The pharmacy shelves are full of them. Online ads and television ads all tell you how they will change your life and make you the healthiest person you have ever been. What is this miracle? Vitamins, minerals, and supplements.
There seems to be a new “miracle”, that we just need to take, available every month. How do you decipher amazing marketing from scientific truth? Amaze is here to help!
Vitamins and supplements, when taken correctly, can do many great things, like bridge gaps in a poor diet, treat illnesses, and increase health and longevity. However, like all things, they are not one size fits all. The vitamin to improve memory may give some nice results to an 85-year-old man whose memory is waning, but wouldn’t be helpful to a 25-year-old woman whose underlying memory issue is that she is overwhelmed and has too much going on.
At Amaze, our medical team can help you determine which vitamins, minerals, and supplements could help improve your health.
Things to consider when wading through the sea of vitamins and supplements:
What is my diet like?
If you eat a balanced diet rich in vegetables, protein, and whole grains, you may not need a multivitamin. If you are a vegan, you may benefit from a multivitamin with iron, especially if your iron levels are low and you feel tired. If you don’t eat a lot of vegetables, taking a multivitamin for your age and gender would help replenish essential nutrients you you may be lacking.
If you consume a lot of sugar, please read our post 12 Ways to Overcome Your Sugar Addiction.
Your age and sex
Women approaching their 50’s have different needs than young women in their teens and 20’s. When searching for a multivitamin, men and women should both search for a multivitamin specifically for their age and gender.
Do you take medications?
Vitamins and supplements can interact with medication. For example, a woman with osteoporosis who is on a blood thinner must be careful of many osteoporosis supplements as they have vitamin K, which may block their blood thinner from working, causing significant health issues, including death.
Are you allergic to foods or plants?
Some supplements are herbal remedies made directly from plants. If you are allergic to certain plants, be certain of what is in a vitamin or supplement before taking it.
Do you understand the proper dose for the vitamin or supplement?
There are some vitamins that are fat soluble, and you can overdose on them. There are some, like potassium, that can cause dangerous problems like heart arrhythmias. Some supplements have very specific therapeutic doses. Taking too much can cause side effects, like headaches and nausea, or can be very dangerous.
Be aware of marketing gimmicks.
While some companies are very reputable, there are several out there just trying to make money. There are regulatory boards for vitamins and supplements, but they are voluntary. Our advice is to be skeptical, don’t trust a “cure all” or a promise that something will “make you healthier that you have ever been.” Be on the lookout for slogans that are “too good to be true.” And most importantly, do your research or ask a healthcare provider to help you figure out what is right for you.
Vitamins, minerals, and supplements can enhance your health, fill in gaps in your diets, and help improve some medical issues. However, it is important to be educated and careful when choosing a vitamin or supplement. It’s easy to waste money, and taking vitamins and supplements is not without some risk. Ask questions, do research, and ask for help when choosing a vitamin or supplement.
Connect with the medical team at Amaze!
We can help explain natural remedies and treatments and make recommendations
on the vitamins and supplements that might be right for you.
Connect with our medical team through your Amaze account, or call (720) 577-5251.
