Taking vitamin and mineral supplements has caused a LOT of improvements in my health. They are part of my own personal “health insurance plan.”
When did I have a cold last? Not sure. It’s been several years. Do I suffer with asthma anymore? Nope.
After I got serious about taking minerals and vitamins about 12 or 15 years ago, I noted six (6!) changes in my health over a period of several months.
I am a believer.
Here is part of a conversation I had with Bette Dowdell, who was a vitamin and mineral expert. (Deceased.)
Bette said, “Vitamins and minerals have the power and the glory–but not the ones you get in the drugstore, grocery story, Costco, Sam’s Club, Target, etc. They have a little oomph, but not enough to make the difference we need.”
I said, “The newest issue of Readers Digest has a “Readers Digest Version” about the value of vitamins and says don’t bother. It cites research but doesn’t say who sponsored or paid for the research. You know–and I know–that vitamins and minerals are necessary and most of us just cannot get what we need from what we eat, even if we eat for health. The improvements in my own health are the “research” I stand by. Dr. Linus Pauling must be rolling over.” (Dr. Pauling researched the benefits of Vitamin C.)
Bette replied, “When a magazine carries a lot of ads for pharmaceuticals, you can be sure that nothing they write will upset their advertisers. And Big Pharma would like nothing more than to get rid of vitamins and minerals–especially since in 2008 (last year for which we have records), nutritional supplements killed nobody, but pharmaceuticals bumped off more than 100,000 in the U.S. alone. And the FDA chooses to be a Big Pharma lap dog, so this will continue. I’m with you, Kathryn; vitamins and minerals have made waaaay too much of a good difference in my life to listen to the naysayers.” (“Big Pharma” is the drug manufacturers and companies. “Pharmaceuticals” are prescription drugs.)
Bette didn’t exactly mince words; she said exactly what wass on her mind. You see, Bette had to help herself climb out of a health ditch. And she did it. She helped other people improve their health, too.
The thing is, Bette isn’t a doctor (me, either) but she is an expert, regardless. When you do as much research as she has, you start to know what you’re talking about.
Just for the record, I want you to know that I do eat a very healthy diet more than 90% of the time in addition to taking supplements. Lots of colorful fresh foods and good stuff. Sometimes a “treat” but not too often. (The easiest way for me not to eat “treats” is to keep them out of the house.)
Vitamins, minerals and I are close friends. How about vitamins, minerals and you?
