Do I need to Take vitamins?

FACT:  Most Americans do not get the RDA (recommended dietary allowance) of most vitamins and minerals.

Not getting the vitamins and minerals your body needs can lower your immune system, leaving you feeling weak and susceptible to illness and infection, and rob your body of many important ingredients it needs to support normal physical and mental function necessary for optimal health and well-being.

The Food and Nutrition Board of the National Research Counsel set up RDA guidelines for vitamins and minerals.  These guidelines are designed to avoid serious diseases and are generalized to the population at-large.  They do not take into account individual supplementation needs.

Multivitamin/mineral supplements

Many people believe that by taking a once daily multivitamin, all their nutritional needs are met.  While this is helpful and a good starting point, this is not entirely accurate. It is important to ensure your multivitamin/mineral supplement serves your body’s needs correctly

Multivitamins need to be individualized based on age, sex, and specific medical conditions, and are used by the body within 4-12 hours. Therefore, it is important to replenish them in a timely manner.  A good multivitamin/mineral supplement is designed to be taken two to three times daily to achieve the maximum benefits from all the nutrients it contains.

Dosage:   Varies depending upon the individual supplement needed.

Extensive research has been done on the beneficial effects of vitamin C.  While each study differs in the amount of vitamin C needed, one thing is clear: we do not get nearly enough in our diet and it must be supplemented.

Unlike other animals, humans cannot make vitamin C.  Also, exposure to oxygen depletes available vitamin C.  Consequently, it is vital that foods rich in this vitamin be eaten fresh.

Vitamin C is required for fighting infection, wound healing, and mental health. It is necessary for proper nerve transmission and hormone utilization.

Vitamin C dosage:  3-9000mg (3-9 grams) divided into 500mg doses every few hours.

Bones are continuously rebuilding and calcium is needed to lay down new bone.  The body can only absorb 500mg of calcium at a time, which makes it necessary to supplement calcium three times daily.

Our bodies need vitamin D, which we get from sunlight, to properly utilize calcium.   People who are housebound and/or live in areas with limited sunlight, such as Alaska, must supplement their vitamin D intake.

People are often warned about the need to supplement calcium but are often not told of the additional need for magnesium. The more calcium your body absorbs, the more magnesium it needs.  Magnesium is essential for many enzymatic processes in the body.  Anytime energy is expended, magnesium is involved. Magnesium intake should be ½ of calcium intake.

Dosage:  Calcium, Magnesium and Vitamin D requirements are based on your individual needs.

These supplements are heart happy.  A balance of Omega 6 to Omega 3 is vital for heart health.  Americans get far too much Omega 6 in their diets through processed oils and prepared foods.  This creates an imbalance, which can contribute to cardiovascular disease and inflammation.  An Omega 3 Supplement helps restore a healthy balance. Salmon, other fatty fish, cloves, oregano and nut meats are the most abundant sources of essential fatty acids.

Due to water pollution, fatty fish products may contain high concentrations of mercury and other toxic materials that are not removed during processing.  Many supplement companies offer essential fatty acids, but do not process them appropriately to eliminate the deadly toxins and keep Omega 3 intact and available to the body. It is important to look for a guarantee on the bottle stating the fish oil is free of these toxins.

Omega 3 supplements improve heart function; energy level and the condition of hair, nails and skin.  Omega 3 helps with digestion and joint flexibility, improves cognition, joint pain and acts as an anti-inflammatory agent

Dosage:  3 – 21 capsules of Eskimo 3 daily as directed or 1-2 teaspoonfuls of  Omega-3 Fish Oil daily as directed, depending on individual needs