remedies in treating and/or preventing medical conditions
like arthritis, diabetes, heart disease, blindness and the
common cold.
As an
example, niacin (vitamin B3) is a well-established treatment for
high cholesterol. According to the Mayo Clinic’s reports on
nutritional supplements, its effectiveness in lowering
cholesterol has been confirmed by numerous studies that have
judged it as having more beneficial effects on HDL (good
cholesterol) and being better at lowering LDL (bad cholesterol)
than prescription drugs like Lipitor. Because of its beneficial
effects on cholesterol, niacin supplements are also often
prescribed to help prevent second heart attacks and reduce
atherosclerosis.
Much of
the recent research has focused on establishing appropriate
dosages and daily optimal requirements for various supplements
like fish oil (omega 3 EFA), Echinacea (an immune system
stimulant), and vitamin B (for treatment of depression and
schizophrenia). It’s not uncommon to read in the results of
well-designed studies that ‘the results are promising, but more
research is needed to establish most effective dosages.’ More
and more of the diseases that are seen as ‘modern illnesses’
seem to have their root in nutritional deficiencies. As more
research is completed, we can expect to find that many of the
illnesses that have baffled science for years are actually
caused by deficiencies in our diet, and can be prevented by
supplementing our diets with the nutrients that we lack.
Diagnosing and treating health conditions is not a job for the
layman. If you believe that you have a serious health condition
like diabetes, heart disease or hypertension, your first step
should be to consult your doctor. If your doctor determines
that you have a health condition that can benefit from the use
of nutritional supplements, discuss dosages and alternatives
with him.
If you
are under a doctor’s care for any health condition, it’s
important to discuss any dietary supplements that you take with
your health care provider. There may be interactions with
medications that he’s prescribed, or a better choice of
supplement for your particular condition.
Among
those that the FDA suggests can benefit from using nutritional
supplements are those with health conditions that either deplete
the body of needed nutrients or are the result of a deficiency
of one or more essential vitamins, minerals, amino acids or
other nutrient.
