At least half of Americans now take them
Around half of American adults now take multivitamins and dietary supplements this news comes from a new report by the CDC's National Center for Health Statistics Data Brief which had examined dietary supplement use among adults from 2003 to 2006 and then compared it to the years 1988 to 1994.
According to Jaime Gahche, MPH, a nutrition epidemiologist at the National Center for Health Statistics in Bethesda, Maryland, the use of dietary supplements has increased in those adults aged twenty and older. Over one half of all Americans now take one or more supplements each day. In the study it was noted there was an increase in supplements calcium and vitamin D for all women sixty years old and up from 2003 to 2006.
Multivitamins were the most commonly used among the supplements with 40% of men and women reporting that they were taking a multivitamin once daily for the years 2003 to 2006.
ABC News did contact several health experts over the growing popularity of supplements. None of the experts were surprised by this growing trend. However, almost all did agree that a healthy diet is better than supplement use.
Dr. Darwin Deen, clinical professor in the department of family and social medicine at Alberta Eisenstein College of Medicine in New York, stated "People are looking for help with what they believe is a problem but trying to solve it the wrong way,". He did note that diets today contain too many processed foods which do not contain nutrients required for a healthy body. People's response is to take supplements.
Dr. Tod Cooperman the president of ConsumersLab.com, an independent organizations that evaluates dietary supplements states that the increase in supplements is in part due to the down economy. People are self treating with supplements and vitamins.
Dr. Deen advises his patients to increase fruits and vegetables in lieu of taking a pill.
Gahche, who also is lead author of the study remarks the report does not make recommendations on whether or not a person should or should not take supplements. If you are taking supplements you should tell you health care practitioner.
Steve Mister, President & CEO of the Council for Responsible Nutrition, a dietary supplement trade group, had remarked to ABC News dietary supplements have a role in a healthy lifestyle but they are not to substitute for a healthy diet. They should be used with other things such as a healthy diet, regular exercise and seeing your health practitioner.
When using supplements people should be selective and use them in moderation. Some supplements can interfere with medications you could taking resulting in increasing the side effects of the medications. Check with your health practitioner before using any vitamins or supplements.
Health experts note that most people can receive the 13 essential vitamins of A,C,D,K, vitamins B6 and 12,thiamine, riboflavin, niacin, pantothenic acid, and biotin through food intake. If you are on a vegetarian diet you may need a B12 supplement. It is important to remember you can overdose on vitamins just the same as medication.
In the news recently walnuts have been ranked number one. They contain the highest levels of antioxidants. Just a handful a day in your daily diet can add health benefits.
Do not forget to add in the super foods such as:
Tomatoes which can decrease your risk for cancer and osteoporosis.
Blueberries could give protection from cancer and decrease the effects age associated conditions such as dementia.
Broccoli has been on the super food list for a long time. It just could stop the growth of tumors and lessen your risk for cancer. It also gives you extra protection for your skin from ultra violet solar rays that cause skin cancer.
For fresh fruit and vegetables:
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Detroit
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Grosse Pointe
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