“What Supplements Do You Really Need?”

Vitamin D: It helps keep your bones strong. People who have healthy levels of it may be less likely to get certain conditions, but more research is needed. Your body makes vitamin D when you’re in sunshine. It’s also in salmon, tuna, and fortified foods. If you’re low on vitamin D, your doctor may suggest a supplement. But several large studies show no benefits to otherwise healthy adults. And taking too much is bad for you.

Probiotics: Also called “good” bacteria, probiotics are found in fermented foods like yogurt, kombucha, miso, and sauerkraut. They can change the balance of good and bad bacteria in your body and may help improve digestion, soothe skin irritation, lower cholesterol, support your immune system, and more. But it’s not yet clear if probiotics in supplements help treat conditions, and most people don’t need to take them every day.  

Multivitamins: If you know your diet isn’t that healthy, can a multivitamin help you fill in the nutritional gaps? Not necessarily. Many studies have found that multivitamins don’t fight memory loss, heart disease, or cancer. Meanwhile, getting too many nutrients in pill form can cause harm. Experts usually recommend food as the best source for vitamins and minerals.

Folic Acid: Here’s a vitamin you definitely want to make sure you have enough of if you’re a woman who’s planning to get pregnant. Getting enough folic acid can help prevent birth defects in a baby’s brain and spine. You need 400 micrograms (mcg) per day, and the CDC recommends taking that much in a supplement, along with whatever you get from your diet.

Fiber Supplements: Fiber is in veggies, fruits, whole grains, seeds, nuts, and legumes like beans. It helps cut cholesterol, control blood sugar, and improve digestion. Women under 50 should get 25 grams a day, and men should get 38 grams. But only 5% of us hit those numbers. Taking a fiber supplement is usually safe, but ask your doctor, especially if you take medicines like aspirin. Start slowly to avoid gas and bloating, and be sure to get enough water.

Fish Oil: Fish like salmon and sardines have healthy fats called omega-3s that can lower your risk of heart disease. If you don’t eat fish, there are fish oil supplements with omega-3s, like EPA and DHA, and there are algae-based supplements. But more research is needed, because omega-3s in pills may work differently than the ones in fish. If you take a pill, the FDA says to keep the dosage to less than 2 grams per day of EPA and DHA combined.

Calcium: Unless your doctor recommends it, you probably don’t need a calcium supplement. Some research has linked them to a greater risk of heart disease and prostate cancer, but that link isn’t clear. You can strengthen your bones with exercise like walking, tennis, dancing, and lifting weights. And fill your plate with calcium-rich foods like yogurt, almonds, dark leafy greens (for vitamin K), and fish or fortified foods for vitamin D.

Joint Supplements: Glucosamine and chondroitin, two types of arthritis supplements, are among the most popular supplements sold in the U.S. They are found naturally in human cartilage. Research on whether they can ease arthritis pain or prevent arthritis is mixed. Still, most experts say there’s no harm in trying them, in case you’re one of the people who gets relief from them. As with all supplements, it’s best to check with your doctor first.

Vitamin C: Your body can’t make vitamin C, so you have to get it from food. And it’s easy to hit the recommended daily amount. Just 3/4 cup of orange or half a cup red bell pepper both provide more than 150% of what you need. So, you probably don’t need a supplement. There are popular products on the market with mega-doses of vitamin C that claim to prevent colds (or at least shorten how long they last), but research on that has been inconclusive.

Melatonin: This hormone plays a role in sleep. Your body makes it, and it’s sold in pill form. Because there’s not much evidence about the safety of taking melatonin long-term, you’re better off trying it for short-term problems, like jet lag or a temporary bout of insomnia. Side effects can include drowsiness, headache, dizziness, or nausea.

Magnesium: This mineral supports your body in lots of ways. It gives you energy and keeps your heart healthy, for example. But even though it’s found in a range of foods, including nuts, seeds, whole grains, and leafy greens, most Americans don’t get enough. If you’re interested in taking a magnesium supplement, ask your doctor which type is best. There are several options.

Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10): This is an antioxidant your body makes, and you can get more of it in pill form. People try to use CoQ10 to fight migraines, protect the heart, and improve symptoms of Parkinson’s disease. But the research on whether it works is limited and conflicting. Side effects include insomnia and upset stomach, but they’re usually very mild. CoQ10 can interact with blood thinners and insulin treatments, so check with your doctor before taking it.

Turmeric: This yellow-orange spice may help tame inflammation, which is part of a wide variety of conditions. It’s not yet clear if turmeric thwarts any particular health problems. As a supplement, it’s sometimes labeled as curcumin, which is one of the active ingredients in turmeric that has been the focus of scientific studies. Up to 8 grams per day is considered safe. And it’s fine to add the spice to your foods.

Vitamin B12: You need it to make red blood cells and DNA and to keep your nervous system healthy. It’s found in animal products like fish, meat, eggs, and milk, so vegetarians and vegans may come up short, as can adults over the age of 50 and people with digestive problems like Crohn’s disease. B12 supplements are sold as pills or shots. B12 shots have become trendy as a way to try to boost energy and slim down, though no research shows they work.

Keep in Mind: Everyone is different. If you have a specific health concern that you think supplements might help with, ask your doctor. Your doctor can check to see what’s safe for you, tell you about potential side effects, and add your supplements to your health record. The FDA doesn’t approve supplements, unlike prescription drugs. So do your research and talk with your doctor first. 

Reviewed by: Christine Mikstas, RD, LD on September 23, 2019

Sources:

National Institutes of Health Office of Dietary Supplements: “Vitamin D,” “Probiotics,” “Multivitamin/mineral Supplements,” “Omega-3 Fatty Acids,” “Vitamin C,” “Magnesium,” “Vitamin B12.”
BMC Public Health: "Vitamin D levels and deficiency with different occupations: a systematic review."
The New England Journal of Medicine: "Vitamin D Deficiency -- Is There Really a Pandemic?" "Vitamin D Supplements and Prevention of Cancer and Cardiovascular Disease," "Vitamin D Supplementation and Prevention of Type 2 Diabetes."  
Harvard Health Publishing: “Vitamin D: What’s the “right” level?” “Should you take probiotics?” “Fish oil: friend or foe?” “What you need to know about calcium,” “The latest on glucosamine/chondroitin supplements,” “By the way, doctor: What's the right amount of vitamin C for me?” “Vitamin B12 deficiency can be sneaky, harmful.”
JAMA Cardiology: "Vitamin D Supplementation and Cardiovascular Disease Risks in More Than 83 000 Individuals in 21 Randomized Clinical Trials."
The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition: "Randomized controlled trial of vitamin D supplementation in older people to optimize bone health."
The Lancet: "Effects of vitamin D supplementation on musculoskeletal health: a systematic review, meta-analysis, and trial sequential analysis."
Journal of the American Medical Association: "Effect of Vitamin D and Calcium Supplementation on Cancer Incidence in Older Women: A Randomized Clinical Trial."
The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center: “Should you take a daily probiotic supplement?”
Annals of Internal Medicine: "Enough Is Enough: Stop Wasting Money on Vitamin and Mineral Supplements," "Association Among Dietary Supplement Use, Nutrient Intake, and Mortality Among U.S. Adults: A Cohort Study," "Meta-analysis: high-dosage vitamin E supplementation may increase all-cause mortality."
Mayo Clinic: “Nutrition and healthy eating,” “Coenzyme Q10,” “Mayo Clinic Minute: Are there health benefits to taking turmeric?” “Are vitamin B-12 injections helpful for weight loss?”
Journal of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners: "Fiber supplements and clinically proven health benefits: How to recognize and recommend an effective fiber therapy."
MedlinePlus: “Dietary Fiber.”
American Heart Association: “Fish and Omega-3 Fatty Acids.”
National Institutes of Health National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: “Omega-3 Supplements: In Depth,” “Melatonin: In Depth,” “Coenzyme Q10,” “Turmeric.”
Johns Hopkins Medicine: “Calcium Supplements: Should You Take Them?” “Melatonin for Sleep: Does It Work?”
National Institutes of Health Osteoporosis and Related Bone Diseases National Research Center: “Exercise for Your Bone Health.”
American Academy of Family Physicians: “Glucosamine.”
Arthritis Foundation: “Chondroitin Sulfate and Glucosamine Supplements in Osteoarthritis.”
Journal of the American Medical Directors Association: "Clinical Use of Curcumin in Depression: A Meta-Analysis."
Acta Medica Indonesiana: "The effect of curcumin on lipid level in patients with acute coronary syndrome."
National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: “Melatonin: In Depth,” “5 Tips: What Consumers Need to Know About Dietary Supplements.”

