FitSugar

Do You Take a Daily Multivitamin?

FitSugar — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 03:47:51 -0800

I must admit I am not much of a vitamin taker. I strive to eat my nutrients in a daily, well-balanced diet. However, I do think supplements are great for people worried about reaching their recommended daily intake of essential vitamins and minerals, especially for pregnant or nursing women or those with dietary restrictions. So when it comes to multivitamins, tell me . . .

Do You Take Multivitamins?

FitSugar — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 09:57:47 -0700

Sometimes multivitamins seem overhyped, but some folks use them as a safety if they feel they are not getting enough vitamins and minerals from their diet. So tell me . . .

DrSugar Answers: What Is DHEA?

DrSugar — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 12:00:00 -0700

DrSugar is in the house and he's answering your health questions.

Dear DrSugar,
My mom was very fatigued most days, having to take naps between basic activities like shopping and putting away the groceries, until she started taking a DHEA supplement. Now she has more energy and makes it through multiple activities with no naps. I've started taking it the last few days and I feel much more alert and active. I also think you should know we have both suffered from depression and are being treated by a medical doctor for it. What exactly is it and why does it have this effect? Thanks in advance.
- DHEA User

To learn what DHEA is and how it is used medically, read more.

Secreted by adrenal gland, DHEA (dehydroepiandrosterone) serves as a precursor to hormones such as testosterone and estrogen, and around age 30 the body produces less of it. Using DHEA as medication first became popular in the 1990s with hopes that it would be cure-all and antiaging drug. The drug did not live up to these high expectations; however, there are studies supporting DHEA for use in a variety of illnesses. Scientific evidence supports the use of DHEA in adrenal insufficiency as well as lupus and depression. It sounds like this medication has benefited your mother in terms of increasing her energy levels. The decrease could be related to depression, therefore it would make sense that she would benefit from DHEA. It's likely increasing the levels of certain hormones in her body, leading to higher energy levels.

Although DHEA shows promise in the treatment depression and other diseases, it also comes with potential side effects. Some that have been observed in higher doses include heart arrythimias, acne, and male-pattern hair growth. Because DHEA can elevate levels of testosterone and estrogen, this can also theoretically increase the risk of breast cancer or prostate enlargement. There is debate as to whether DHEA should be a prescription-only medication, and I recommend using it only in the setting of physician supervision.

Have a question for DrSugar? Send it by private messaging me here, and I will forward it to the good doctor.

DrSugar's posts are for informational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment recommendations. Click here for more details.

Adora: A Better Calcium Supplement

FitSugar — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 11:00:00 -0700

When I suggested that chocolate-flavored calcium supplements make a good substitute for dessert, many of you weren't so into the high-fructose corn syrup that comes with most calcium chews. But I'm still concerned about my daily calcium intake, and I still like a sweet bite after meals, so I was excited to discover Adora Calcium Supplements ($6 for a 30-piece bag).

These dark-chocolate supplements are free of corn syrup, as well as gluten, artificial sweeteners, and other weird stuff. In fact, the only thing on the ingredient list that wasn't all natural or a vitamin was soy lecithin.

The individually wrapped candies are sizable and tasty enough to satisfy chocoholics. Though they're not exactly Scharffen Berger, they do taste unvitaminy - actually a lot like Hershey's Special Dark. You can buy a bag here for $6. Have you ever tried Adora? Do you think you will?

You Asked: Should I Take Time-Release Vitamins?

FitSugar — Tue, 20 May 2008 10:00:00 -0700

You're asking and I'm answering . . .

Dear Fit,
I was at the health food store perusing the shelves of vitamins when I saw the words "time-released" on a few bottles. What does this mean and should I be taking these instead of regular vitamins?
- At a Loss About Supplements Suzanne

This is a great question, since I'm sure many of you wonder the same thing. According to Women's Health, when you swallow regular vitamins they begin to dissolve instantly. Time-released vitamins dissolve more slowly, so they take longer to enter your bloodstream. There is no evidence that shows slower is better for your body, and since time-released supplements are usually more expensive, they'll just end up costing more without offering any benefits. One advantage is that a slower releasing vitamin may be easier on your belly, if you tend to get an upset stomach from regular vitamins.

Honestly though, if you're eating a balanced diet that includes whole grains, fresh fruits and veggies, and healthy sources of lowfat proteins, there's really no reason to take vitamins at all.

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Taking Vitamins May Shorten Your Life?

