And which do you see the best benefits from and what are they & what brand do you use?
I'm currently using a daily coffee but wonder if I should up my armoury as the years build up, my diets a mix of healthy sometimes with too many shitty snacks.
None. I have to pop enough pills for heart, prostate, all that gubbins, so can't be bothered with any more. Have taken Wellman somethingorother before, but doesn't really seem to make a difference. If I feel a cold coming on it's a Berocca drink in the morning, which seems to work. My partner's a doc and she seems to believe in them and downs Magnesium, some Wellwoman -3-different-type jobs. I just need to sleep better, so if there's anything that could help with that I'd be in!
(ps. we're both over 60)
Vitamin D, fish oil, creatine.
Protein shakes after weights / cardio. Use Huel shakes as meal replacement rather than "shitty snacks".
Magnesium and glucosamine before bed.
Feel reasonably good most of the time, although just getting over a 2 month bout of flu / covid / "The Cat AIDS" / plague or whatever I've had.
Fish and chips
And occasionally vit d should probably take more
Nutritious balanced diet, lots of green leafy veg and oily fish. Predominantly hill venison (ethical reasons)
Practically no booze - small glass of wine, small glass of beer, odd dram.
Zero caffeine
I take Vit D and Glucosamine.
Can't say it makes much difference - I still ache and have gloomy outlook in winter!
Vit D (Scottish Highlands so it's a must really).
Vit C
Magnesium
Glucosamine - seems to help with my joints.
I don't think it matters which brand you use. Just look at the ingredients.
vitamin D - changed my life taking it. No more chronic fatigue and night sweats
Only 45 but have been feeling a bit glum and fatigued lately due to shitty weather (longest period without sun on record here in Aberdeen) and not being able to get out much so have just started taking Wellman Multivitamins. Too early to know if they're making a difference (day 3).
Daily 50+ multi vitamin and MSM, and sometimes a protein shake after a decent workout. Been doing it for a year. Feel great. No cold/flu this winter (touch wood!).
Was diagnosed with Vit D deficiency when I used to work night, never felt so bad. Two days on supps and a complete turnaround, been taking them ever since. Protein and glucosamine post-phys.
I packed in heavy alcohol intake at 62 and stopped completely, this had a welcome side effect on my diet. Although I did eat fairly healthily, breakfasts were often greasy affairs! Now I have fruit and bacteria laden yoghurt and actually look forward to it. I need to up my vitamin D but I do use a magnesium and glucosamine spray on an injured shoulder.
I do try and get vitamins and minerals through my diet, fibre intake is very important apparently so I’m concentrating on raising my intake.
Probiotic, creatine; high dose vit C, vit D, Berocca every few days. And a sauna and ice bath combo every couple of weeks.
And caffeine. Recent research shows caffeine is more effective than micro-dosing psylocibin for overall mental health effects; obviously it's about keeping it low enough to be able to actually sleep well!
Vitamin D. Found I was chronically low last year after breaking my pelvis. Bone density came back really good but a private test showed I vas seriously deficient. Also magnesium, good for sleep and restless legs. Turmeric for inflamation, beetroot extract for blood oxygen uptake and iron tablets.
I know when Ive not had magnesium. Sleep is bad.
Oh, yeah, I also only have cold showers now. Do the odd cold swim and a sauna too.
When I remember....
Vit D tablet
Zinc and vit c tablet
5g Creatine daily
Teaspoon of Flax seed (omega 3)
20g's worth of protein from a vegan protein powder in a smoothie or in porridge in the morning to boost my protein intake.
Veg 1 tablet (vegan society proprietary B12 plus other goodies daily tablet).
And along with my new prostate meds I use one of those 7 day doser tablet boxes. Filling it every Sunday evening makes me feel a little older every week.
That's on top of a pretty healthy vegan diet with very minimal ultra processed foods and 90+% cooked from scratch. My caffeine intake can get a bit much at times but my alcohol is at a steady pretty low level.
