I was settling into my “Comfy Chair” and preparing for my morning nap. I pulled up my throw blanket, was getting warm, and was just about to drift off to napland. I remembered I had not taken my medication and my supplements. I leaped out of my chair like toast popping up from the toaster; I sprinted over to the kitchen counter and grabbed my pre-selected medications and vitamins for the morning. I usually take the handful in one gulp with water; once observed by my sister-in-law, she started to gag as she took hers one at a time. That would take time away from my napping.
Medications prescribed by your caregiver are important to take; your insurance company may call you to remind you if you didn’t pick up your prescription on time. This is an excellent service.
I also take several supplements in my efforts to stay healthy. Are supplements good for you? Americans excrete more vitamins than most people in the world have ever swallowed. 25% of those over 60 years of age take over 4 supplements a day. 54% of North Americans consume supplements. The most popular supplement in the US is Vitamin D3,2.
Why do people turn to supplements? 92% of Americans suffer from at least one mineral or vitamin deficiency. Of course, for many people, eating a diet full of fresh fruits and vegetables, select protein, and fiber may be very beneficial. However, it is often difficult to eat healthy in today’s busy world.
If you’re on Facebook and you look at one supplement ad along with staying tuned for the boring video to get to what they are selling, you find that in minutes, you will have an onslaught of supplement ads that are more than the number of posts you get from your friends. The US supplement market is over 50 Billion dollars a year! If you are considering taking or adding a supplement, it is always best to check with your provider in case of interactions with other medications or any chronic conditions you may have before you begin taking them. Supplements can have side effects. It is estimated that more than 1 million individuals a year visit hospital ERs due to adverse drug events. New England Journal of Medicine found that 23,000 ER visits a year were due to adverse effects of the supplement. The FDA does not approve supplements for safety and effectiveness or their labeling before they are sold to the public.
Unlike medications, supplements cannot claim that they cure any chronic disease. Why take them? They may provide nutrients you can’t get from your diet, and we still have freedoms in the United States of America. Interestingly, many ads will show success stories for one thing or another. Then, they always have a disclosure that the product is not making any claims to cure anything.
In my case, the supplements that I take have been approved by my caregiver and are listed online in my medical history. I always do a lot of research before I discuss them with my caregiver. Be selective, as if you buy every supplement introduced to you from media platforms, you may have a grocery bag full of supplements and a credit card full of debt.
“Remember, every day is a gift! Some are just a little more fun to open than others. – © Joel M. Vernier 1/23/2024 Author of: “The Guinea Pig In The Freezer.”joelmvernier@aol.com