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“10 Home Remedies You Can Find in Your Kitchen!”

Natural-Born Soothers: You already know that consuming the right foods can boost your intake of minerals, vitamins, and nutrients. But there are a few out there that could also alleviate some of your most pesky daily problems, like hiccups or even rashes like eczema. Though it's important to keep in mind that serious conditions need the attention of a doctor, it might not hurt to reach for one of these 10 items the next time you have a minor health problem.

Ginger for Menstrual Cramps: Traditional Chinese medicine has relied on ginger for more than 2,000 years. "Ginger can improve blood flow and reduce inflammation in your muscles, including those in the uterus where cramps originate," says Mary Rosser, MD, PhD, assistant professor of obstetrics and gynecology at Montefiore Medical Center in New York, New York. What's more, a preliminary study in the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine even found that ginger was as effective as ibuprofen for relieving period pain (more research is needed). To make your time of the month a little more bearable, try brewing up a cup of warm ginger tea.

Cranberries for Urinary Tract Health: Cranberries contain proanthocyanidins, a compound that fends off the bacteria that cause urinary tract infections (UTI). "E. coli is one of the top offenders in triggering a UTI," Dr. Rosser says. "This substance has been shown to prevent infection by keeping the bacteria from attaching to the bladder walls." If you already have a UTI, cranberries probably won't cure it, but consuming cranberries daily may help protect against future infections. About 20% of women who get a UTI will contract another one, so drinking one to two glasses a day of 20% pure cranberry juice will help prevent recurrence, Dr. Rosser says.

Calcium-Rich Foods for PMS: Prone to irritability and mood swings before your period? You're not alone. About 85% of menstruating women experience at least one PMS symptom each month. The good news is tweaking your diet might help lessen your symptoms. "It's been shown that people with PMS have lower blood calcium levels than those without PMS," Dr. Rosser says. The National Institutes of Health recommends adults consume about 1,000 milligrams of calcium a day. You probably already know that dairy products are rich in calcium, but so are almonds, broccoli, leafy greens, and sardines.

Oatmeal for Eczema: Calm itchy, inflamed skin using this breakfast food. Oatmeal soothes rashes because it's packed with phytochemicals that have anti-inflammatory properties. Create a soothing bath by grinding 1/3 cup of plain oatmeal (no flavors!) into a fine powder using your blender; pour the powder into lukewarm water and stir in evenly with your hands until the water is a milky color, suggests Kavita Mariwalla, MD, a New York City-based dermatologist. Another option: use 1/4 cup of oatmeal and enough water to make a paste that you can apply directly to the skin for 10 minutes, she says.

Sea Salt for Dry Skin: You don't need an expensive skincare product to treat rough patches on your knees, elbows, and heels. A sea salt scrub made at home will work just as well. "Sea salt is a good exfoliator because it has thicker grains that do a good job of clearing away dry skin," Dr. Mariwalla says. Just mix one cup of sea salt with 1/2 cup of a light massage oil. "Use a bowl to make sure the mixture stays moist, like wet sand, and not runny," Dr. Mariwalla says. It's best to keep this scrub away from your more sensitive areas like your face and the back of your arms, though. It can be harsh on skin that doesn't require as much exfoliation.