That delivery cyclists without lights thread made me smile - I reckon I've had about 5 takeaways in the last 20 years...they would all be out of business if more of the population ate like us.
As with others current list is,
Glucosamine
Vitamin D
High five multivitamin from Viridan.
Only take the Vitamin D from October until Easter.
I take Vit D year around. I've had 3 goes with malignant melanoma so I actively avoid the sun with hat / shirt / fact50 combo so it feels like the supplement makes up for it a bit.
Readily nothing. Although I occasionally have multivitamins daily for a few weeks, can’t say I notice much difference.
Nothing - I just eat properly. Seems to be working as part of my medical outputs a full blood test and I am not deficient in anything at all.
Probably a good idea to get a detailed blood test to see what you need to take rather than just taking whatever you are guessing may help you...
Along with the prostate and anxiety meds, I take the Wellman over 50 supplement (3 for 2 at Tesco), and feel that makes me feel "better" than other multi vits I've tried.
I will also sometimes have a protein drink after a hard ride or workout, especially if I know I won't get a chance to eat properly for an hour or so. Tesco often include them in meal deals so the actual cost is negligible.
I probably ought to try Vitamin D for my mood. Though at the moment I'm trying to ficus on cleaning up my diet a bit
Cod liver oil in winter for vitamin D.
Lamb's liver once per week for everything else, in addition to around 10 potions of veg/fruit per day.
For those of you having magnesium, is it just a tablet? Do you find it gives you a dicky stomach, or owt else?
Woke up the other night with the worst "not quite cramp, but couldn't get comfortable, cramp-like twitch" feeling, may be magnesium
Don't take anything as I've always had a suspicion a lot of it (like berocca) is snake oil unless there's a specific issue.
I've cut right back on processed carbs though and tried to sort diet out.
I need to start making vegan meals more as I feel guilty about the amount of animals I am now eating.
I take a Vegan Society VEG1 tablet daily and that's been it, however I'm trying creatine as it's generally animal sourced in a diet (when I had my old fogey's annual review my blood creatine was on the low edge of normal) and because it seems to have been very well studied & recommended. Creatine also seems to be becoming known for brain function benefits and my memory is shocking. I can't say though that I've noticed anything miraculous.
I'm on a shed load of medication following multiple heart attacks and was a bit worried about interactions, but our local pharmacist was more than happy with me trying creatine as it's manufactured by the body and occurs in food.
-- Edit --
I used to have banana with my breakfast cereal but something or other in amongst all my heart medication can cause high potassium (the afore mentioned annual review showed my potassium levels to be just a tad higher than the normal range).
I've swapped to fresh pineapple, partly because it's really tasty and a big juicy one that lasts me a week cost just £1 but also because of its enzyme bromelain. There's some research that suggests bromelain might break down plaque in arteries (and my coronary arteries aren't great), it's pretty speculative though and might do nothing at all. You can buy bromelain supplements but I can't really afford to many pills and potions.
berocca) is snake oil
Definitely not snake oil. Just an OD of vitamins. Piss a lot of it straight out, but I find it boosts immunity. Have far fewer sick days than the rest of the crowd in this office. Most of the other stuff mentioned is snake oil of course 😛
Magnesium I take is tablet form, from Nutrition Geeks. No tummy issues. Should take before bed to ease sleep.
I'm 66. I take a cheapo Berocca clone from Savers, Omega-3 derived from algae (I'm a vegetarian) and Vitamin D in the winter.
Creatine also seems to be becoming known for brain function benefits and my memory is shocking. I can't say though that I've noticed anything miraculous.
This is the main reason we take it now. My wife complains if menopause 'brain fog' and we thought it might help. Jury is out as it'll be pretty subtle (and you can't live your life twice to see how things would be progressing without it) but no ill effects and it's silly cheap so all good. I used it a bit back in my 20s when I was still a competitive type and used to attribute my shin splints to the creatine, but again - never 100% sure they were connected.
