased the 18.00 bottle of vitamins bs. I am supposed to track my temperature for 10 days and then go back. I do not plan on going back. He will probably just try to get me to buy more of his vitamins. I will research which foods are high in b's . That makes alot more sense!

Thanks! Diane

 

[hounddogs]

Diane:
If your chiro has any kind of bedside manner at all, he should have explained what he was doing. It sounds to me like he was using muscle testing or applied kinesiology to find weaknesses in your body. That is a proven and scientific method used by lots of chiros. It seems a little hocus pocus, I admit, but it does work.
As far as absorption goes, some sources of nutrients are easier for the body to absorb than others. For example, I've read that calcium carbonate is harder to absorb than calcium citrate. He should also have explained why he wanted you to use the expensive B's and why those you already get in your diet are not being absorbed. I'd have come away very skeptical from that appointment too, and you have a right to demand a decent explanation.
I think it's possible that what he was trying to tell you was true, but that he failed to back up his argument. I don't blame you for not wanting to go back, but at least call him and let him know why. Good luck.
--Ann

 

[diane]

>Diane:
>If your chiro has any kind of bedside manner at all, he should
>have explained what he was doing. It sounds to me like he was
>using muscle testing or applied kinesiology to find weaknesses
>in your body. That is a proven and scientific method used by
>lots of chiros. It seems a little hocus pocus, I admit, but it
>does work.
>As far as absorption goes, some sources of nutrients are
>easier for the body to absorb than others. For example, I've
>read that calcium carbonate is harder to absorb than calcium
>citrate. He should also have explained why he wanted you to
>use the expensive B's and why those you already get in your
>diet are not being absorbed. I'd have come away very skeptical
>from that appointment too, and you have a right to demand a
>decent explanation.
>I think it's possible that what he was trying to tell you was
>true, but that he failed to back up his argument. I don't
>blame you for not wanting to go back, but at least call him
>and let him know why. Good luck.
>--Ann

Ann
Thanks for the great info. The arm thing did seem a little hocus pocus---but I have never been to a chiropractor or natural doctor in my life. I thought the Doctor was nice--but he didn't explain alot to me. And it went very fast. I have not decided if I will go back-
Thanks! Diane

 

[misty]

I started taking liquid vitamins about a year ago. I had always taken everything in capsule or pill form. Once i started the liquid vitamins I immediately seen and felt a difference. My body just wasn't absorbing the vitamins until I started taking the liquid form. I now take liquid vitamins, liquid calcium and liquid glucosamine. I took all these in pill form and noticed absolutely no changes in years but as soon as i started the liquid form I immediately noticed a difference in my energy, my immune system was better, my skin was healthier my joints were no longer achy with the liquid glucosamine. As we get older our bodies just don't absorb things as well. I am 32 and at around 29 my body just didn't want to absorb the pills any longer I didn't realize this until i just didn't feel well anymore and couldn't understand why when i was taking all my vitamins (pill form) like i should and still i was getting worse. I recommend liquid vitamins 100% because of all the great luck I have had. I personally use truwell liquid vitamins because they are what work for me. I mix 2 tablespoons of liquid vitamins with 1/2 cup water and it has an orangey taste. Not bad too me at all. Hope this helps.

 

[cjbate]

Regarding liquid vitamins, I recently went to a nutritional clinic where the homeopathic RD teaching the class said that vitamins and nutrients are absorbed in our intestines NOT in the stomach. Stomach is a mixer, not an absorber. Everything is liquid by the time it gets to the intestines so it does not matter if the vitamins are liquid or not in their original form.

I believe in taking quality supplements, so I wouldn't necessarily think just because they are expensive they are not worth it, very often you get what you pay for (IMHO)...however I'd definitely ask for some more info, sounds like. It's your body!

Best,
Jen

 

[cjbate]

Oh yeah, one more thing from the old memorybanks on Vitamin B. Lots of stuff can deplete you from Vitamin B...including being on the pill, and being stressed....there are more but I can't remember!!

Jen

 

[misty]

Everything isn't always liquid when it hits your intestines if you have health problems such as colitis or crohns or such. Or your body just isn't functioning as well as you get older. Your body doesn't always break down pills ect for you to absorb and when you get older this does happen. That is why liquid vitamins work so well with people. Some people have actually had pills come out exactly the way they went in. No digestion what so ever.

I was lacking B vitamins and stress was one of the major causes. Pills couldn't help me.

I think get more information from your doctor. You can always be lacking nutrients even though you take pills.

 

[cjbate]

Wow...pills that come out the same way they went in! That's terrible. Come to think of it, I think she also mentioned that you should test pill supplements you take by putting them in apple cider vinegar (the same ph as stomach acid) for 15 minutes and make sure they dissolve. That sort of goes along with what you are saying.

 

[diane]

Thanks for all the great advice! I have been taking the new B's that the Dr. gave me and I do feel a little better. I am taking 3 in the morning and 3 in the afternoon. I will test the old Bs in cider vinegar just out of curiosity though!
Again Thanks
Diane