Vitamins/Supplements

This is such a huge subject that I can't really do it justice here, so I'll limit myself to some general principles.

Many people don't need to take vitamins. Crazy statement, eh? It's true if your overall health is good and you eat a balanced diet, especially if your diet includes animal products in moderation, lots of fresh fruit and vegetables, and is composed, as much as possible, of organic foods.

If you know you're not eating right, by all means take a good multivitamin daily! As long as you're taking a well-formulated multivitamin according to package instructions, and not going for 'megadoses', it can't hurt and may very well compensate for nutrients you're missing in your diet. Men and post-menopausal women should look for an iron-free supplement.

Vegetarians have an entirely different set of nutritional issues. If you are considering becoming a vegetarian, study up- don't just drop animal products from your diet. You must learn to combine non-meat foods in such a way as to create a complete protein, or you'll start to waste away.

Some people absolutely need to take vitamins. Women who are pregnant or lactating need to take prenatal vitamins, due to the tremendous demands the developing baby makes on their system. Women approaching menopause and older people of both genders should also begin taking calcium and magnesium in a one-to-one ratio. They need to be taken together in the same supplement so they are absorbed similarly. Vitamin D mixed in can help absorption.

If all of your food comes from large commercial farms, you may need trace minerals. Commercial farming has leached the trace minerals out of much of our soil. Fertilizers only replace the major plant nutrients, not the trace minerals. Trace minerals are metallic ions that the body uses in very specific parts of the metabolic process. Usually a single ion is incorporated in an energy-producing cascade, and these ions are conserved by the body, but they do gradually get depleted. Consider buying organic produce when you can get it. If you can't, a trace mineral supplement every couple of months should take care of it.

Some vitamins can hurt you. The fat-soluble vitamins, including A and E, can build up to toxic levels in the body. Be careful of large doses over prolonged periods. Most of the others, especially the B vitamins, are eliminated in the urine if there's an excess. If your vitamins are turning your urine orange, you are eliminating excess B vitamins. That's good in that you know you're getting more than enough, but you're probably also wasting some money. Back off a little bit.

Glucosamine and Chondroitin may help with joint pain. Studies on these substances are coming out reasonably well, and a number of my patients have reported good results. The principle here is to have the substances the body needs to maintain the cartilage of the joints available at all times. You will need to give these substances (best taken in combination) a trial of at least a couple of months to see if they work for you.

CoQ-10 is a coenzyme helpful in reducing the severity and frequency of migraines for many sufferers. If you have migraines, try it for a month or so. If it's helpful, be consistent in taking it and do not abruptly stop taking it.

Be careful (and sparing) with herbal remedies. Melatonin supplements, for instance, work fine for better sleep temporarily, but pretty soon the body compensates by making less melatonin of its own. If you keep taking extra of something the body produces, the body (being conservative) will curtail making it. You may find yourself dependent on the supplement after awhile, and stopping may be tough.

Some herbal remedies interact with medications and with each other, either interfering with or enhancing their effects, either of which can be potentially dangerous. If you are taking prescribed medicines, be sure your doctor and pharmacist are aware of everything you are taking, no matter how innocuous it seems.

If you feel you are deficient in a vitamin, or are considering herbal or homeopathic remedies, consult with a naturopath. They are the doctors with the most training in these matters. Be sure you ask questions and understand exactly why a supplement or herb is being recommended, and be a little skeptical if you're loaded with a grocery bag full of supplements when you leave. Get a second opinion.