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First of all, why do you need vitamins or supplements? Because modern humans get less of the vitamins and minerals needed from foods and because other lifestyle factors such as stress, lack of exercise, sleep deprivation take a big toll on our bodies. However, current Recommended Daily Allowance (RDA) are outdated and do not reflect new research that shows the difference between just preventing a deficiency (i.e. Vitamin C to prevent scurvy) and providing enough for optimal health.
Here are a couple of recommendations by Mark Hyman, MD to consider:
1. When buying supplements make sure to choose a brand that delivers more than the RDA for each nutrient, but stay away from megadoses unless you are trying to get over a cold and you need to take a high dosage of Vitamin C for example. Megadoses of certain supplements or vitamins could create metabolic imbalances in the body.
2. If you are worried about deficiencies, consult a nutritionist, physician or Wellness Consultant
3. Avoid products that contain dicalcium phosphate, magnesium stearate, and extra ingredients like artificial colors, sugars. Instead, look for the safer compounds:cellulose, silicon dioxide, titanium dioxide and magnesium citrate.
4. More is not always better and cheap or expensive will depend on whether the supplement is synthetic or isolated from natural sources. Nutrients delivered in their truly natural whole food form are the most expensive.
There are so many choices and reasons for taking vitamins and supplements, keep the above suggestions in mind next time you head to the health food store to get your supply. Here are a couple of companies I personally trust: New Chapter, Carlson Labs, Solgar, Garden of Life, Jarrows.
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I really feel that the idea that we need to take supplements is a bit wrong and misleading. If you have a very healthy diet which includes all the important nutrients, you don't need vitamins and I think that anyone can have a healthy diet if they try a little. Also, most vitamins need fat or other ingredients for absorption which the average person doesn't even know about. Many naturopath doctors do not agree with the taking of supplements.
February 13, 2009 - 4:28pmI don't take any and am very healthy. I believe that it's all about boosting the immune system. I eat a lot of fruit; berries in particular, vegetables; green and purple in particular, eat lots of wild salmon, other healthy fish, soy, barley and other healthy grains, nuts, etc.. and avoid "non life giving foods" like sugars, overly processed foods, too much juice, meat and dairy. With a healthy immune system, you fight disease.
I just feel that the whole vitamin market is a bit of a money making machine. Perhaps I'm wrong, but a healthy, natural diet works best for me!
This Comment
Thank you for your list of companies that you trust, it very, very helpful, especially since these products are not regulated.
February 12, 2009 - 2:44pmThis Comment