Supplements

Welcome to Thriving-Baby-Boomers – A Whole person approach to wellness

“Empowering others to take a balanced approach to their own health and wellness by focusing on all aspects of the whole person.’

“Focusing on the whole person to maximize health and wellness for life.”

Supplements for Baby Boomers

I’m really of mixed mind about the need for supplements. I feel that if I’m eating ‘right’ then I shouldn’t need supplements.

That’s not to say that over the years I haven’t taken supplements.

In the mid-seventies, when I was pregnant with my daughter I was on a super-high iron supplement to get me through my pregnancy.

During the mid-eighties, I dabbled with supplements – mostly iron and B-vitamins in order to give me a boost in energy. I would take them for several months and not feel like they were doing much, so I would quit taking them.

Since the early nineties, I have been taking melatonin to help me sleep. Recently I have stopped taking melatonin and switched to L-tryptophan to help relieve stress and help me sleep. It seems to be working well for me.

Good Net has a nice list of 11 Essential Vitamins and minerals your body needs, and the foods you can get them from. Vitamins from A – Z (zinc).

The Daily Burn lists The 8 B Vitamins Plus Top Food Sources to get these vitamins.

WebMD goes even further in its list and also includes how much one should have of each vitamin and mineral for all ages. Although I disagree with their listing of fluoride as a necessity for teeth and to prevent cavities, it’s still a pretty good website.

The following is a list on WebMD of all the necessary minerals and vitamins one needs for optimal health and well-being:

Necessary Minerals

Calcium
Choline
Chromium
Copper
Fibre
Folate (Folic acid)
Iodine
Iron
Magnesium
Manganese
Molybdenum
Phosphorus
Potassium
Selenium
Sodium

Dietary-supplements-Variety

(Source – Expert Health Reviews)

Necessary Vitamins

Vitamin A
Vitamin B1 (thiamine)
Vitamin B2 (riboflavin)
Vitamin B3 (niacin)
Vitamin B5 (pantothenic acid)
Vitamin B6
Vitamin B7 (biotin)
Vitamin B12
Vitamin C
Vitamin D
Vitamin E
Vitamin K
Zinc

A few years ago, because I was sick and tired of being sick and tired, I had a whole battery of tests done. My iron checked out, and my thyroid and adrenals checked out. They even tested for Vitamin D and the doctor told me she’d never seen a woman my age (+50 at the time) have such a high level of Vitamin D. AND – I am not a ‘sun worshipper,’ I don’t take Vitamin D supplements, I don’t drink milk, I don’t eat ‘fortified cereals, and I rarely eat fish (although I do eat shellfish – shrimp & scallops), so I have no idea where I’m getting my Vitamin D from.

A small sample of foods to get your vitamins and minerals from:

Dairy

Eggs
fortified milk products
hard cheeses
milk
yogurt

Fruits and Berries

bananas
kiwis
oranges and other citrus fruits
strawberries

Grains

bread products, enriched and whole-grain bread
cereals, fortified cereals, wheat bran cereals
oats, oatmeal
quinoa
whole grains, whole wheat

Meats & Seafood

Meats

Beef
Organ meats – Liver

Poultry

Chicken
Turkey

Fish & Seafood

Fatty fish
Yellow-fin tuna
Seaweed

Nuts, Seeds, and Legumes

Nuts

Almonds
Brazil nuts
Peanut butter

Seeds

Sunflower seeds

Legumes

Chickpeas
Beans
Lentils
Peas

Oils

Fish liver oils
Vegetable oils

Vegetables

Green leafy vegetables

Collards
Kale
Spinach

Other Vegetables

Broccoli
Brussels sprouts
Cabbage
Carrots
Peas
Peppers (Red and green)
Potatoes (Sweet potatoes)
Tomatoes

Seasonings

Iodized salt

vitamins-and-minerals

(Source –Iron-rich foods)

Chances are the average person is already getting most of their vitamins and minerals from the food they eat.

I am NOT an expert in health and nutrition. I am barely an ‘expert’ in my own health and nutrition needs. Certain ideas about healthy eating really resonate with me, but yet, when I tried them I didn’t get the results that others were getting, therefore I cannot and will not say that any one program of nutrition is the end-all, be-all. (Please consult your own health care provider to find out what is best for you.)

I only explain my understanding and my practices, but I know from trial and error that what works for me may or may not work for you… Listen to YOUR body.

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