Written by Dr. Michael KayennOne of my patients told me that every morning he takes his multi-vitamin, a B complex, vitamin C, CO Q 10, some enzymes and then washes down fish oil with a hemp shake.nnCan you guess his primary complaint?nnHe says, “Doc, my stomach hurts every morning.”nnI reply, “Well, don’t you think it’s possible that taking all those supplements is causing the problem?”nnThe patient replies, “Well, I’m told I need all these vitamins to be healthy.”nnAnd herein lies the problem. He really wasn’t “told” at all. Neither his doctor, nor a nutritionist, nor even his personal trainer told him to take these vitamins and supplements. He saw commercials and read advertisements espousing the benefits of the latest and greatest supplement for ________ (fill in the blank). He’s taking a supplement for his eyes as he is older, a vitamin for his heart, a vitamin for his prostate, enzymes for digestion, etc., etc.nnThere is always the question of what vitamins are the right ones to take. Your current health status, future health goals, and genetic predisposition should be considered when deciding which supplements and vitamins you should be ingesting.nnThe proper way to determine the type of supplements needed is to have an evaluation with your doctor (if he/she has a background in nutrition) and/or consultation with a certified nutritionist. Before I recommend any supplement or vitamin, I perform blood work to assess vitamin B12/folic acid, vitamin D, and iron levels as well as C-reactive protein and sedimentation rate (blood markers to assess underlying inflammation). Other blood work may also be indicated by the patient’s complaints and relevant family history.nnSince certain vitamins and supplements may increase or decrease the potency of your medication, it is important for you to share your medication list with your doctor or nutritionist.nnOften my patients tell me they heard or read that there is no need to take any vitamins or supplements because eating the right foods provides all the nutrients we need. The problem with that argument, unfortunately, is that most of America does not eat properly. The rates of adult and childhood obesity and diabetes continue to rise each year. The majority of our food is processed and most fruits and vegetables are loaded with pesticides (unless you buy 100% organic or grow the fruits and vegetables yourself).nnTaking vitamins/supplements is akin to investing in a small insurance policy. You are just covering yourself (your health needs) by taking vitamins and supplements. nnSometimes patients report that they don’t feel their vitamins are working. When this problem occurs, I ask the patient to stop taking the supplements for one month to assess how he/she feels. Quite often the patient reports a loss of energy within a couple of weeks and usually returns to taking vitamins.nnNow you are probably thinking, “Okay, I’ll consider taking vitamins, but there are so many companies that sell vitamins. Which company is the best?”nnTwo of the most important things you need to know about a vitamin company are how they process the vitamin and where they purchase their ingredients. Look for companies that offer high grade ingredients. To learn more about vitamin and supplement companies, I suggest that you view
www.consumerlab.com .nnYou want to purchase a vitamin or supplement that does not have a lot of inactive ingredients. Inactive ingredients are those used as fillers and/or to provide longer shelf life, hold the vitamin together, decrease smell, etc. Look for a vitamin made with whole food extracts (natural) rather than one that has synthetic (man-made) ingredients. The most important aspect of the vitamin is the absorption rate, i.e. how well the vitamin is digested. A vitamin made with synthetic ingredients and fillers may have a lower rate of digestion and therefore is not as effective.nnLast and most important, avoid the “snake oil” salesperson. If you are watching a commercial or reading an advertisement about a supplement or vitamin that can “do it all”, avoid it at all cost. There is no supplement or vitamin that can help you with all your symptoms.nnIt’s important to learn all you can about the benefits of taking vitamins and supplements. It’s even more important to receive the right guidance to choose those that will meet your unique needs.nnTo Your Health!nnDr. Michael J. Kaye is a life coach and chiropractic physician with a sub-specialty in musculo-skeletal rehabilitation practicing in Bucks County, Pennsylvania. You may contact Dr. Kaye at:
http://www.drmichaelkaye.com