An Expert’s Perspective

I have been taking health supplements since the age of 10, mainly because my mother has forced me to. I took it by faith for many years, until I have come into contact with a series of health scares involving myself and the people around me, and I started to be more mindful of reading up articles on health.

Last Sunday, I happened to have come across this interesting article in the Star's Fit4Life column, titled "An exper's perspective on vitamins". I managed to find the original full article at the following link:
http://oregonstate.edu/ua/ncs/archives/2010/aug/vitamin-and-supplement-intake-%E2%80%93-expert%E2%80%99s-perspective

Here are some key excerpts from the article:

Frei is the head of an internationally recognized research and educational institute that focuses on the use of vitamins and micronutrients in addressing disease issues and promoting optimal health. He is 51 years old, normal weight, eats a proper diet, exercises regularly and doesn’t smoke. He’s quick to point out that vitamins are supplements, not substitutes, for a healthful diet and lifestyle.

And part of what stands out about his personal vitamin use is that it’s not very exotic, complicated or expensive. But it also goes beyond the old mantra that “you get all the nutrients you need from a balanced diet” – a concept he doesn’t believe is generally true.

“Millions of people in the U.S. don’t get enough vitamin D, vitamin E or vitamin C,” Frei pointed out. “And I have pretty good health habits, but I can’t say that I get the recommended nine servings of fruits and vegetables every single day.

“Hardly anyone eats an absolutely perfect diet,” he added, “and many are a lot, lot less than perfect.”

So to start with, Frei takes a good quality multivitamin/mineral – a lifelong health practice he recommends for virtually everyone.

“A multivitamin on one level is good health insurance, a guarantee that you’re not missing out on some vitamin or trace mineral that’s important but not always covered in your diet,” Frei said. “I believe everyone should take a multivitamin, all of their life.”

“But it can also be more than that,” he said. “More than 90 percent of Americans, for instance, don’t get enough vitamin E, and if you have a low-fat diet it’s almost impossible to get the recommended dietary allowance of it, because it’s found mostly in fats and oils. We get more of it from fat and desserts than any other source.”

Frei also noted that all of the vitamins and supplements he takes are either essential nutrients, those found in healthful foods, or produced naturally by the body – which can’t be said for the much broader range of herbal supplements and other compounds. Most of these supplements/compounds available in health food stores have been less scientifically studied; some can even be toxic or harmful. And while some of these products may have value, none should be used by consumers without thoroughly researching them first, he said.

Most importantly, this article is published by a credible source - the Oregon State University; and not from someone less credible from the neighbourhood who goes by the "Listen, listen, listen, listen" mantra.

I hope this information can make a difference in your life.  :)