FitSugar — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 03:30:00 -0700

It seems that doctors, chiropractor and other health professionals are always encouraging folks to take a daily vitamin. If you're a person who downs a bunch of pills with her morning cup of coffee or OJ every morning, then you may be surprised to hear this horrible news - research shows that people who take antioxidant supplements, including vitamins A and E, may be unknowingly shortening their lives. Ironically quite the opposite of what they are hoping to do. In this Danish review of 67 studies done on 230,000 healthy men and women, the team of scientists found no evidence that taking antioxidant supplements had any positive effect on preventing diseases such as cancer. Actually, some supplements may even increase susceptibility of getting sick and dying sooner.

Wait, I thought antioxidants were good for you. If you're confused too, then read more.

Yes, it's true. Antioxidants such as vitamins A, C and E, beta carotene and selenium, are considered essential for our health, because they support the immune system and help rid the body of free radicals that can possibly lead to disease. Many of us already get the recommended amount or these vitamins and minerals each day in the food they eat, and there's no scientific data that says that more is better. Plus, people aren't exactly sure about dosage amounts when it comes to vitamins. The RDI of vitamin C is about 75mg, but you can buy tablets of 1,000 mg. Taking a huge amount of any vitamin all at once could throw your system off balance.

Of course there are scientists who don't agree with these studies, and feel that there is some merit to taking a daily vitamin. For those not getting enough from their diets, vitamins could help to promote overall health.

So what's your opinion on taking supplements? Do you take vitamins everyday, or do you feel it's not necessary?

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Healthy Eating Tip: Spend More on Veggies Than Supplements

FitSugar — Mon, 21 Jan 2008 10:45:00 -0800

When browsing a health-food store, it can be tempting to spend a good bit of time (and money) in the supplement aisle. While supplements are a good safety net for filling the nutrient gaps created by not eating all your fruits and veggies, you should not rely on them. Almost all nutritionists will tell you that supplements are a good supplement (hence the name) to fruits and veggies, but they pale in comparison to the real thing. So spend your money on the fresh stuff and reap the benefits later.

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Drugs Manufactured in Filth

FitSugar — Thu, 08 Nov 2007 02:00:00 -0800

I hope you haven't been using any drugs or supplements made by General Therapeutics. U.S. marshals in St. Louis took more than $300,000 worth of drugs, vitamin supplements, and pet treatments from the company.

Why? The FDA found that some of their products lacked FDA approval and were manufactured under grossly unsanitary conditions. Inspectors found one of their products infested with live and dead beetles, as well as dead cockroaches and rodent droppings near the manufacturing equipment. Um, gross.

That's not all. Roof leaks resulting in water damage and contamination of food and drug containers were also discovered. Officials also found deteriorating chemicals that were potentially explosive. Sounds lovely.

General Therapeutics Corp. makes products such as Vitrin, a multivitamin; NC Solution, an antifungal product; and Pyran-50, a pet de-wormer. So check your bottles and ditch any products you have made by this company.

Fit's Tip: Always buy supplements with the USP Verified label. The USP label means an independent lab has verified the contents of the supplements have been made under good manufacturing practices.
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Label Able: USP Verified Supplement Mark

FitSugar — Wed, 19 Sep 2007 07:30:00 -0700

When shopping for supplements you want to select a brand that has the USP Verified seal. The seal is awarded to dietary supplements that have been tested by U.S. Pharmacopeia an independent not-for-profit organization. Although their standards are enforceable by the FDA.

For a supplement to bear the USP's stamp of approval the vitamin manufacturer voluntarily submits (and pays for) their product to be tested. All supplements are tested on the following criteria:

What's on the label is in fact in the bottle-all the listed ingredients in the declared amount.
The supplement does not contain harmful levels of contaminants.
The supplement will break down and release ingredients in the body.
The supplement has been made under good manufacturing practices.

The mark is a lot like a "clean bill of health" for your supplements. Let's be clear here, the seal assures the quality of the product not the effectiveness of the supplement's health benefit claims.

Fit's Tip: Be sure that the supplements you buy have the USP mark/seal/logo. If the product has just the word "USP verified" on its label the manufacturer thinks their product would pass inspection, but the supplement has not been actually tested.

Do you take nutritional supplements daily?

FitSugar — Tue, 07 Aug 2007 03:00:00 -0700

I was talking to a massage therapist recently and she believes all women should be taking a multi-vitamin, probiotics and fish oil supplements daily. How about you?

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