We all want to be as healthy as possible. If that means taking supplements, so be it. But check out the vitamin aisle at the store and it can be overwhelming! We can't possibly take all those supplements out there, and even if we could, who could afford it?
So which ones should we put in our cart, and which ones should we leave on the shelf?
Most doctors agree the most fundamental supplement is the multi-vitamin. If you only take one pill, it should be the multi-vitamin.
Beyond the multi-vitamin, most doctors encourage women to take a calcium supplement. Calcium helps prevent bone loss and osteoporosis. That leads me to the next very important vitamin.
Vitamin D: whether you are male or female, get your D. First of all, you are wasting your time taking calcium if you don't also take vitamin D, because vitamin D allows for the ABSORPTION OF CALCIUM. But aside from aiding in the absorption of calcium, vitamin D has many other health benefits. One of the most exciting discoveries about vitamin D is its immune-boosting powers. For this reason, some doctors recommend as many as 4,000 IUs a day.
Fish oil contains wonderful Omega-3s, which are marvelous for heart health and brain health. Fish oil supplements are important because getting Omega 3s from fish alone could prove dangerous because of the mercury levels in fish.
Most doctors say limit fish intake to three times a week and get the balance of your Omega 3s through fish oil supplements that have been refined.