Red Hot Mamas In Charge of Change.
By: Red Hot Mamas
Published: May 26, 2010
Americans are crazy for their vitamins and supplements. Last year alone, we spent $26.7 billion on vitamins, minerals, herbs, botanicals, amino acids and other dietary supplements. These days, pharmacy shelves, grocery stores and the internet offer a vast array of choices for the consumer. Many of them seem very appealing as they lure us with their seductive, often exaggerated promises of slimming down, boosting performance in the bedroom or increasing our athletic abilities. Most of them claim to be natural, so they seem safe and healthy, but do you know the ingredients in the supplements you’re taking?
The September 2010 issue of Consumer Reports reveals some of the ingredients in supplements may be linked to serious health problems, many of which have already been flagged by the FDA. Consumer Reports warns its readers about 12 supplements you should avoid including aconite, bitter orange, chaparral, colloidal silver, coltsfoot, comfrey, country mallow, germanium, greater celandine, kava, lobelia and yohimbe. These ingredients have been linked to serious side effects and health risks including liver and kidney damage, heart rhythm disorders and unhealthy blood pressure levels.
Many people don’t realize that the FDA does not regulate supplements for safety and effectiveness prior to appearing on our drug store shelves. Consumers purchase supplements at their own risk. So, always be sure to check with your clinician and/or pharmacist before taking any supplements. A vast array of safe and effective supplements are available, but since they are not regulated, oftentimes they are thrown into the same category as the bad ones. Popular supplements have been shown to likely be safe for certain conditions, including these 11 supplements to consider. Do your homework and use your resources:
- The National Institutes of Health’s Office of Dietary Supplements.
- The FDA, for alerts, advisories, and other actions.
- Consumer Reports Health’s dietary supplements and natural health products information.
Let’s not forget that supplements are not the end all option for gaining nutrients. While it may be easier to reach for a pill, many people forget they can actually receive the nutrients they need through a healthy, well balanced diet. At menopause, proper eating habits are especially important. As midlife approaches, women are faced with some nutritional challenges.
Eat a healthy diet, which is low in fat, saturated fat and cholesterol. Include plenty of vegetables, fruits and grains in your diet. Talk to your clinician about your specific nutritional challenges so you can personalize your diet for menopause. For the Red Hot Mamas complete guide to nutrition at menopause, check out Eat to Defeat Menopause, a must read for those who want to maximize their lives at menopause.
References:
“Dangerous Supplements: What You Don’t Know About These 12 Ingredients Could Hurt You.” Consumer Reports. N.p., September 2010. Web. 10 Aug 2010. website.
Fox, Maggie. “U.S. Dietary Supplements Often Contaminated: Report.” The Washington Post. Reuters, 01 08 2010. Web. 10 Aug 2010. website.
Singer, Natasha. “Weekend Reading: Dietary Supplements .”The New York Times. N.p., 06 08 2010. Web. 10 Aug 2010. website.
Stein, Jeannine. “What’s Lurking in Those Supplements?.” The Baltimore Sun. Los Angeles Times, 03 08 2010. Web. 10 Aug 2010. website
