Life in the Land of Dreamy Dreams

I’ve been doing a bunch of research lately because I got tired of paying $100 a month for kickass vitamins from Dr. Weil. I’ve never actually read any of his books, but he has a generally trustworthy appeal for me- can’t really tell you why.  Maybe it’s just because he looks like a new agey Santa Claus. 

 So several years ago, on the recommendation of a friend, I took his little quiz about what issues I have and let them come up with vitamin compounds for me- little packets of pills to be taken at breakfast, lunch and before bedtime. It was like my own little nursing program. 

Stressed? He’s got you covered. PMS-y?On it. Low energy? Here’s some pep!

But…you know how it goes. I’m just like those people who go totally off the rails. They were fine on the meds, then decided they don’t need them anymore. Next thing you know arming yourself seems perfectly rational. Granted, PMS hardly stacks up to being bi-polar, but hyperbole is my weapon of choice. Thank god I’m not armed for real.

 Plus, let’s be honest- $1200+ a year seems like a whole bunch for supplements. So when my credit card expired, I let it go and started taking a single all-in-one vitamin.

Not really the same thing, it turns out. Weil goes on and on about why you’ve gotta watch the ingredients and how much time is spent making sure they’ve got top notch stuff. I kinda rolled my eyes a bit, but now I sort of get it.

 The differences in effectiveness can be really surprising. Take Omega-3. It’s a big fat deal for all kinds of issues, but primarily affects brain function and mood, areas where I’ll take any help I can get.  

So, okay, go buy yourself some fish oil and be done with it, right? Not quite. Almost all fish oil comes from farm raised fish. To fatten them up more quickly these fish are fed on grain, not on traditional fish-type foods like algae- and algae is what allows the fish to produce Omega-3.

So most fish oils (even those labelled Omega-3) have very little of the good stuff in ‘em. And to get the good stuff, you’re looking at a minimum of $20 a month just for this one supplement.

 So that’s one supplement reviewed. Only 46 more to research and source.

Suddenly resubscribing seems like the much more sensible idea.  

Trackback URI | Comments RSS