Cod liver oil plus vitamin D combo pill, breakfast is overnight oats or fruit n fibre, I try and eat oily fish a few times a week with veg for lunch, swapping with chicken or eggs and cheese salads, generally (but not always) healthy or at least not unhealthy dinner. One coffee in the morning, black or green tea throughout the day, lots of water. 52, drink far too much but have cut down, not really that active until I joined a gym last month, have lost a grand total of 5 pounds but I feel about ten times better. 🙂
I've been taking Wellman prostace tablets for a few years. All round multi vitamin but with a focus on lycopene etc. for prostate health. Didn't do much as I've recently had to have my prostate removed! I also take cod liver oil capsules. I have taken separate vitamin d tablets before but that's also in the Wellman tablets so I don't bother now.
Obviously eating a healthy, balanced diet is far better than supplements. I try and mostly succeed on that front. The pills are insurance.
Vit D and magnesium to metabolise it.
I work next to the window. Push myself on with caffeine. Addicted to nuts instead of biscuits.
Fish and chips
Oh yeah, plus pork pies as well.
I was getting bad leg cramps so started popping electrolytes in my water bottle. They've sorted the cramps and have had the side effect of making me sleep much better. It's so marked that if I forget the single afternoon dose I notice my sleep is less good.
Mrs has been taking some zinc sachets before bed and they do seem to help according to my Garmin. Dry january highlighted how much i use a couple of beers to tone down my internal dialogue when going to sleep so she gave me one of these ashwagandha tablets and it was goodnight Vienna! Magic stuff but figure anything that good can't be great for you so i've been keeping it for post exercise sleep.
Should probably start taking some more protein now i'm doing more sprint work, my legs are hanging off most days.
From the threads I've read most of the STW demographic seem to be keeping themselves going on blood pressure meds and happy pills.
Don't take anything as I've always had a suspicion a lot of it (like berocca) is snake oil unless there's a specific issue.
Everyone in the UK should take vit d in winter and in Scotland or at risk then year round. You actually need more Vit D if you are active. this is not just my opinion - this is the medical consensus and NICE advice
Not quite 50 yet but will be knocking on the door soon 🤣 Started taking creatine about a year ago and found it genuinely game changing.
Multi Vit
Vit D
Iron
Vit C + Zinc
Typically every two days.
Didn't know about Mg and Vit D, do eat most of list above regularly so hopefully getting enough.
But ONLY if you have suffcient magnesium in order to metabolise the xtra Vit D you're taking, otherwise you're wasting your time. So in foods that's dark green leafy veg, nuts and legumes, banana, oatmeal and dark choc. Or a supplement.
But be careful of taking Mg after eating as it will suppress stomach acid, potentially leading to poor digestion and other nutrient deficiencies.
Started taking Creatine back in the spring. As a long distance runner I have definitely noticed it has improved my endurance during the really long runs and it has also improved my recovery times. I take 3.5g a day.
I have recently started collagen as well to support my joints and muscles. Too early to tell if it has made any difference.
I'm only 48 but this is the stuff I take on top of a balanced healthy diet:
- Vitamin C
- Vitamin D
- Cod liver oil
- NMN
- Creatine
- B Vitamin effervescent drink (essentially Berrocca but cheaper)
I will occasionally have a protein shake after the gym.
I have heard from a couple of friends about a couple of mushroom supplements that they say really work but am yet to try them, Lions Mane and Turkey Tail
I think I must have been just about every vitamin/supplement out there with good and bad experiences
Magnesium and VitD I use both when I feel I need it, but from anywhere it's all the same in my opinion.
Glucosamine I didn't think it did much until I stopped taking it, again buy anywhere.
Collagen is really good for joints/bone/hair nails, based on sales when I did a promo this is very popular.
