The vitamin aisle in drug stores seems to be ever expanding. How do we know which vitamins to take, and which to avoid? And do multivitamins really work?
Mary F. emailed us at expert@sweetspot.ca, and our vitamin expert, Dr. Aileen Burford-Mason, PhD, answered:
With so many products to choose from, savvy consumers need to arm themselves with certain key facts to make selection easier.
First, remember that vitamins are essential; our bodies cannot work without them. No one vitamin is more important than another. All are needed all the time to maintain and repair tissues, and for the innumerable body processes required for health. A daily multivitamin (a little bit of everything) therefore makes sense.
Conventional wisdom says we get the vitamins we need from a good diet. But ongoing surveys in North America show that this is simply not the case: Most of us do not meet the recommended daily intake (RDI) for one or more vitamins, and that this has serious health consequences.
For example, blood levels of vitamin D, which protect us against cancer, heart disease, autoimmune diseases and even allergies, have dropped steadily over the last 20 years. A daily supplement of 1000 IU of vitamin D is therefore now recommended. More than 50 per cent of Canadians are not achieving adequate daily levels of vitamin D and calcium; nutrients critical to good health when combined.
To minimize guesswork when choosing vitamins, you should consult an expert. An orthomolecular practitioner can advise on which vitamins are important for your individual needs.
For more information, consult an orthomolecular practitioner or visit the Orthomolecular Health website at www.orthomolecularhealth.com
Dr. Aileen Burford-Mason is an immunologist and medical research analyst with a strong interest in complementary and alternative practices, and the scientific evidence for their use. Aileen currently practices as an orthomolecular nutrition consultant. She is an expert advisor and consultant for Orthomolecular Health .
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