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(HealthNewsDigest.com) – It’s a question I’m asked often. I’m not against vitamin and mineral supplements. I think of them like car insurance; wise to have but no substitute for safe driving.
Experts aren’t in total agreement about who should take vitamin and mineral supplements but they all agree people should make smart food choices.
So, I’m going to turn the question back to you. Do you need a daily supplement? To help decide, answer the following questions.
Are you dieting to lost weight? Yes No
Are you ill or recovering from an illness? Yes No
Do you smoke? Yes No
Do you regularly drink alcohol? Yes No
Are nor normally stressed or pressured? Yes No
Are you a woman of childbearing age? Yes No
Are you pregnant or breastfeeding? Yes No
Are you over 50? Yes No
Do you rarely eat vitamin and mineral fortified foods such as cereal, Yes No
juice, energy bars, and soy beverages?
Do you take prescription medicine daily? Yes No
Do you regularly skip meals? Yes No
Is soda your usual beverage? Yes No
Do you eat sweets (cake, cookies, candy, ice cream) daily? Yes No
Do you eat fewer than 5 fruits and vegetables daily? Yes No
Do you eat fewer than 3 calcium-rich foods (milk, yogurt, cheese, Yes No
soymilk) each day?
The more times you answered “yes” the more likely you would benefit from a supplement. Next time you see your doctor, discuss these answers and ask for advice.
Meanwhile, taking a daily multivitamin-mineral supplement may be wise because there is evidence that supplements may lower your risk for chronic diseases.
Almost everything recommended by experts who advocate supplements can be found in a generic multivitamin, like a drugstore or supermarket brand.
Women before menopause should pick one with iron. Men and postmenopausal women should pick one without iron. The only nutrient that may not be covered adequately by a generic supplement is calcium.
Whatever you decide about supplement use, always keep in mind that you should use them in addition to eating well, rather than an excuse not to bother.
© NRH Nutrition Consultants, Inc.
Jo-Ann Heslin, MA, RD, CDN is a registered dietitian and the author of the nutrition counter series for Pocket Books with 12 current titles and sales in excess of 7 million books. The books are widely available at your local or on-line bookseller.
Current titles include:
The Complete Food Counter, 3rd ed., 2009
The Fat Counter, 7th ed., 2009
The Healthy Wholefoods Counter, 2008
The Cholesterol Counter, 7th Ed., 2008
The Diabetes Carbohydrate and Calorie Counter, 3rd Ed., 2007
The Calorie Counter, 4th Ed., 2007
For more information on Jo-Ann and her books, go to www.TheNutritionExperts.com.
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