Gentle Reader,

“Whatever you do, don’t take vitamins.”  One more doctor/author has come out with a book of instructions on how to stay healthy.  Included in his list of what to do and eat is a chapter on why you should not take vitamins.  My renter just showed me his latest book, A Short Guide to a Long Life, by Dr. David Agus.  My own trainer who developed a highly efficient hands-on program for building muscles, reducing body fat and increasing strength and stamina wrote a book called Cracking Your Calorie Code.  These books all tell us supplement users that we are wasting our money and perhaps doing ourselves harm. They are catagorically against vitamins.  “Don’t take vitamins.  You don’t need them.  You are wasting your money.”

What is going on here?  What is the key question these books address?  Are they missing something?

How can I be healthier?  Have more energy?  Avoid chronic diseases that supposedly result from my life-style?   Aren’t these the questions we are all trying to answer? We are looking for a better way to stay healthy as we grow old.  We don’t want to spend our social time with doctors.  We want to enjoy the days we have and then die without a period of long, drawn out suffering.

These authors seem to agree on the life style we ought to follow.  They also claim we are wasting our money and even harming ourselves if we persist in taking vitamins.

First, let me clear up a couple things.  Before 1998, a few deaths in children were reported from taking sugar coated, brightly colors vitamins containing high levels of iron.  Since the packaging changed, only 1 death has been reported. Compare this with 59 confirmed deaths due to aspirin poisoning in 2003 and 147 deaths known to be associated with acetaminophen-containing products.  According to the FDA, Americans easily take more than 60 billion doses of nutritional supplements every year, and with zero related deaths.  This is an outstanding safety record.  Compare this to 14,800 deaths in 2008 from prescription pain killers.  About 6.1 million people abuse prescription pills, and overdose deaths have at least doubled in 29 states, where they now exceed vehicle-related deaths. In 10 of those states, rates tripled; in four of them, they quadrupled. (Reported in the Christian Science Monitor, 10/2013)

Second, let’s look at the healthy life style and eating habits these authors recommend,  including my trainer.  A quick rundown:

• Adequate protein from lean meat, fish, eggs. (WebMD says 50 grams. daily, which is not enough, in my opinion. A good rule of thumb is 1 gram for every ½ pound of weight.  140 lbs. = 70 grams.)
• 5- 9 servings of fresh fruits and vegetables every day. (Serving = 1 cup, 2 cups if leafy greens)
• Whole grains (many people need to limit grains and refined carbohydrates like pasta and pastries to achieve optimal health)
• 6 – 10 eight oz. glasses of water
• Small amounts of fat, sugar, dairy. (Many food guides recommend more calories from dairy)
• No smoking. Little or no alcohol.
• Exercise at minimum ½ hour walking 4 days a week.

My question to you is this:  how many days last week did you achieve these markers for your healthy future? Are you really getting all those servings of fresh vegetables and fruits into your body every day?  Did you find time to exercise at least that much last week (and you can’t count the running around you do in the office or in your house unless you are wearing a pedometer.  You need to reach 10,000 steps a week.)

Fill out this checklist.  It is equivalent to the auto mechanic’s diagnostic tool for your car (which you can replace when it doesn’t work anymore).

Today’s date

__        Tired

__        Overweight or Underweight

__        Stress

__        Dry/Oily skin/Problem skin

__        Thinning hair/Dull hair

__        Emotional on empty stomach

__        Dandruff

__        Need caffeine/sugar

__        Can’t wake up

__        Can’t sleep/Restless sleep

__        Poor attention span

__        Splitting Nails

__        Irritability/Depression

__        Nervousness/Anxiety

__        Allergies

__        Bruise easily

__        Heartburn/Need antacids

__        sinus problems

__        Cold hands or feet

__        Poor night vision

__        Back pain/Leg pain

__        Constipation/Diarrhea

__      Poor digestion/stomach

__        High/Low blood pressure

__        High/Low blood sugar

__        Various aches and pains

__        Elevated cholesterol

__        Cravings for sweets

__        PMS/Hormonal problems

__        Menstrual cramps/problems

__        Subject to colds/flu/infection

__        Muscle cramps

__        Joint pain/Arthritis

__        Bleeding gums

__        Headaches

__        Breath or body odor

__        Decreased sex interest

__        Infertility/Sterility

__        Menopausal symptoms

__        Vague “blah” feeling

“Whether we like it or not, a symptom is a message the body wants to express – which drugs suppress. If drugs are prescribed, new symptoms begin to appear.”

-Deepak Chopra, M.D.

You have only one body.  When this one body wears out, where are you going to live?

In 1985, I was physically and emotionally depleted.  I was eating the way I describe above, following all the guidelines provided by the various gurus on healthy living.  I had had cancer and was determined not to develop cancer again.  In spite of a perfect diet, frequent and vigorous exercise, little or no alcohol or refined, packaged foods, I was not healthy.  I took no vitamins.  I took some iron tablets at the recommendation of my doctor and they made me constipated.  I had no idea how to choose a vitamin.  “Don’t take vitamins” was not my thought or plan.  I was introduced to the Shaklee vitamins and began a foundation program of Soy smoothies, a multi, extra B, C and Calcium, plus Alfalfa and Herb Lax for constipation.  Within a month, my health change for the better.  Many of my symptoms (I checked off 10 – 12 on the above list) disappeared or changed for the better.