Try a supplement with multivitamin
YOU DOCS | Weight gain may be coincidental, but calories could come from bacteria
Q. I want to start taking a multivitamin to be sure I get all the nutrients I need, but I'm hesitant because in the past, taking a multi increased my appetite and made me gain a lot of weight. Why might that have happened, and how I can avoid that this time around? -- Cindy
A. A handful of people have told us that this has happened to them. It hasn't been reported in the medical literature, so it's possible it's a coincidence. That said, it's also possible that your multivitamin is activating some of the bacteria in your gut in ways that make you metabolize food better and absorb more calories.
Getting all the nutrients you need is important. So when you try a multivitamin again, also try taking a probiotic supplement. There's a chance that these helpful bacteria could restore the balance among all the bacteria in your gut, keeping your digestion healthy and your weight intact.
Let us know if this works for you. If it does, great; if it doesn't, consider getting a doctor to check how much you need a multivitamin; he or she can measure several of your fat-soluble vitamin levels (such as vitamin D) and water-soluble ones (like B-12) to let you know how you're doing.
Q. What do the numbers in the triangles at the bottom of plastic bottles stand for, and which are safe to drink from? -- Jen
A. You're smarter than most health pros to be concerned about what you drink out of. And with plastic bottles, some of what you drink is the bottle. The numbers on the bottoms of plastic bottles are taken from the SPI Resin Identification Codes, which identify the type of plastic a product is made from and whether it can be recycled.
The numbers also tell you which reusable plastic bottles it's safe to drink from repeatedly. The best answer is numbers 2 and 4 (high-density polyethylene and low-density polyethylene, in case you're wondering).
Avoid reusing containers that have a number 7. Some of the 7s, though not all of them, contain a troublesome chemical called bisphenol-A(BPA). This chemical -- usually found in rigid, shatterproof plastics -- may act like an estrogen disruptor or even mimic the hormones in your body.
New research suggests that people who accumulate high levels of this chemical may be more vulnerable to cardiovascular disease and diabetes. That could spell trouble, especially for pregnant or soon-to-be-pregnant women (and maybe even sperm providers) and growing kids, who may develop early puberty, hyperactivity, immune-system problems and eventually even low sperm counts.
The research is a long way from proving that BPA causes these problems, but if you can drink from something else -- like glass or a reusable stainless-steel water bottle -- do it.
Q. If I take supplements to help build muscle, do I urinate out what I don't need? A trainer told me that the body can only assimilate so much and that taking extra protein or vitamins might just result in really expensive pee. True or not? -- Tim
A. It depends on what you're taking. In some cases, you may be flushing money down the drain. If you're taking large amounts of water-soluble vitamins, including B vitamins, your body will pee out what it does not need. A clue: Your urine may be darker than usual (it should be clear enough to read through). Bright yellow isn't a problem; it's often that way in the first pee after taking riboflavin.
If you're taking protein supplements, you also could be wasting money, though in this case because you're probably getting plenty through food. Regardless, your body will absorb almost all the excess, but anything that isn't used is converted to glucose and stored as fat. On the other hand, if you're taking amino acids, your body will use those to build stronger muscles if you take them right at the end of a resistance program. And you will eliminate the excess. Since most of these are inexpensive, your pee won't be worth sifting through or concentrating for gold.
A healthy diet and a solid, progressive weightlifting program (one that gets harder and changes the exercises over time) shouldn't leave you needing any supplements beyond the usual ones we recommend. That's basically a multivitamin plus omega-3 fatty acids. Go to RealAge.com for details on what your multi should contain and to make sure you're not missing out on anything.
Submit your questions at www. RealAge.com. Dr. Oz gives more advice in his podcast at suntimes.com.