What to know before jumping on the vitamin bandwagon - Statesman Journal

Top vitamin picks

Here are some vitamins to look for and the benefits they offer according to nurse practitioner Chris Kleronomos and registered dietitian Leslie Belfanti.

Fish oils: Look for fish oils with omega-3 fatty acids. They are beneficial for lowering risk factors of many cardiovascular diseases, and evidence supports that fish oils may help those with chronic diseases such as Type II diabetes, intestinal disorders, kidney disease, autoimmune diseases (such as MS) and arthritis, and they may even slow memory loss due to aging, Kleronomos said.

Probiotic supplements: Typically found in fermented foods such as yogurt, probiotics also are available as supplements. They regulate the intestinal track and support optimal health and prevent relapse of disorders such as Crohn’s disease, irritable bowel syndrome and ulcerative colitis, Kleronomos said. Regular consumption of probiotics may help enhance your natural immune system, too, added Be lfanti.

Vitamin D:Belfanti said vitamin D, which actually is a hormone not a vitamin, comes naturally through sun exposure. Most people in the Northwest do not get enough vitamin D during the cloudy months of fall and winter, but Belfanti said it is an essential mineral to take most if not all year round. Kleronomos said even recent tests in Arizona showed people there were low as well because they were not outside, and when they were, they were using sunscreen. A lack of vitamin D affects things such as seasonal affective disorder. But Kleronomos said vitamin D also promotes calcium absorption and maintains calcium and phosphate levels in the body. It also is needed for bone growth, prevents rickets and helps protect older adults from osteoporosis, he said. Research suggests that vitamin D has many other roles in the body, including cell growth, neuromuscular and immune function and reduction of inflammation. “Vitamin D should almost be considered a pro-hormone because it is involved in so many body processes,” Kleronomos said. Because it’s good for bone health, Belfanti noted athletes in weight-sensitive sports such as gymnastics, running or cycling should take extra care to get enough.

Vitamin C: Known as what to take when you have a cold, vitamin C does indeed support the immune system and healing, but it also contributes to healthy skin and helps to prevent cancer, Kleronomos said. Vitamin C is responsible for growth and repair of tissues and helps to turn food into energy. Vitamin C’s anti-oxidative properties may have a positive impact on hypertension, diabetes, inflammatory diseases and different types of cancer. Belfanti said the vitamin, “perhaps the best-known antioxidant, offers a wide-variety of health benefits, including protecting from infection and damage to body cells, helping produce collagen (the connective tissue that holds bones and muscles together); protecting your b ody from bruising by keeping capillary walls and blood vessels firm; and helping in the absorption of iron and folate.”