Creatine I use daily I use Warrior or Neutonic which is the nicest I have every tried I can sort discounts for both of these.
Any supplements in gummy form I found to be a bit rubbish also creatine in tablet form or at least the warrior ones as they are massive.
Turmeric has been good for inflammation I used it for tennis elbow and worked real quick, great as a when needed supp
Protein I use around longer rides and gym sessions, just find what you like and works for you some bars have made me feel like crap with bad stomach.
There is a brand called GetVits who do multi vitamin drinks which were really nice.
I'm hoping to test some protein water soon which might be interesting.....or really bad.
Creatine I use daily I use Warrior or Neutonic which is the nicest I have every tried I can sort discounts for both of these.
I’d be interested in a discount code and recommendation
I take some 50+ multi vitamins - Wellman at the moment. I think it's hard to say definitively what difference they're making, but they are a low effort intervention so I'm sticking with them.
An electrolyte pill. Vit D/K2. Everything else comes from beef and eggs. Never fitter!
71 years old. I take vit D but have a very healthy vegetarian diet thanks to my wonderful wife. To have reached my age and still be fit and healthy is something I am very grateful for and most of the credit goes to what I have and haven't eaten over the past 50 years
"Active", or active?
I'm relatively active (cycling, skiing, skydiving) and take a sport focussed one a day vitamin tablet (I think it has boosted Mg and some other stuff) to back up the coffee and the constant internalised hate. Other than that, I rely on eating a bunch of veg and fruit and drinking water before and during training.
Vit D in the winter plus a general multivitamin tablet. The Vit D has made a noticeable difference to my level of grumpiness. Minimal alcohol, a bit of caffeine and a reasonable diet. As much exercise and time outdoors as I can cope with.
At 51, until I bust my leg a few weeks ago, I'm as fit as I've ever been and the same weight as I was at 21.
I take much the same as the others here, but ive been on holiday for a month so had stopped, now i have a cold for the first time in a few years
And caffeine. Recent research shows caffeine is more effective than micro-dosing psylocibin for
Any links to this research plz?
A decent diet and virtually no highly processed food and a daily vitamin d supplement works for me, I'm 67 and not on any medication and only drink in moderation. I have been retired for 8 years and it does allow me to get a lot more exercise than if I was working
In order of what I perceive as most beneficial:
Healthy Diet - mainly cooked from scratch
Really cut down on alcohol
Multi- vitamin - really only for the vitamin D but they cost the same and the extra vits aren't going to do any harm
Omega oils
Protein shakes - 20g of protein - as much as an afternoon snack replacement as anything
Creatine 3/4g a day
Cod Liver Oil and Iron.
Katie Kookaburra has just done a YouTube video on supplements for cyclists. Can't link at the moment.
Vit D3&K2 liquid drops (allegedly better absorption rate than tablets), Magnesium Glycinate, Omega 3 capsules, Iodine / Selenium tabs. CoQ10 as my mitochondria are gubbed thanks to Fluoroquinolone damage. Recently started on Creatine and Collagen, which seem to be helping both fatigue and aches.
I'm still mid-40s... late-mid 40s... okay I'm late 40s.
Creatine, Omega 3 and Magnesium. I get them all from Nutrition Geeks, I don't know if 'posh' ones are better / worth the money over the normal supermarket stuff, but they make all sorts of claims which if nothing else give a placebo effect.
Creatine has helped me noticeably with recovery after rides etc, Omega 3 I've been taking for years and it has a mental as well as a physical benefit for me. The Magnesium, I'm not so sure on, it's supposedly to help with sleep, but I didn't feel any different, I'm just told none of us have enough.
Other than that, I stretch every day, I don't drink too much and do a bit of resistance training. I try to limit stress in my life. I try to eat well.
I may try some Vit D, I feels like I haven't seen the sky, let alone Sun for months and I feel pretty rough at the moment, could be that.
