All 2022, we’ve been deep diving into specific areas of health each quarter. Taking a closer look at Immune Health, Metabolism, and the Mind, we’ve touched on subjects like probiotics, blood sugar management, stress, memory and so much more. In this last quarter of 2022, we’re embracing a deep dive into Vitality, looking at subjects like men’s, women’s and children’s health, longevity, eye health and mobility, all those aspects of personal health that help us live not only long lives, but healthy ones as well.
Daily multivitamin use is important to vitality and longevity. A 3-year study, the Cocoa Supplement and Multivitamin Outcomes Study for the Mind (COSMOS-Mind), which involved over 21,000 participants from across America, age 65 or older, recently concluded that those participants who took a daily multivitamin versus the placebo slowed cognitive aging by 1.8 years over the 3-year study, which is a whopping 60%!
Participants were given test tasks that included story and word list recall, verbal fluency, number span, digital ordering, and more. The multi benefits included memory, flexible thinking, multi-tasking, and executive function. Those older adults with cardiovascular disease showed even more pronounced benefits. Cardio patients have a higher incidence of deficiencies in vitamin C, D, and K and selenium.
Other studies also back these results. The Physicians’ Health Study II, a large-scale clinical trial of older male physicians, presumably a very well-nourished population group, found that daily multivitamin supplementation showed an 8% reduction in overall cancer risk and a significant decrease in cataract risk.
In her book, Fortify Your Life: Your Guide to Vitamins, Minerals and More, Dr. Tieraona Low Dog, M.D., emphasizes the importance of multivitamins even for those who eat healthy diets. Because most of us fail to eat as healthy as we ought and coupled with complications in our food supply like depleted soil, toxin exposure, and over-processing, we can benefit from the basic multivitamins and minerals provided in a daily multi.
Low Dog highlights certain groups who may particularly benefit from multivitamin-mineral supplements:
- Women who could become pregnant or nursing
- Children under the age of 5, especially the picky eaters
- Picky eaters of any age
- Vegetarians/vegans (who have gaps of nutrients that can only be found in meats or fish)
- Those over 50
- People with certain medical conditions (like IBS, ulcers, or Crohn’s, for example, where digestion is compromised)
- People taking prescription medications (which deplete the body of B vitamins, magnesium, and more)
According to the Scientific Report of the Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee, an important document for the development of the 2020-2025 dietary guidelines for Americans, we suffer from under-consumption in vitamins A, C, D, E, and K, calcium, magnesium, dietary fiber, choline and potassium—many of the nutrients we find in a daily multivitamin/mineral supplement.
In a study published in Mutation Research the title says it all: DNA damage from micronutrient deficiencies is likely to be a major cause of cancer (2001). This paper shows how vitamin and mineral deficiencies mimic radiation damage. Many are aware that radiation damages our DNA and can lead to cancer. This paper shows how a deficiency of folic acid, Vitamin B12, Vitamin B6, niacin, Vitamin C, Vitamin E, iron, or zinc, will mimic the DNA damage caused by radiation.
Dr. Bruce Ames emphasizes that we should think of nutrient deficiencies as radiation exposure, and further states that nutrient deficiencies appear to be even more important. As it is estimated that 80% of American children and adolescents and 70% of adults do not eat five vegetable and fruit servings a day (3 vegetables, 2 fruits), the need for a multivitamin product is essential.
Other reasons to consider multivitamins as part of your health regime:
- Our overly industrialized and processed food production system
- Genetically Modified Organisms in our diets
- The lack of health in our soil, which impacts both plants and animals
- Foods are marketed based on convenience, cravings and emotions, not nutritive value
- Improper storage of food, which depletes nutrient potential
- Decreased nutrient content of foods (especially when organic is not available)
- The stress of the environment from the inside and out
“Focus on the whole package: nutrition, the right supplements, exercise, and sleep,” Nayan Patel, founder of Auro Wellness, a Doctor of Pharmacy and adjunct faculty at University of Southern California School of Pharmacy, emphasizes. “Together, these four components can help your body fight the oxidative stress that wants to deplete our energy and health every day.”
Vitality is something you can work toward every day, whether this is your first day to take a step toward that goal of better health or you have eaten and supplemented with healthy outcomes in mind for years and years.
At Betsy’s Health Foods, we look forward to helping you live with vitality this last quarter of this 2022. Join us online, through email, on our APP, or in-store at our brick and mortar location. Always taking your health and your budget to heart,” since 1993.
In health,
Ramona
BetsyHealth Note: This article is for educational purposes only. It is not intended to diagnose, treat, prevent or cure any disease. Consult your healthcare provider before trying a supplement, especially if you have a medical condition, including being pregnant or nursing, take prescription or over-the-counter medications, or are planning on having surgery.
Source URLs:
https://www.naturalproductinsider.com/vitamins-minerals/study-multivitamins-slow-cognitive-aging-60
Reference: VIP Vitamer Information Press. Copyright 2022.
Photo by Agung Pandit Wiguna:
Article copyright 2022 by Betsy’s Health Foods