Are you taking ‘supplements’ for health, wellness and longevity? You want to be healthy so you take a daily ‘multi-vitamin’. We probably all do and have our kids to so as well. It has become a ‘normal’ way of living in America.
If you have a lifestyle disease (like I do with aggressive prostate cancer -
https://cancersurvivor.wf4hl.com/
) you probably take a lot more than a simple multi vitamin daily. I sure do/did! BUT until recently (yesterday actually) I had never really analyzed just what I was taking! So, I did a spreadsheet (I’m after all a 78-year-old computer geek!) and plotted them (all 22 of them) out. I did the left side the nutrient and across the top, the product. I put a tally down the left beside the nutrient.
Man, I was actually a bit shocked at what that showed. At my last doctor visit, they did a standard blood work panel, plus B12, D3, Iron and a few others. My results were off the charts HIGH. No worries about deficiency in my old body! Now, I am going in tomorrow for another panel after getting an MRI to see how big/bad my prostate has become (not a great result). I’ll see what that says and post an update.
Anyway, back to the spreadsheet analysis. I was shocked at the amount of stuff and how it added up. I really never took the time to properly review it in total. Of course, ‘doctors’ have absolutely NO CLUE about nutrition, nutritional supplements and especially for someone who had been a Strict Plant Based Lifestyle follower for over 15 years! While my current clinic (follow the insurance) is amazingly acceptable of my Plant Based Lifestyle, they really have no idea what it entails. BUT, the nurse of my doc, actually gave one of my business cards to a patient who was curious about Nutrition and a ‘Vegan’ or Plant Based Lifestylediet! (PROGRESS!!)
But back to the analysis!
I was shocked, amazed and scared about the results that were reflected in that spreadsheet! No wonder I am high on B12 and such! I am basically OVERDOSING myself on supplemental pills as many/most have a similar ingredient mix. Because I have prostate cancer, I’m taking several that specifically are for the prostate. Too many it seems. While they all have a slightly different mix of ingredients, many have the same B12, Zinc and other stuff. Yes, I am too high on daily zinc as well but that wasn’t part of my blood work analysis.
This doesn’t even include what I am getting in my daily FOOD. (https://wfpbls.com/lifestylediet.html). Since I haven’t eaten ANY meat, fish, dairy or eggs (or derivatives) in over 15 years, I have successfully avoided many of the things I was supplementing for. Mostly B12 and a bit of K2. But the prostate stuff had all sorts of interesting herbal additives you probably have never heard of; I hadn’t until that dreadful day of my diagnosis back in 2010! But I digress…
As a result of this analysis, I will be dramatically cutting back on my supplementations. While they all have ingredients, I believe are beneficial, they ALSO have stuff that adds up to an overdose if I combine them with others. Many are easily expelled from the body in the urine for the ‘water soluble ones but the ‘fat based’ stuff can stick around longer. Some of these supplements have things I want to include in my personal wellness program but since they ALSO have things, I’m getting in other supplements it posed a quandary; one that I am still dealing with.
It is going to take a lot of in-depth research to balance my supplement intake with my daily Nutritional Food intake. Many of those vitamins and supplements I am adding to my diet via pills, I am already getting in my daily Plant Based Diet. Just my initial research really makes most of these pills/supplements unnecessary and I can save a bunch of ca$h!
I can find no papers, research that compare supplement intake with any diet. Individual papers and articles abound on individual vitamins/nutrients but nothing that does a comparison of any product; I guess that is ok as my diet is no doubt unlike any of yours <grin>! (
https://cuisine.wf4hl.com/
)
So, my research will begin, but I fear there will be little or no fulfilling result as our Lifestylediet is so varied and is often so different on a day-to-day basis.
I will continue with my primary multi-vitamin daily. I have found NONE to compare with its complexity and diversity. The company has two separate versions: one for men, another for women. Each balanced for that specific need category. (email me for what I’m taking – I can send you a copy of my spreadsheet but won’t publish it here: mailto:SkipStein@wfpbls.com?subject=Substack on Vitamins)
So, my friends, that is it. Be careful what you ingest. Try to get a proper ‘vitamin’ mix from your daily diet. It is exceedingly difficult given the Standard American Diet high level of consumption of ‘Processed Foods’ and so little consumption of Natural (more organic) and lightly processed foods. Then there is the issue of ‘Fast Foods’ and the easy access (but getting very expensive!) that serve mostly lousy poor nutrition from any perspective!
What is the fix? Consider, just consider, learning how to COOK meals for yourself and family. It really isn’t that difficult. Selecting more whole plant foods is not that difficult. Most meals can be prepared/served in 30 minutes or less; more complex taking a bit longer and they are DELICIOUS!
Chef Nancy and I did a short series dealing with this issue. A general overview then one for the youngsters and another for us ‘Seniors’. Info can be found at:
https://restoringamericashealth.com/