Hello all!
I've had a few health challenges over the last year or so, and have been trying to optimize my nutrition and absorbtion of nutrients. I'm also studying longevity and would like to extend my life as much as possible. Currently, I'm 29.

A little background, about 6-8 months ago my boyfriend and I got...something. My symptoms present as GERD-like, though I don't get heartburn. I have pustules/acne/ Acne scars/blackheads on the sides of my cheeks. We've both been seeing a naturopath and we feel immensely better, but are still suffering some. At least for myself, I am dealing with new food intolerances , I can't have gluten or coffee without extreme discomfort, and I do best (of course) staying away from all processed foods and also staying away from sugars. Really, I feel the best when I eat the least. I started this little adventure to health at 211 pounds, and right now I'm 175. I'm 5'7" and my goal is a HEALTHY 140 pounds. I wouldn't complain if I dropped lower than that, but that's the goal. The important part is being healthy, but I've been overweight my entire life. I know that I have badly stressed adrenals, leaky gut, probably estrogen dominant, and possibly candida.

Growing up, my parents had NO idea about nutrition. My vegetables were gross squishy frozen or canned peas, yellow wax beans, and corn, there was always fatty gross meat, and some kind of potato, and bread that was like foam, and all the cookies and cakes I could fill myself with. I shouldn't wonder that my parents have horrible health conditions my dad and his heart and colon, and my mom and her ridiculous morbid obesity and polyarteritis nodosa.

I eat mostly raw vegetables and fruits in that order, on Sundays I let myself cheat a little with my boyfreind's leftover PF Changs (gluten free), a little dark chocolate, or baked veggie chips with hummus. I also have a weakness for popcorn of the cheesy variety from this awesome place near where I work. My condiments are simple, gluten free soy, hummus, homemade guacamole, salsa, and I like mayo a lot but haven't had it for a long time, I'm going to see if there is one with good ingredients at the health food store the next time I go. When I eat, I take a digestive enzyme and betaine hcl.

My morning healthy beverage is 2oz ACV, 1oz liquid multivitamin, 1oz aloe juice, 1tsp powdered ginger, 1tsp powdered turmeric, .5tsp powdered cayenne, .5tsp vitamin c powder (about 2000mg), and 1scoop greens powder and enough water to make 32oz. For the pills I take with it, B complex, cod liver oil, digestive enzymes, ashwaganda, magnesium, calcium, glutamine, lysine, carnosine, carnitine, dmg, dmae, iodorol, dim, and probiotics.

Most days I'll make a drink later in the day with lemon juice, 2000mg vit c, and half a tsp of good Sea Salt , with a dash of potassium. Once in a while I add ginger to this, but usually not. During the day, in addition to these drinks I have at least 80 oz of filtered water. I usually also have a small cup of green tea.

What do you think? Do you see it as beneficial? Do you think I am absorbing the vitamins? Should I add or subtract anything? Should I try to put them on a schedule throughout the day?

On a side note, every once in a while my urine is very orange. I've read that some people who take lots of vitamin c or Iodine supplements get this reaction. I've had NO pain or burning.

On another side note, I'm planning on getting a VitaMix 5200 as soon as I possibly can, within the next month, any advice where I can get a deal?