A new study shed some disturbing news on the nature of dietary supplements. The majority of them really don’t have much benefit when it comes to improving health, decreasing mortality rates, or improving heart conditions.
This was a huge study and involved looking at over 270 different clinical trials and 24 different interventions. After all was said and done, the conclusion that this group of researchers from Johns Hopkins University made was that most dietary supplements and specialty diets in general didn’t have an impact on the prevention of heart disease or on increasing life span.
While this is frustrating news for those of us who have tried to improve our health through supplements and diets, we need to remember that not everything was without help. The researchers did report that there were a few things that worked. The Omega-3 Fatty Acid diet showed benefits, as did reducing salt intake. Diets with increased Folic Acid were helpful for some, but not everyone. Additionally, this study looked at general populations, and not individuals. There are some individuals who have different dietary needs than others, and for some it is absolutely helpful to use different vitamins and supplements. This is why it’s so important to work closely with a doctor in this area so that you can have the specialized, unique advice that you need to stay as healthy as possible.
Dietary supplements, vitamins, and other over the counter drugs are often used to help supplement or even replace traditional medications. This research indicates that this is rarely as helpful as once thought, and could even be a dangerous alternative. There were instances where the risk of stroke actually increased with certain diets. Obviously, this is something to be avoided.
That’s not to say that there is no value in dietary supplements. However, if this is a path that you are going to pursue, it’s important that the correct approach be taken. Working with a doctor will help you to make good decisions here and help to improve the chances that the supplements you take will actually add to your overall health.
The researchers did point out that eating a heart healthy diet was a much better alternative than any sort of special supplement. Luckily, this is advice that all of us–young and old–can follow. A better diet reduces the risk of heart disease, increases life expectancy, and helps to improve quality of life by bettering other health conditions, too. Those who have a better diet have a lower risk of obesity and even find themselves avoiding some of the disabilities that are common amongst senior citizens. By helping our older loved ones to live healthier lives, we can even help them to reduce the need for senior care.
That need cannot be reduced to zero, though. Even the healthiest of individuals might need care at some point. And if you find your family in this situation, we’re here to help. Give us a call to see how Paradise In-Home Care might be able to help your family with senior care.
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