New Horizon Fitness
Personal Training - for living!
Personal Training - for living!
Live a healthier, longer life!
Vitamins & Supplements
For purposes of discussion, vitamins, minerals and other supplements will all be referred to under the generalization, “supplements.” Unless you live in a cave, you are probably getting tired of the deluge of advertisements promoting various supplements. Can supplements, keep you healthier, arrest disease, grow hair, increase libido, and help you lose weight, etc?
Short Answer – No and Yes.
Short Answer – No and Yes.
NO - There are a lot of supplements advertised that simply lack sufficient evidence for the claims made. Others take a shred of evidence possibly indicating a benefit and exaggerate to the point of deception. These claims have many a disclaimer in the fine print allowing companies to profit handsomely from even the most outrageous claims.
NO – A supplement is not a substitute for a proper diet, exercise, and other lifestyle factors. While there are worthwhile supplements that will help mitigate some aspects of poor diet, you put yourself at a tremendous risk looking for shortcut solutions in a pill of any type.
The Big Dilemma
Where do you get supplement advice? It should be a professional such as a doctor or pharmacist but many are woefully untrained in nutritional preventative medicine. Even if a physician knows a natural supplement is in order, they are increasing their personal liability if they recommend non FDA approved (read drug company) therapies. Fortunately, many leading physicians and researchers in the field of preventative medicine have put patients first and are sharing their knowledge.
NO – A supplement is not a substitute for a proper diet, exercise, and other lifestyle factors. While there are worthwhile supplements that will help mitigate some aspects of poor diet, you put yourself at a tremendous risk looking for shortcut solutions in a pill of any type.
The Big Dilemma
Where do you get supplement advice? It should be a professional such as a doctor or pharmacist but many are woefully untrained in nutritional preventative medicine. Even if a physician knows a natural supplement is in order, they are increasing their personal liability if they recommend non FDA approved (read drug company) therapies. Fortunately, many leading physicians and researchers in the field of preventative medicine have put patients first and are sharing their knowledge.
The Big Dilemma, Part Two
The Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act (DSHEA) was passed in 1994 at the urging of consumers and the supplement industry. Essentially the FDA could only ban supplements that proved dangerous. This protected supplement manufacturers from the reach of the prescription drug manufacturerers who exercise undue influence over FDA decisions.
However, DSHEA went too far in that supplements do not have to meet any standard of effectiveness. Anyone with a mixing bowl and a marketing plan can sell just about any "miracle" supplement. Pure greed has made the selection of dietary supplements a situation where "buyer beware" is a necessity.
Do your homework, some independent references are listed. Assume everyone is a "snake oil" salesman and take an evidence based approach to supplement selection.
The Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act (DSHEA) was passed in 1994 at the urging of consumers and the supplement industry. Essentially the FDA could only ban supplements that proved dangerous. This protected supplement manufacturers from the reach of the prescription drug manufacturerers who exercise undue influence over FDA decisions.
However, DSHEA went too far in that supplements do not have to meet any standard of effectiveness. Anyone with a mixing bowl and a marketing plan can sell just about any "miracle" supplement. Pure greed has made the selection of dietary supplements a situation where "buyer beware" is a necessity.
Do your homework, some independent references are listed. Assume everyone is a "snake oil" salesman and take an evidence based approach to supplement selection.
YES - Combined with proper diet, exercise and other lifestyle factors, the RIGHT supplements can be a vital adjunct to an overall wellness and longevity strategy. Besides filling nutritional gaps in the best obtainable diet, many supplements, often derived from food extracts, are powerful inhibitors of numerous environmental, endogenous, and age related assaults on our health.
REFERENCES AND FURTHER READING:
Natural Solutions. New Horizon
Fitness.com (2009)
Products. New Horizon Fitness.com (2009)
Mize John. Vitamin Guide. New Horizon Fitness.com (2009)
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American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. The leading peer reviewed journal on nutrition issues, most articles are free after a period of time. I have indexed countless articles from here in my personal database.
Life Extension Foundation. Treatment Protocols. COMMENT: Covering a number of conditions, innovative blends of traditional and alternative medical approaches. Discounted products available here.
Linus Pauling Institute, Oregon State University, Micronutrient Information Center. COMMENT: Besides supplement information, great research into mechanisms of aging.
University of Maryland Medical Center, Complimentary and Alternative Medicine Index. COMMENT: EXCELLENT open minded reference source on supplements from a leading medical research center.
Fitness.com (2009)
Products. New Horizon Fitness.com (2009)
Mize John. Vitamin Guide. New Horizon Fitness.com (2009)
==========
American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. The leading peer reviewed journal on nutrition issues, most articles are free after a period of time. I have indexed countless articles from here in my personal database.
Life Extension Foundation. Treatment Protocols. COMMENT: Covering a number of conditions, innovative blends of traditional and alternative medical approaches. Discounted products available here.
Linus Pauling Institute, Oregon State University, Micronutrient Information Center. COMMENT: Besides supplement information, great research into mechanisms of aging.
University of Maryland Medical Center, Complimentary and Alternative Medicine Index. COMMENT: EXCELLENT open minded reference source on supplements from a leading medical research center.
Disclaimer
All exercise recommendations herein are made in accordance with American Council on Exercise (ACE) guidelines. You understand all exercise carries a small degree of risk of injury or even death. ACE, like most mainstream medical organizations, does not endorse the use of dietary supplements. The authors ACE personal trainer certification scope of practice is limited to the design of exercise programs. Supplement information and sales are provided by New Horizon Fitness, a subsidiary of Live Well Diet, Inc.
The information is made available with the understanding that the author, employees, and New Horizon Fitness are not providing medical, psychological, or nutritional counseling services on this site or when other services are rendered. It is not specific medical advice intended to diagnose or treat any disease. The information should not be used in place of a consultation with a competent health care or nutrition professional.
The information on supplements contained on this Web site does not cover all possible uses, actions, precautions, side effects, and interactions. Liability for individual actions or omissions based upon the contents of this site, information provided by the author or employees of New Horizon Fitness and Live Well Diet, Inc is expressly disclaimed.
All exercise recommendations herein are made in accordance with American Council on Exercise (ACE) guidelines. You understand all exercise carries a small degree of risk of injury or even death. ACE, like most mainstream medical organizations, does not endorse the use of dietary supplements. The authors ACE personal trainer certification scope of practice is limited to the design of exercise programs. Supplement information and sales are provided by New Horizon Fitness, a subsidiary of Live Well Diet, Inc.
The information is made available with the understanding that the author, employees, and New Horizon Fitness are not providing medical, psychological, or nutritional counseling services on this site or when other services are rendered. It is not specific medical advice intended to diagnose or treat any disease. The information should not be used in place of a consultation with a competent health care or nutrition professional.
The information on supplements contained on this Web site does not cover all possible uses, actions, precautions, side effects, and interactions. Liability for individual actions or omissions based upon the contents of this site, information provided by the author or employees of New Horizon Fitness and Live Well Diet, Inc is expressly disclaimed.
