Tag: supplements

Why isn’t my Vitamin D working?

by Monica Reinagel, MS, LDN

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Q. When I saw my doctor for my annual physical, he did a blood test for vitamin D and it came back deficient. Although live in Southern California, I tend to avoid the sun and keep covered when I am out in it. But my daily multivitamin contains 1,000 IU of vitamin D.  My doctor recommended adding another 1,000 IU to that. My question is, why didn’t the vitamin D in my multivitamin work? 

A. When you are deficient in vitamin D, it can take a surprisingly high dose of oral vitamin D to correct it. (Exposure to sunlight is much more efficient .) My guess is that the 1,000 IU in your multivitamin simply wasn’t enough to dig you out of the hole you’d dug yourself into, thanks to your diligent avoidance of UV rays.

But 2,000 IU may not be enough either. Effective protocols for treating vitamin D deficiency often involve taking 10,000 IU per day for 2-3 months. Fortunately, high doses of vitamin D are quite safe.

Hopefully, your doctor will order another blood test to check your vitamin D levels again before too long. If they haven’t moved (which is fairly likely), he may suggest a higher dose or even give you an injection.

Once you get your vitamin D levels up where they should be, 1,000 to 2000 IU per day should be more than enough to keep you there.

 

Calcium Supplements: Safe or Not?

by Monica Reinagel, MS, LDN

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The National Osteoporosis Foundation published a new report this week, insisting that calcium supplements are safe for your heart. Two weeks ago, Johns Hopkins cardiologist Erin Michos published a paper saying the opposite.

She notes that the NOF review (which was funded by a pharmaceutical company that makes calcium supplements) omitted certain studies (such as the ones she included in her own review) that might have changed the conclusion.

These are just the latest two volleys in a five-year-long tennis match between experts on whether you should or shouldn’t take calcium supplements.  And you thought politics was divisive.  Continue reading “Calcium Supplements: Safe or Not?” >

Why cancer patients should leave antioxidant supplements on the shelf

by Monica Reinagel, MS, LDN

supplementsAntioxidants are good, right? So more antioxidants must be better! This is the logic that has sold billions of dollars worth of dietary supplements and superfood extracts.  And when it comes to exaggerated health claims for dietary supplements, perhaps no one is as vulnerable as cancer patients.

They’re vulnerable for two reasons.

First, they’ll do (and spend) anything that they think will increase their chances against this terrifying disease. So they are easy prey for unscrupulous or well-meaning but misinformed marketers, hawking high-dose and largely unregulated dietary supplements that are supposed to “boost the immune system.”

Secondly, their bodies are in the grips of a disease (and, usually, a treatment regimen) that can profoundly alter their biochemistry and metabolic responses–in ways that can be hard to predict.  Continue reading “Why cancer patients should leave antioxidant supplements on the shelf” >

This week: surprising heart healthy foods, calcium warnings, and comparison of hemp, chia, and flax

by Monica Reinagel, MS, LDN

The annual observation of  Heart Health month always triggers a predictable parade of articles endorsing the same “heart healthy” foods: almonds, flax, salmon, red wine, chocolate.  This year, I decided to go rogue with five heart-healthy foods that you probably didn’t see on anyone else’s list, along with the reasons they deserve a place on your cardio-conscious diet. But maybe I shouldn’t assume that everyone has gotten the memo on diet and heart health. This reader’s doctor actually suggested that she start using  powdered creamer in her coffee to help bring down her high cholesterol levels.  After picking my jaw up off the floor, I made a different suggestion.

At your request, I also put together a comparison of flax, chia, and hemp seed. Are all high in fiber and omega-3s–but there are also a few important differences. Find out how these three seeds stack up nutritionally and how to use them.

Calcium was also in the news this week, with a new study linking high dose calcium supplements to heart disease.  Read my recommendations for balancing bone health and heart health.  Also, find out  how much calcium is absorbed from various foods.  Also, a tip on what to do with the liquid that sometimes forms on top of yogurt.

Thanks for all the great questions and topic suggestions. Coming up soon: Wagering on Weight Loss, and a review of the Paleo Diet!

Truth about TCBY’s new Super Fro-Yo, Perils of Unplanned Eating, and more

by Monica Reinagel, MS, LDN

With the eye of Sandy bearing down quickly, I’m not sure how much longer I’ll have power, so I will post a quick update while I still can!

Last week’s Nutrition Diva podcast talks about unplanned eating and how these “calories of opportunity” can sabotage a healthy diet.  This week, I went on an undercover stake out [LIVE VIDEO] to get the “scoop” on TCBY’s new Super Fro Yo, which they are promoting as a “guilt-free indulgence.” Get all the gripping details here.

Speaking of yogurt, the Nutrition Diva newsletter featured a listener question about what happens to the nutrients in milk when you make it into yogurt and another on the value of calcium-fortified foods. Are they any better than supplements?

Finally, I was honored to be nominated for Best Health and Lifestyle podcast in the 2012 Stitcher Awards.  I’m always flattered to be nominated for these things but, to tell you the truth, I’m unwilling to subject my network to the relentless “get out the vote” effort that winning requires.  Still, it’s nice to be noticed. (If you do want to vote, which you can do daily, you can do that here.)

Stay safe in the storm! If you lose power, save the canned goods and pasta and eat the most perishable items first!  I’ll see you when it’s over.

 

Vitamins for Those Who Need Them

by Monica Reinagel, MS, LDN

As most of you know, I am not overly enthusiastic about vitamin supplements. I think people are better off getting their nutrients from foods rather than pills and—with a couple of exceptions—meeting your nutritional requirements from diet alone is not difficult.  After all, most of us live in countries were food is plentiful. (Too plentiful, by the looks of things.)

See also: Do you Need a Multivitamin?

However, there are places where food is scarce and children go hungry.  There, a basic multivitamin is more than just an inexpensive insurance policy—it can literally make the difference between barely surviving and thriving.   According to a global task force, providing multivitamins to at-risk infants and children is one of the most cost effective ways to combat disease and poverty.

A charitable organization called Vitamin Angels partners with corporate sponsors and local aid organizations to provide free vitamins to malnourished and undernourished children, helping to break the cycle of poverty, disease, and disability. To learn more about this wonderful program or to join me in supporting them, please visit VitaminAngels.org