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Why I Stopped Taking Multivitamins

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medicine-bottles

Update:  Experimentation and listening to your body is a good teacher.  Since writing this post, I have changed my viewpoint on this topic and I do take a quality multivitamin.  (2/6/2015)

I recently stopped taking multivitamins.  I took two, one multivitamin and one hair vitamin. Both vitamins combined were very high in folic acid and other things too.

The total amount of folic acid was 1600 mcg. I thought I was doing something good, but my body sent me a message saying otherwise.

Years ago I had a biopsy done in one of my breast to make sure that what the doctors were seeing and feeling was nothing serious.

The results came in and I was told that I had a cyst. I was informed that from time to time, I may have a little aching.  It was recommended that I take vitamin E or evening primrose.  I did neither, but I did change my diet and took better care of myself.

Since changing my diet, I have not had any problems. Let’s fast forward to a few weeks ago.I was taking my vitamins religiously, because I want to make sure I’m getting what I need. I also wanted to grow my hair fast. I took the vitamins for a 2-week period.

I noticed that after I started taking the vitamins that I started having some aching in my breast. I knew this was unusual.  The only thing I was doing different was taking new vitamins.

 The Big Discovery

Carolyn from CarolynAkens.com posted an article, titled, 10 Strategies for Preventing Breast Cancer. I learned that I should avoid folic acid in my supplements. I checked my vitamin label and sure enough, folic acid was there and I was taking a very high dosage.

I stopped taking the multivitamin and hair vitamin and believe it or not, the issue I was having is gone.

I now take chlorella and vitamin B-12. I take spirulina and flax oil with DHA occasionally.

I am sharing this personal information with you because I know it will help someone.

Dr. Furhman Warns Us

Do not take supplements with potentially toxic ingredients.

Dr. Furhman sends a critical message to women in America. Most prenatal vitamins and multivitamins may be doing more harm, than good.

Dr. Furhman is a board-certified family physician and nutritional researcher. He is the author of Eat to Live, which is a New York Times bestseller.

Dr. Furhman recommends the following:

  1. Do not take supplements that contain Folic Acid.
  2. Do not take supplements that contain Vitamin A or isolated Beta Carotene.
  3. Do not take supplements that contain Vitamin E.
  4. Do not take supplements that contain copper.

You can visit Dr. Furhman’s site to learn why he recommends avoiding the above vitamins.

It is best to get your vitamins and nutrients from the food you eat.  Be sure to investigate the source and the safety of the supplements that you take.

 Why Avoid Folic Acid, when Women are Encouraged to Take It?

When you learn that you are pregnant you want to make sure you get everything you need to have a healthy baby.

Folic acid is one that gets recommended a lot, because it helps prevent birth defects like, spina bifida.

Little do we know that folic acid may be doing more harm than good.

Dr. Furhman says, “Folate from food is protective, but folic acid supplementation is linked to cancer.”

There are studies that link folic acid supplementation to breast, prostate, and colorectal cancers, and certain sicknesses in children.

Final Thoughts

Always read the labels on the supplements that you take. I bought the vitamins, I was taking from a vitamin store, and I asked the associate if it was okay for me to take the multivitamin along with the hair vitamin and the associate said yes.

I know the associate probably thought I was crazy, because my body language said that, “I do not believe that.” I still had doubts about taking those two vitamins even after the associate said it was okay.

Read the labels, do your own research, and be an informed consumer.  Get most of your vitamins and minerals from the food you eat.

Good health is found in the food you eat;  not in a bottle!

Image courtesy of foto76 / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

 

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Anything from a tablet is simply not going to provide the health benefits from eating fresh fruits, vegetables and lean proteins including fresh fish. I remember reading a study and seeing a demonstration how 90% of the pill in a multivitamin is undigestable and just scrapes through the intestinal tract unprocessed anyway.

  2. Such an interesting story Evelyn!! I’ve started becoming skeptical about vitamins with all the new studies out. You definitely put something on my mind!

  3. Thank you so much for this post. I have been taking a multivitamin for a couple of months now and have been experiencing breast pain. I couldn’t figure out what it was. I had just recently had my check up prior to taking the vitamins, and everything was fine. I think I will lay off the vitamins for a while and see if that is the problem. I really appreciate the information. Again, thank you.

  4. Wow Sis, thank you so much for this info! I had heard awhile back that our bodies don’t really absorb these things that well anyway. Now hearing it again from you, I won’t be taking anymore and I’ll use that money on herbs.

    • Hey Msfullroller!

      Thanks for stopping by!

      Yeah, herbs is a good way to go. You got me thinking now, I’m glad you mentioned herbs.

      Have a great day, Sis!!

  5. Up until now I thought that these multivitamins just boost your body weight. I never imagined they are linked to cancer. Creepy.

  6. I’m glad you were listening to your body but now I’m wondering if I should stop taking folic acid. It was recommended by my endocrinologist, but I think she probably recommends it to everyone. I’m not feeling anything either way.

    • Hey Mitch!

      I think folic acid is something that is recommended a lot. I know it is highly recommended for women who plan on getting pregnant, to help prevent birth defects. Well, if you are not feeling it either way, then just keep an eye on it.

      Thanks for stopping by!

      EP

  7. That is so scary!! I know when I was pregnant with my 3 children I was encouraged to take folic acid and I did. It is so important that posts like this get out there spreading the word.
    I don’t know if krill oil has any negative health impacts. But I was taking a krill oil supplement that I was either allergic to or it was too powerful. My body hurt all over, like it was deep in my tissue. I couldn’t figure out what was causing it and actually thought it was linked to a spinal fluid leak that I experienced after my third child was born. I can’t tell you bad my body was hurting. Then I ran out of the krill oil supplement and within a few days my body started to feel better. Strange isn’t it?

  8. Evelyn, great post! Thank you for sharing this very important information. I pray people learn to become advocates for their health and stop believing all the medical mumbo jumbo that’s out there. You do so much to enlightened all of us. God bless you!

  9. Very enlightening information Evelyn. I’ve often wondered about the effects, possibly adverse, vitamins and certain supplements have on our body. Of course if taken in excess amounts, the risks are greater. After reading this, it goes to show how very careful we need to be and always do our research fully before diving into what is proclaimed to be so “healthy” for us. Thanks for the post. Have a great day.

    Tam