I'm way past caring about my 'beach body', I'm working to keep doing the things I want to do for as long as possible. I can still 'get away' with most things these days, couple of days riding in a row, late nights, long days in work etc, but at some point I know I'm going to suffer.
So many of my school mates are a wreck already. Poor diet, drinking daily to try to manage their stress, little or no physical activity.
An electrolyte pill. Vit D/K2. Everything else comes from beef and eggs. Never fitter!
No lamb chops?
During covid era started taking vit D, but now I'm just taking a general A-Z multivitamin, lidl own brand.
Thinking from the comments above should maybe be taking more Vit D, the multi's contain 5ug / 100% RDA.
What dose are folks above taking?
My current ones are 100ug - so 2000% RDA.
Helpful info about the requirement for magnesium to usefully use it above I didn't know. I 'think' my diet should be good for magnesium......but it might be worth adding that to my rattle tin too just in case.
I hadn't realised that Creatine was so popular. I assume folk are consuming it in powder form? If so, is is the sort of thing you could just sprinkle over muesli/oats etc?
is is the sort of thing you could just sprinkle over muesli/oats etc?
Yes but I find it easiest stirred into a drink
Creatine is a powder that you dissolve in water.
https://www.theguardian.com/wellness/2025/may/15/what-is-creatine-benefits-drawbacks
Mine is a powder. I just pop it in a small glass of water/juice/squash and swirl it around to get it in suspension and chug it down. Apparently better alongside food and to avoid caffeine around when you take it to help it absorb properly. I used to put it in my morning smoothie but learnt that's not a good idea unless you are going to drink it straight away as it starts to break down. I often don't drink my smoothie for a few hours so seemed like an own goal. Can't see why you couldn't just sprinkle it.
Lots! Mainly plant-based supplements following a prostate cancer diagnosis, the main ones being Salvestrol and Lycopene which have been shown to have positive benefits - my blood PSA has reduced to a level considered ‘normal’ for my age. I also take B, D, magnesium, zinc and milk thistle - haven’t had a cold, flu or COVID all winter despite numerous outbreaks and I work in a shop.
Cod Liver Oil and Iron.
Katie Kookaburra has just done a YouTube video on supplements for cyclists. Can't link at the moment.
Came to mention that, mainly because she had blood tests that identified what she was low in. Not sure whether Vit D, iron, testosterone get tested in the over 50s MOT, would be interested to get that sort of blood test done - preferably by someone not selling the resultant supplements.
... forgot to mention that I get annual blood tests from my GP - mainly to monitor for CVD due to family history, but I get the full monty of blood tests. I don't think they test for testosterone but given how easily I build strength and muscle I'm not sure it's an issue.
I'm actually thinking of paying for DEXA scan to see where I am in terms of visceral fat but mainly because I'm a massive sports science nerd
Also on creatine, a spoonful dissolved in first tea of the day. Not sure if it actually helps but the science seems solid. Nothing else. Wife randomly feeds me a multivitamin about once a month but our diet is generally pretty good with lots of varied fresh veg and fruit (but also a few too many crisps and pastries).
Can you purchase any tasty drinks that contain Creatine?
I've never seen any drinks with creatine, normally it's powder, gummies or tablets.
Can you purchase any tasty drinks that contain Creatine?
I doubt it. It starts to break down once dissolved and needs consuming quickly. once in solution.
To be honest, buying it as an expensive drink would be daft anyway - one of its benefits is how comparatively cheap it is - 3 months supply for a tenner kind of cheap.
Can you purchase any tasty drinks that contain Creatine?
Holland & Barret do some drinks but at £15 for ten servings (and what I'd consider undersized servings at 3g creatine a time) it is a non starter given you can stir some powder into a drink you actually like
Interesting thread.
We seem to be discovering a lot about the human gut biome which it seems to have a massive effect on our health & wellbeing can affect the body across all of its systems (including brain function I believe).
