We all want to age well and feel great while we do it. Supplements come in all shapes and sizes including tablets, gummies, liquid capsules, and liquids. The question is can supplements help and which ones are helpful? There are many helpful supplements like supplements for sleep, bowel movements, energy levels, hydration, or joint health. According data from the 2023 CRN Consumer Survey on Dietary Supplements confirms the mainstream status of supplements and the important role they play in the lives of most American, with 74 percent of the U.S. adults taking dietary supplements, and 55 percent qualifying as “regular users” (Three-quarters of Americans Take Dietary Supplements; Most Users Agree They Are Essential to Maintaining Health, CRN Consumer Survey Finds | Council for Responsible Nutrition, 2023)
This doesn’t mean that all supplements are actually good for us and specifically when it is related to old age individuals. Here are a few supplements that are known for their beneficial effects: Calcium, Vitamin D, Probiotics, Magnesium, and a Multivitamin. Why are these the good supplements? Calcium helps with blood clotting, muscles, normal heart rhythms, and nerve functions. When you don’t receive the calcium that your body needs your body begins to take it from your bones; taking calcium is good for your bone health. (Ellis, 2024)
What about the others? Vitamin D has many great benefits for your body. Firstly it's present in the absorption of calcium. It also works as an anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and has neuroprotective properties. Vitamin D helps with immune health, muscle function, and brain cell activity. At the age of 70 the daily requirement is 600 IU and after the age of 70 800 IU is required. (Ellis, 2024)
Probiotics are the good bacteria that live in your digestive system and help stable bowel movements as well as maintaining healthy digestion. Healthy gut health has a link to many things like inflammation, brain fog, weight loss, sleep, and depression. (Ellis, 2024) Magnesium is also a great supplement it helps with immune function, enzymatic reaction, and it lowers inflammation. It lowers the chance of depression and not having enough can cause many issues like high blood pressure, heart disease, Type 2 diabetes, and osteoporosis. (Ellis, 2024) Finally the multi-vitamin can help with overall well being. All the multi vitamin bottles have labels with the types of vitamins and dosage. To ensure you are purchasing quality vitamins look for for the USP symbol.(Ellis, 2024)
Supplements can be a great source of the essentials we require for overall wellness. Its a good idea to ask your doctor for more information and for specific information regarding the best vitamins to take for you need. Prescription vitamins at higher doses can be more effective. It never hurts to ask your doctor for advice on any pain or other symptom that you may be experiencing.
Citations:
Ellis, R. R. (2024, July 12). The 5 best supplements for healthy aging, according to a longevity expert. Fortune Well. https://fortune.com/well/article/best-supplements-for-healthy-aging/
(Ellis, 2024)
Three-quarters of Americans Take Dietary Supplements; Most Users Agree They are Essential to Maintaining Health, CRN Consumer Survey Finds | Council for Responsible Nutrition. (2023, October 5). CRN. Retrieved October 20, 2024, from https://www.crnusa.org/newsroom/three-quarters-americans-take-dietary-supplements-most-users-agree-they-are-essential
(Three-quarters of Americans Take Dietary Supplements; Most Users Agree They Are Essential to Maintaining Health, CRN Consumer Survey Finds | Council for Responsible Nutrition, 2023)