A few supplements you should be consuming according to the research:
- Multivitamin /mineral
- Fish Oil (Omega 3)
- Vitamin D
- Fiber
This is according to the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences study “Low micronutrient intake may accelerate the degenerative diseases of aging through allocation of scarce micronutrients by triage”. This study was done in the Bay Area right at the Children’s Hospital of Oakland Research Institute.
Dr Cohen’s insight: I think taking supplements in addition to a healthy diet is very wise. I also think the quality of the supplement is important because you get what you pay for. For example, a multivitamin should not make you upset to your stomach, and I often hear patients complain of that when I suggest a supplement. The reason it upsets your stomach is that cheaper drug store or grocery store brands often cut corners to keep the price very low, so they use forms of the vitamin or mineral that your body can not digest or utilize. Many of the omega-3 supplements I see at the store have a bunch of junk in them and very little EPA/DHA, which is the part of the Omega-3 fish oil that is anti-inflammatory. I’ve even seen them filled with canola junk oils. Bottom line is that you get what you pay for. If you’re in doubt, bring your supplements in to your next appointment and I’ll go over the ingredients with you.