In the last post, I explained why paying attention to your health has benefits not only now but later in life, and in the lives of your children, even before you are pregnant with those children. And I gave five simple guidelines for eating better, no matter what your age.

In this post, I’d like to talk about supplements. Today we have the ability to analyze health with blood testing that goes beyond cholesterol and blood sugar: often this testing can help uncover nutritional deficiencies. And these deficiencies are often the root cause of some of our most stubborn diseases.

But even if you’re not ready to explore your own nutrition in that detail, here are key supplements most of us could use:

Vitamin D

Although our bodies create vitamin D when we’re exposed to sunlight, in today’s world of working indoors and wearing sunscreen to avoid skin cancer, many of us have low levels of vitamin D. If a blood test shows that your vitamin D levels are low, a supplement is a good way to fill that gap.

Multivitamin

Consider taking a good quality multivitamin, no matter what your age. If you’re thinking of pregnancy, a multivitamin is even more important as it may help you conceive, reduces the risk of birth defects, lowers the risk of a miscarriage — and at least two studies that came out in 2011 suggest that it may reduce the risk of autism and other learning disabilities.

Look for a multivitamin with iron (for women only), folic acid 400 or more mcg, iodine 150 mcg, a maximum of 2500 IU vitamin A (as palmitate, acetate or beta carotene), Omega-3, vitamin E (as mixed tocopherols and not the dl alpha tocopherol which is the synthetic form).

Other Supplements to Consider

Probiotics help build up the “good bacteria” in your digestive tract.

Antioxidants like vitamin C or N-acetyl Cysteine help your body’s immune system stay strong.

How Medical Creations Integrative Medicine Can Help

Integrative medicine combines effective strategies and therapies from multiple methods of healing, both conventional and alternative. At its heart, this type of patient care focuses on the true problem, not just the related symptoms and effects. Accordingly, our goal is to discover the root cause (or causes) of whatever issues you are experiencing, then we concentrate our efforts there.

Beginning with your first visit or phone call, we become partners in the healing process, and work together toward your optimum wellness. Our efforts take into consideration the whole body, as well as your mind and spirit, offering responsive as well as preventative care. This is the beauty of integrative medicine.

Call (678) 732-9065 for a free consultation.

About Dr. Neacsu

The founder of Medical Creations Integrative Medicine, Dana Neacsu, MD, is board-certified in internal medicine. She completed a fellowship at the University of Arizona Center for Integrative Medicine, was awarded the Joseph T. Trubiano award for professionalism in medicine, and has applied functional medicine in clinical practice at the Institute of Functional Medicine.