By: New Naturalista
I was raised in a home where vitamins were thought to be the first step in being healthy. My mother has a basket filled with multivitamins, fish oil tablets, vitamin C, D, E…the list goes on and on. I’ve followed the tradition — these days I take Isotonix OPC 3 and along with an Isotonix multivitamin with iron.
So while chatting with nutritionist and registered dietician Beverly Kindblade I was surprised to learn — not everyone needs a multivitamin – and that some people are wasting money!
“So many people are taking what they don’t need and not enough of what they do need,” says Kindblade. For the last 18 years she’s worked with clients eager to get healthy, and she says the first thing she does is require they get a full physical and blood work makeup to see what they’re really deficient in. ”Some people who eat a variety of foods don’t necessarily need a multivitamin. I try to tailor their vitamin usage based on what they may be lacking,” says Kindblade.
Kindblade issued these tips for our readers :
- The quality of multivitamins vary. When choosing a brand, look at the ingredients on back. Kindblade says, “Some cheap vitamins use fillers like sugar, corn starch and sodium.”
- If you’re taking other medication (ex. high blood pressure pills or some anti-depressants) check with your doctor before starting a multivitamin. Kindblade has seen some patients with significant interaction problems.
- Get off to a good start this new year by getting a full body blood workup during your annual physical. In addition to the regular blood work, ask your doctor to test for vitamin D and iron deficiencies.
- One of the best kept secrets is that some insurances pay for dietitian consultations. Check to see if your insurance will!
- Toddlers and young children typically don’t need a multivitamin if they eat healthy. Instead Kindblade suggests a fish oil vitamin made for kids. The essential fatty acids are good for developing young children’s brains and cognitive function.
3 comments
Twitted by TonyaMosley says:
Jan 1, 2010
[...] This post was Twitted by TonyaMosley [...]
Masha says:
Jan 2, 2010
Good advice, might get the blood work done. I think I’m doing a good thing by taking so many vitamins. But I’ve heard vitamins can cause cancer. and eating a healthy diet is good enough.
Elaine says:
Feb 27, 2010
Thanks for the info, most physicians don’t mention vitamins or warn you of side effects if you’re taking other prescriptions. One Dr. told me not to take vitamins every day and especially herbs due to non-regulations from the FDA.