So What About Vitamins And Supplements?

Beverly Hills Nasal and Facial Cosmetic Surgeon
Beverly Hills Nasal and Facial Cosmetic Surgeon -

“… it is impossible to obtain all the nutrients needed in our daily food intake today.”

- Journal of the American Medical Association, October 2002 (from Dr. Mindell’s NEW VITAMIN BIBLE)

This is a subject for which there is never universal agreement. I have been studying this issue for several reasons. I am convinced that nearly every American’s diet is not optimal and that supplements and vitamins are indicated. Many meals are prepared outside the home where less attention is given to nutrition than to taste. Also, as an MD, I am interested in learning what changes in body function and appearance might be enhanced by the ingestion of vitamins and supplements. Do these help us feel better? Have more vitality? Prevent illness? Increase longevity?
Certainly, one could fashion the “perfect diet” to provide all of the standard nutrients, vitamins and minerals that are considered desirable. But for nearly everyone, it is a pipedream. How many of us are ingesting five to nine servings of fruits and vegetables per day?
Below is a list of some of the vitamins and nutrients which deserve your attention. It is not meant to be exhaustive. Perhaps this Tip will stimulate your thinking and investigation and hence I have listed some excellent sources of more information at the bottom. Consult your physician or nutritionist for your particular needs and concerns.
Here is a list of the more commonly needed vitamins, minerals and supplements and the rationale for taking them:

1. Fish oil. Generally effective in lowering cholesterol and triglycerides.
2. Calcium citrate. Important to prevent osteoporosis. Most of us do not get enough calcium. Dairy foods are not the richest source, and how much spinach and kale can you ingest?
3. Vitamin D. Low vitamin D levels have been associated with increased risk of certain malignancies, including pancreatic cancer. If you live in parts of the country where climate prevents adequate year-round sunlight exposure, taking extra D may make sense.
4. Magnesium. An important mineral for a healthy heart and may aid in fighting depression.
5. Green tea. Green tea may be very helpful as an antioxidant. It is believed that antioxidants help retard the proliferation of malignant cells.
6. Pomegranate extract. There is some suggestion that, for men, pomegranate juice or extract may be helpful in reducing the chance of prostate cancer.
7. Vitamin C. While never proven to be specifically anti-cancer, it may be helpful, even in terms of general immune functions, to reduce the chance of colds and viruses. Essential for maintenance of various body tissues. Citrus fruits are the natural source. Scurvy (breakdown of body tissue with bleeding gums and other miseries) was playing havoc among British sailors until James Lind, MD proved that the absence of citrus fruits in their diets during long voyages was the cause. The cure: limes and other plentiful citrus fruits. Hence the nickname for English sailors: “limeys”.

References

1. NEW VITAMIN BIBLE, by Earl Mindell, RPh, PhD.
2. NATURE’S CANCER FIGHTING FOODS, by Verne Varona.
3. A CHINA STUDY, by T. Colin Campbell.
4. YOUNGER NEXT YEAR, by Chris Crowley & Henry S. Lodge, MD. I recommended this book in one of my Tips Of The Month last year.
5. THE WORLD’S HEALTHIEST FOODS, by George Mateljan.

*Courtesy of Richard Lam, MD, and Mark Scholtz, MD, Prostate Oncology Associates, Marina Del Rey, CA

So What About Vitamins And Supplements?
Robert Kotler