Fwd: Supplement Takers Are Healthier!

April 29, 2008

Need a new ride? Check out the largest site for U.S. used car listings at AOL Autos.

Free Weekly Health Tip prepared for Cyndi

April 29th, 2008

The Sponsor:

Check out our on line shopping mall for your supplement needs. You'll find high quality products from over 100 manufacturers.

Your Tip:

Supplement Takers Are Healthier!

Finally, research that documents what those of us who take more nutritional supplements than just a multi-vitamin with minerals have known all along: We're likely to be healthier and probably will prevent chronic illness later in life.

Researchers gathered information from 278 people regarding long-term multiple supplement use patterns, their health, and nutrition with questionnaires and physical examination. They compared this data with that obtained from nearly 800 non-users and single multivitamin-mineral supplement takers.

The people taking multiple supplements were less likely to have hypertension and diabetes, and more likely to have low levels of chronic disease-related biomarkers, such as C-reactive protein which is associated with chronic inflammation in the body. In addition they had lower levels of homocysteine, which has been associated with elevated risk of cardiovascular disease and stroke. And they were more likely to have optimal levels of triglycerides and the beneficial high-density lipoproteins (HDL).

Why did the study see little benefit to people who take a 1-a-day type of supplement? Because these supplements contain very small amounts of vitamins and minerals, and those nutrients are often inexpensive forms not easily usable by the body. It's impossible to "fit" enough calcium and magnesium in a single pill or capsule because they are bulky minerals.

I see, and have seen over the past 25 years, examples of the healing power of good quality supplements every day in the lives of my clients, my family, and myself. Perhaps I'm preaching to the choir . . . .And I just have to ponder a bit more and ask: Could it be that those of us who take lots of good quality supplements regularly are also just more health oriented and consuming organic foods, exercising regularly, and managing the stress in our lives?

Reference:

Black G, Jensen CD, Norkus EP, et. al. "Usage patterns, health, and nutritional status of long-term multiple dietary supplement users: A cross-sectional study", Nutrition Journal, Oct 24, 2007, vol. 6, issue 1, page 30.

Tip Provided By:

Dr. Liz Lipski has a PhD and is board certified in clinical nutrition.

A 30-year practitioner, author, and the Director of Doctoral Studies at

Hawthorn University. She is founder of Innovative Healing Inc., author

of Digestive Wellness, Digestive Wellness for Children, and many other publications.