Fibre fuels the gut biome yet it turns out that according the the National Diet and Nutrition Survey, 96% of British people don't get anything like enough. This rather turns the perception of fibre from a boring stool softener into an essential macronutrient (and that's without taking into account the fact that it reduces instances of bowel cancer).
It's perhaps not as sexy as creatine but probably is something we should all be looking at (as a vegan who lives on nuts and beans I hope my intake is reasonable).
I seem to have picked up from somewhere that 30g a day is about where we should be aiming.
“Fibre fuels the gut biome yet it turns out that according the the National Diet and Nutrition Survey, 96% of British people don't get anything like enough. This rather turns the perception of fibre from a boring stool softener into an essential macronutrient (and that's without taking into account the fact that it reduces instances of bowel cancer).”
what absolute trot. Fibre is not a macro nutrient. Fat, protein, carbs and arguably alcohol. That’s it. Fibre is also nutritionally lacking and indigestible. However it’s very good at agitating your gut lining, intestinal tract, colon and ringpiece.
Cheers all interesting food for thought (pun) I'm gonna try a few months of an array of supplements from nutrition geeks and see what happens.
Don't take anything but have tried most things, more protein, Multivitamins, Vit D, Creatine (which just made me constantly thirsty) which made no difference I could see, luckily I'm very very rarely ill (had covid in 2021 but zero illness since) BUT am constantly tired at 49 and have stopped doing a few of the things I enjoy as often as a result hence the trying things to try and improve the situation.
what absolute trot. Fibre is not a macro nutrient. Fat, protein, carbs and arguably alcohol. That’s it. Fibre is also nutritionally lacking and indigestible. However it’s very good at agitating your gut lining, intestinal tract, colon and ringpiece.
'Fibre is not a macro nutrient. Fat, protein, carbs' - fibre is a carb, just an indigestible one.
'nutritionally lacking and indigestible' - yes that's the whole point you muppet. It is not absorbed by the digestion so it's there for the microorganisms in the gut to eat. Try googling 'secondary metabolites'.
'good at agitating your gut lining' - how can that possibly be true (in a normal healthy individual) when human beings have evolved to eat plants since time immemorial?!
Fibre is also nutritionally lacking and indigestible. However it’s very good at agitating your gut lining, intestinal tract, colon and ringpiece.
From the NHS:
There is strong evidence that eating plenty of fibre is associated with a lower risk of heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes and bowel cancer.
The study of the gut biome is in it's relative infancy but there is increasing evidence that it is an extremely important part of our immune system. It also seems, perhaps counterintuitively, that it affects our brain, mood and mental health. Even potentially things like Parkinson's disease. Fibre has been shown to be an important substrate on which beneficial gut bacteria thrive and there are new studies all the time suggesting it is vital for our health.
I know from your previous posts you are an avowed vegetable dodger with what many would consider an extreme diet. You eat what you want, but I'd rather base my consumption of fibre on scientific and medical consensus.
The medical co0nsensus is clear and lampchop has a faddy diet that is actively damaging his health. the evidence on fibre is clear.
The work on gut biome is very interesting
60 yr old here...had a few bits and piece removed (half the pancreas, gall bladder, duodenum..bit of stomach...cancer) so I struggle with some foodstuffs but try to eat healthily and it seems to be working well, 5 yrs down the line (wife to thank for the diet) and only take a multi Vit tablet (incl Vit D) Although living in SW France, I've never shown as deficient in vit d over the last few blood tests. I do try to increase my protein intake as I age...but avoiding the 'High in Protein' nonsense stuff that has similar lavels to the 'normal' stuff....(Sleep well, don't drink alcohol, training (pretty effectively I think) to ride LEJoG in 2 months)
Forgot to mention the gut biome thing, as that’s the primary reason for many of the supplements - predominantly eating a veggie diet these days with minimum saturated fats, dairy whilst avoiding HPFs and sugars. We’ve both lost a chunk of weight and do feel better for it,