A daily multi – vitamin shouldn’t be a replacement for a healthy diet. Yes… We all know the virtues of leafy green vegetables and whole grains, but convenience and cravings that leads us astray. However, none of us is perfect and even my friends wait for me to eat an occasional slice of pizza to remind me of that. When it comes to healthy eating…. multi – vitamins aren’t partial protections from those lapses from a 80/20 diet of clean eating. I’ve had people tell me already ….I don’t eat foods with vitamins and minerals…. because vitamins and minerals aren’t good for you???
Some people scarf down mega doses, an approach most experts disagree with, while taking very large doses can cause symptoms and stopping them suddenly can lead to symptoms of vitamin deficiency; it’s also important to take a quality multi – vitamin that has all the standard quantities. It’s also well established that a trio of B – vitamins — B6, B12 and folate — lowers homocysteine levels.
Homocysteine is an amino acid that’s a risk factor for heart attack, stroke and dementia. The logical supposition: while having an ample supply of B’s coursing through your blood veins (and arteries) is essential and could improve your chances of avoiding cardiovascular disease and cognitive decline to healthy folks. However with this research patients in some of these studies had homocysteine levels that were normal or slightly elevated and may not apply to people with higher levels.
Some of the best results from a randomized controlled trial published in the New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM) in April 2006. Showed that while B vitamins lowered homocysteine levels, those studies results showed their weren’t fewer heart attacks or other major cardiovascular events. A second disappointing study was published in NEJM in 2006. Despite their homocysteine – lowering prowess B vitamins were no better than placebo at protecting people from cognitive decline.
Multi – vitamins…. which are already part of some health experts official recommendations. Also the Federal Government’s 2005 Dietary Guidelines suggest that people older then 50 years old, should take them as away of ensuring adequate vitamin intake. And the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention advises all women of child bearing age to take folic acid — because doing so lowers the risk of birth defects.
Also remember the importance of vitamin D deficiencies creating a higher risk of cancer. On average Americans have a vitamin D level in the 25Ng/ml level on average and that amount should be between 60 and 70 Ng/ml. So if you take a multi – vitamin… be sure to buy a major name or store brand product that meets standardized guidelines. When Consumers Union tested cut – rate products, it found almost half didn’t contain the listed amounts of at least one nutrient.
The National Institute of Health convened a meeting on Multi – Vitamins and Mineral Supplements in May 2006. The resulting statement from that conference was extremely cautious. Present evidence is thereby insufficient to recommend….. either for or against…. the use of multi – vitamins/multi – mineral supplements by the American public to prevent chronic disease which was the inconclusive conclusion.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HauoBQX2Tyg
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SXYQLiwFjAY
Pingback: A Lack Of Vitamins