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Home › Articles › Grandparent Health › The Times of Your Life

The Times of Your Life

Recommended Supplements for Every Stage

By Kelly Burgess

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Kamhi has gone on to become an authority in the field of natural healing, and she sees the American Medical Association's recommendation as proof that her philosophy is making inroads into the medical mainstream. However, she cautions anyone who is thinking about taking supplements to learn something about them before just running out and buying products because they aren't all alike.

"I absolutely agree with all of the recommendations about supplements for women, but that's such a teensy, weensy scratch on the surface of the subject," says Kamhi. "The fact is, there are about 10 forms of calcium, and each is absorbed at a different rate. The problem is that there are no nutrition courses in medical school, so often the doctor isn't that knowledgeable on the subject."

So how can you educate yourself? There are many books on natural remedies, as well as Web sites devoted to supplements and natural medicines, and four accredited colleges that offer degrees in naturopathic medicine. A holistic practitioner with an accreditation from one of these schools can make recommendations for your entire healthy lifestyle.

In the meantime, if you only do one thing for yourself, take a multivitamin. It's an easy, inexpensive way to provide your body with some nutritional insurance.

Pump Up Your Diet

Everyone agrees that, ideally, we should get 100 percent of our recommended nutrients from our diet. Unfortunately, up to 80 percent of us do not. So here are a few suggestions for adding nutrients to the entire family's diet.

Women need more calcium, and yet dietary alternatives can be high in fat and calories. Lynn Laboranti, registered dietician and continuing education specialist for Nature Made, recommends boosting calcium intake by substituting plain, nonfat yogurt for other ingredients. Mixed with herbs, it can replace mayonnaise as a sandwich dressing; by itself it can substitute for some of the liquid in baked goods.

In addition, bake with whole grain or soy flour as much as possible, and add bran to muffin and pancake mixes. She also recommends making your own salad dressing using flaxseed oil, which supplies essential fatty acids. Nuts are another good source of these oils.

Even desserts can be made more healthful. There are many recipes for cakes and cookies that have added fruits and vegetables such as applesauce, carrots or zucchini.

Ellen Kamhi, known as the Natural Nurse, recommends buying organic produce as often as possible, not only because of the increased nutrients but because of what isn't in there, like hormones and pesticides. And, says Kamhi, green, leafy vegetables are an excellent source of both calcium and the vitamin D necessary to process that calcium.


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