Get Vitamin Protected This Fall
By Cassie Johnson
G
erms will join our students as they go back to school this month. A plethora of bacteria-carrying viruses including strep, influenza, stomach bugs, colds, and COVID-19 will surround schools like great whites around chum on Shark Week! All kidding aside, it’s a good time to protect yourself and your family by boosting your immunity with quality vitamins. According to maxliving.com, 92% of Americans are deficient in at least one essential vitamin or mineral. Nearly 80% are deficient in vitamin
D while over 99% are deficient in essential omega-3 fatty acids. Vitamins are not regulated like prescription medicine. It’s important to know what to look for on the label. There may be unfamiliar terms such as certified, GMO or vegan, or organic. Take a closer look to ensure your purchase fits your needs. A Certified Family Herbalist is the most beneficial person to help you find quality vitamins and the correct dosage. “An herbalist needs to know all of your health conditions. Anything from diabetes to high cholesterol can make a difference in supplements that are safe for you. For example, tumeric is used for arthritis, but it can lower iron. If you struggle with anemia, another anti-inflammatory would be healthier. Omega-3s are encouraged for heart health, but some filler oils in the vitamin can be harmful. In that case, fish oils can have the opposite effect by raising your cholesterol and hurting your heart,” Geoff Speed, Certified Family Herbalist and owner of The Golden Carrot in Paducah.
Look For the Certification
The FDA does not need to approve vitamins. Supplements are not intended to diagnose, prevent, treat, or cure any disease. Rest assured that good, quality vitamins are safe products to take regardless of FDA approval. There are a couple of certifications to look for on labels. NSF (National Sanitation Foundation International) is an independent third-party organization that verifies the purity and safety of each batch of supplements. USP (United States Pharmacopoeia) assures purity and potency. One key factor is that USP certifies that the
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AUGUST - SEPTEMBER 2022
Purchase Area Family Magazine
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