Vegetarian Times' Guide to Vitamins, Minerals and Herbal Supplements - Brief Article

Vegetarian Times, July, 2000

To supplement or not to supplement? By all accounts, there's no substitute for a healthy diet rich in fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, and whole grains. For a variety of reasons, however, very few people achieve this optimum diet. In a recent USDA survey, more than 80 percent of women and more than 70 percent of men consumed less than two-thirds the RDA for one or more nutrients.

Interest in vitamins, minerals and herbal supplements has increased steadily over the last several years. There is a wealth of products available, so many that it can often be a bit overwhelming. Many of these products are, Eke multivitamins, designed to enhance nutrition. Others, like many herbal remedies, are used to prevent or treat certain conditions, or act as gentle and natural aids through normal life phases such as menopause.

In this special section, we discuss both the classics and some of the newest supplements available. This list is by no means comprehensive. We invite you to use all the resources at your disposal to determine your own health strategy and, of course, always discuss your supplement use with your health care provider.

Supplement           Brand  Indications

Calcium              Visit your local natural products retailer

Echinacea            Visit your local natural products retailer

Evening Primrose     Royal Brittany[TM] Evening Primrose Oil
Oil/GLA (Gamma
Linoleic Acid)

Flower Pollen        Cernilton Flower Pollen

Gingko Biloba        Visit your local natural products retailer

Glucosamine          Nature's Plus Ultra Rx-Joint
Chondroiton/         Glucosamine Chondroiton
MSM

Green Foods          Pines Wheatgrass
(technically not
supplements, but
nutritional whole
foods)

Inositol/Inositol    Enzymatic Therapy[R] Cell forte with IP-6[TM]
Hexaphophate

Multivitamin         American Health's More Than A Multiple[R]

Omega-3 Essential    Martek Nueromins[R] DHA
Fatty Acids

Pro-Biotic           Nestle LC1
(acidophilus)

Red Clover/          Novogen Promensil[TM]
Isoflavones

SAM-e                Nature made SAM-e

Senior               All-One Nutritech Active Seniors Formula
Formulation

Soy Protein          Nature's Plus Spirutein

Vitamin A            Visit your local natural products retailer

Vitamin              Visit your local natural products retailer
B-complex/
Folic Acid

Vitamin C            Visit your local natural products retailer

Vitamin D            Visit your local natural products retailer

Vitamin E            Carlson Labs Vitamin E

Vitamin K            Visit your local natural products retailer

Supplement           Indications

Calcium              Supports musculoskeletal and nervous systems.
                     Prevents bone loss.

Echinacea            Stimulates immune system. Helpful in fighting
                     viral, bacterial, and fungal infections.

Evening Primrose     Relieves symptoms of PMS.
Oil/GLA (Gamma
Linoleic Acid)

Flower Pollen        Supports healthy prostate function.

Gingko Biloba        Stimulates peripheral circulation and blood
                     supply. Heightens memory.

Glucosamine          Rebuilds, repairs and restores joint tissue.
Chrondroiton/
MSM

Green Foods          Helps heal ulcers and skin disorders. Lowers
9technically not     cholesterol, supports beneficial bacteria and
supplements, but     builds healthy blood. Can help with
nutritional whole    infertility and increase energy.
foods)

Inositol/Inositol    Increases natural killer T-cell activity.
Hexaphophate         Boosts natural cellular defense.

Multivitamin         Dietary supplement including vitamins,
                     minerals, lipotropic and enzyme factors,
                     herbs, trace minerals, antioxidants and
                     phytonutrients.

Omega-3 Essential    Supports healthy brain, eye, and heart tissues
Fatty Acids          and overall cardiovascular health.

Pro-Biotic           Helps maintain proper balance of intestinal
(acidophilus)        bacteria. Stimulates immunity.

Red Clover/          Provides all four major isoflavones:
Isoflavones          genistein, biochanin, daidzein, formononetin.
                     Reduces hot flashes and other menopausal
                     symptoms.

SAM-e                Mood, joint and liver support. Aids in battle
                     against depression.

Senior               Provides complete nutrition for the specific
Formulation          needs of a mature body.

Soy Protein          Includes soy protein, spirulina and 100% RDA
                     of all vitamins and most minerals. Beneficial
                     to heart health. Energy supplement.

Vitamin A            Supports healthy cell growth, eye and skin
                     health, fights free radicals, protects
                     reproductive organs and keeps bones strong.

Vitamin              Can help prevent birth defects as well as
B-complex/           colon cancers. Fights cholesterol.
Folic Acid

Vitamin C            Fights the common cold. Protects against
                     certain cancers. Fights cholesterol.

Vitamin D            Promotes calcium absorption.

Vitamin E            Promotes healthy blood flow and healthy skin.
                     Provides antioxidants. Supports heart health.

Vitamin K            Decreases heavy menstrual flow, helps heal
                     bruises, sun-damaged skin and spider veins.