Cucumbers for Puffy Eyes: Laying cold cucumber slices over your eyes may look a little silly, but the age-old beauty trick really does reduce puffiness. Cucumbers, which are 95% water, offer a nice cooling sensation and the cold temperature causes blood vessels to constrict and reduce inflammation. And there's a reason why cucumbers in particular work even better than ice packs. "Cucumber slices perfectly fit to the contours of your eyes to help reduce swelling," Dr. Mariwalla says. You'll only need to leave them on for 10 minutes for fresher-looking eyes.

Prunes for Constipation: Dried plums are rich in insoluble fiber, a key nutrient to help fight constipation. "Insoluble fiber doesn't dissolve in water and creates more bulk so waste can push through the digestive system," says Wayne Andersen, MD, medical director of Take Shape for Life, a weight loss program from Medifast. Prunes also contain two substances that act as natural laxatives, sorbitol and dihydrophenylisatin, which will work much better for your system over time than drugstore constipation aids. "The body can become desensitized over time to over-the-counter laxatives," Dr. Andersen says. Start with just one prune a day first and bump up your intake to two if you don't see a response.

Sugar for Hiccups: When you hiccup, the diaphragm undergoes a series of spasms, but you can fool your body into stopping that reaction by putting a teaspoon of sugar underneath your tongue. The sweet sensation is strong enough to stimulate the vagus nerve. That's the longest cranial nerve in your body, starting at your brain stem and extending as far down as your diaphragm to control the stomach. "Keep the sugar under your tongue until you stop hiccupping, and then swallow to fill the back of your throat with even more sensation," Dr. Andersen says.

Apples for Heartburn: Avoiding trigger foods like soda, high-fat beef, and anything fried is the best way to deal with acid reflux. One food that you should keep in your diet: apples. "Apples have pectin, a soluble fiber that's really great at absorbing stomach acid," says Dr. Andersen. Plus, the fruit contains two types of acid (malic and tartaric) that work to beat back any juices that flow up from your stomach. "Buy organic red or golden delicious apples that are sweeter than the tart granny smiths," Dr. Andersen suggests. "Sweet apples are considered alkaline foods that work at a cellular level to restore pH balance and prevent GERD."

Turmeric for Infections: Turmeric is revered in India as a "holy powder" that can be used to prevent infections and treat wounds. That's thanks to a compound called curcumin. "Foods with curcumin have strong anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties so they can help with cleansing and healing," says Dr. Andersen. A study in the Biochemical Journal even found that curcumin has the ability to stop bacteria from multiplying. If your medicine cabinet is running low on antibiotic ointment, try dabbing a little turmeric on your cut or scrape instead, but only for minor or superficial wounds. Dr. Andersen suggests using half a teaspoon of turmeric powder with a drop or two of water to make a paste, or if the wound is still bleeding a bit, you can apply the powder without water. After the area is dry, cover with a dressing and let the healing begin.

Rachel Swalin, Health.Com

Much Love, Dr.Shermaine #InformativeRead #PleaseShare #HealthyBodySoulAndSpirit

"It's Not Selfish to Love Yourself, Take Care of Yourself and to Make Your Happiness a Priority. It's a Necessity." (Mandy Hale)

"Self-Care is Not Selfish. You Cannot Serve From an Empty Vessel." (Eleanor Brown)

The contents of Health Magazine and Self-Care With Dr. Shermaine Sites, such as text, graphics, images, and other material contained on the Health Magazine and Self-Care With Dr. Shermaine Sites ("Content") are for informational purposes only. The Content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on the Health Magazine and Self-Care With Dr. Shermaine Sites!

If you think you may have a medical emergency, call your doctor or 911 immediately. Health Magazine and Self-Care With Dr. Shermaine does not recommend or endorse any specific tests, physicians, products, procedures, opinions, or other information that may be mentioned on the Sites. Reliance on any information provided by Health Magazine, Health Magazine employees, others appearing on the Site at the invitation of Health Magazine, and Self-Care With Dr. Shermaine or other visitors to the Sites is solely at your own risk.