84BFEJFUC4H4 The more I read about research on supplements, the more confused I get. One day something is good for you, another day it’s a big no-no. Omega-3 acids are heavily promoted for heart health and a number of other benefits, including weight loss. However, a few days ago Dr. Peter Lind from Wellness Report said in his Washington Times article Omega-3 acids cause oxidative stress and increase pro-inflammatory products and shouldn’t be taken without large amount of anti-oxidant nutrition.I made some more research and here is what I found…
Nutrients have many different forms
It’s hard to reproduce full effects of any given nutrient through supplements, because many vitamins aren’t one single substance, but rather families of related substances. For example, there are many different forms of vitamin C, E and A. Taking a supplement can provide you with only one form of a given nutrient and may not reproduce the expected result.
Nutrients work in synergy
Nutrients work synergistically. Typically it’s the combination of nutrients that creates the effect. Consuming one isolated nutrient may produce unexpected results, just like Dr. Lind mentioned. Taking Omega-3 should be combined with anti-oxidants. Beta-carotene requires an increased intake of vitamin E. Without vitamin E, beta-carotene might have a negative impact on your health.
You still should take your multivitamin
This doesn’t mean you shouldn’t take supplements. Taking a good multivitamin helps ensure you meet your body’s nutritional needs. As the time passes, your metabolism slows down. It becomes increasingly difficult to consume all these nutrients from foods. In addition, as you age your body doesn’t absorb nutrients as effectively as it once did. Taking a quality multi-vitamin containing as many essential vitamins and minerals will help you make the most of your diet.