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Unpacking the Real Facts about Vitamin and Mineral Supplements
Manage episode 337786233 series 3383552
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Vitamin and mineral supplements are the most commonly used dietary supplements by populations worldwide. They are called supplements because that is the intention: to fill in nutritional gaps in your diet, not to make up for a bad diet.
No supplement replaces a healthy plant forward diet but what should you take to help make sure you are getting all the nutrients you need for good health? The aisles are full of vitamins, minerals and all kinds of supplements – in all kinds of forms – promising all kinds of benefits.
Today we interview nutrient researcher Dr Jeffry Blumberg, Professor Emeritus in the Friedman School of Nutrition Science at Tufts University. He unpacks the real evidence on supplements to help you personalize what you should take.
Key Messages on the Facts about Vitamin and Mineral Supplements:
Children, young women, older adults, vegetarians, and vegans are at the greatest risk of several deficiencies.
A diet rich in whole, nutrient-dense foods is the best way to prevent deficiency.
Taking more than the recommended dose could result in toxicity.
Consult your physician if you suspect you have a nutrient deficiency and to check if your medications could interfere with nutrient absorption.
Form doesn’t matter (eg pill vs gummy vs liquid). What matters is to take your supplements regularly.
Supplements do not prevent chronic disease.
Supplements lack standardization so one multivitamin can be very different from another.
Resources
Center for Science and Public Interest
National Institutes of Health Office of Dietary Supplements
Linus Pawling Institute at Oregon State University
Your physician, registered dietician and pharmacist
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