Proverbs 1:1-7: These are the wise sayings of Solomon, son of David, king of Israel: They show you how to know wisdom and teaching, to find the words of understanding. They help you learn about the ways of wisdom and what is right and fair. They give wisdom to the child-like, and much learning and wisdom to those who are young. A wise man will hear and grow in learning. A man of understanding will become able to understand a saying and a picture-story, the words of the wise and what they mean.
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of much learning. Fools hate wisdom and teaching.
Vitamins vs. Supplements
I read an article and watched a video about supplements and vitamins recently. First the article made good sense, secondly I watched a video with actress Judy Greer and her physician, Dr. Richard Horowitz, M.D. FACP, but as with any advice, each person is responsible for gaining their own education. Do your research and ALWAYS--ALWAYS check with your doctor before starting any exercise, diet, or supplemental regimen.
[LINK to VIDEO at Y!SCREEN: Secrets About Vitamins]
A poor diet plus supplements is still a poor diet. Food remains your best source of vitamins and minerals. So spend a little more time and money on delicious, tasty meals and snacks to meet your nutritional needs. And remember, a supplement is just that…a little extra in addition to wise food choices. This little extra poses no danger and may be helpful at times– if chosen wisely.
Both the article's and video's main thoughts are very true! A poor diet is still a poor diet. If you take vitamins and supplements because you make bad food choices, no amount of vitamins or supplements are going to make you better. That is just lazy and you are probably the kind of person that cheated on tests in school or cut in line at the bank...Yes, you are a cheat and are looking for a quick band-aid fix for your poor eating habit. This is a bold statement but the truth is sometimes hard to swallow.
Here are some things to remember when deciding whether or not you need to add vitamins/supplements to your diet: Get Street-Wise About Supplements Choose wisely. More is not better and can possibly be life threatening. It is very easy to overdose on vitamins. See the article about overdose at Life Force Hospital website. I many cases, as well, vitamins and minerals can interfere with prescribed medications. This is why it is so vital to check with your doctor before taking any over-the-counter vitamins/supplements. They are not all equal and in some cases they don't even have any of the actual minerals that the label reports. CAUTION. Not all companies are truthful.
How much should I take?
The vitamins that we buy are in pharmacologic quantities [you only need to take vitamins 2-3 X’s a week] which are produced with really high dosages. Our bodies really need vitamins in trace amounts. Vitamins are naturally occurring in fruits and vegetables, and meats, and so forth; they exist in very small amounts. Our bodies know what they need, and extract want and get rid of what they don’t want. So, take vitamin pill two or three times a week; plenty. Very doable; plenty.
The decision to take a vitamins & supplements should not be made haphazardly. It is best to seek advice from your physician or consult with a registered dietitian. This health professional should assess your dietary habits and intake, medical status, medication history, alcohol intake, and lifestyle habits. Some people who may need to take a multivitamin-mineral supplement include:
- People with digestive diseases, illness or surgeries that can interfere with the absorption of certain vitamins and minerals and therefore increase needs
- Pregnant and breastfeeding women (increased need for iron, folic acid, and calcium)
- Vegetarians who avoid all animal foods and may have a deficit of vitamin D, vitamin B-12, calcium, zinc, and iron
- People who smoke (because smoking increases the need for vitamin C)
- People with certain major illnesses or injuries that can increase the need for healing nutrients
- Women with heavy menstrual bleeding (may need more iron)
- Menopausal women (might benefit from calcium)
- Women who are trying to conceive (preconception warrants an increase in folic acid to decrease the risk of certain birth defects)
- People taking certain medications that can increase or decrease the effectiveness of vitamins and minerals
- People following weight loss programs that severely restrict food intake or calorie levels (less than 1000-1200 calories per day), which can result in poor nutrient intake
- People with food allergies that require avoiding groups of foods and may result in nutritional deficiencies
- People who abuse alcohol (increases nutrient needs)
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