The other day I was tracking my diet for a couple of days, and discovered some big deficits of certain vitamins.
A friend of mine is a wellness doctor. I asked him for his opinion on vitamin supplements. Does he think vitamin supplements are useful, or are they a bunch of hype?
He said he feels they are very useful. The vitamins we have the most problem not getting enough of are:
- Vitamin A
- Vitamin D
- Vitamin E
- Vitamin C
I asked him what he thinks about the U.S. RDA numbers for vitamins. I've heard that they are set just above the minimum to keep you from getting diseases like scurvy, but not high enough to give real health. He agreed.
What about vitamin B-12? My doctor friend said that is very important for vegetarians and vegans to supplement.
I told him I had some trouble finding a vitamin supplement without extra iron. He asked if I cook with an iron skillet. Cooking with an iron skillet is a great way to end up with extra iron in the diet!
He takes 1000 mg. a day of Vitamin C, 1000 mg. of vitamin D. He said we have a problem with having enough vitamin D because we don't get enough sunlight.
My doctor friend said he had learned about the importance of vitamin supplements from watching a friend of ours, Dr. Merton Shelton who lived into his 90's and was a big believer in taking vitamin supplements.
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