You can fight your battle for health, if you want

I recently came across a 2003 press release from the Lewin Group titled “New Study Finds Increased Multivitamin Use by Seniors Could Save Medicare $ 1.6 Billion.”

Excerpt from the statement: “While the evidence strongly supports the beneficial effects of multivitamins in improving immune function and reducing the risk of heart disease, the researchers also reviewed the literature that examined the preventive benefits of multivitamin supplementation in relation to with colorectal cancer, prostate cancer, diabetes and osteoporosis … “

Think about what that might mean, especially for those in a nursing home. I doubt that residents are routinely given a daily vitamin. I think one of the reasons that COVID killed so many nursing home residents was poor nutritional status. His nutrient-deficient immune system was unable to handle the virus.

Remember, this was published in 2003 and little has changed since then. The American people continue to eat primarily a nutritionally ruined, fast-food fast-food diet. More people take supplements to correct a nutritional deficiency, but many supplements are taken only occasionally, and the recommended dosages are often inadequate.

For example, according to the Mayo Clinic, the recommended daily allowance of vitamin C for adult men is 90 milligrams. For adult women it is 75 milligrams with a warning not to take more. (I’ve been taking mega doses of vitamin C for decades, and as you can see, it still hasn’t killed me.) The Linus Pauling Institute at Oregon State University advocates for? 400 mg / day of vitamin C, but who takes that “crazy” advice? The probability of getting 400 mg / day in most daily diets is very small. What is the problem? It is a general animosity towards adequate nutritional supplementation.

Nutrition education in medical schools is totally insufficient. In “State of Nutrition Education in Medical Schools” we read: “In the last two decades there have been numerous pleas to improve the nutritional knowledge and skills of medical students and physicians. However, most of the graduating medical students continue to rate his nutritional preparation as inadequate. “

In fact, it is inappropriate. Unless your doctor is self-taught about good nutrition, don’t bother asking what to eat. They may scoff at your suggestion to take vitamins and say, “Just eat a good diet and you’ll be fine.” You can have cold pizza for breakfast while driving to the office, which is an indication that you have no idea what constitutes a good diet.

We boast that we have the best “health care” system in the world. However, the term “medical care” refers primarily to pharmaceutical industry drugs, which is not “medical care”, but for-profit businesses. Big Phama launches a parade of expensive and often dangerous medications, many with side effects worse than the condition being treated. That the pharmaceutical industry has the nerve to advertise its products on television (“Ask your doctor, if XYZ is right for you”) is despicable.

In relation to the above, consider this: 34% of older adults in the US are prescribed potentially inappropriate medications. According to a new study, the administration of inappropriate medications to older adults is linked to an increase in hospitalizations and costs patients, on average, more than $ 450 a year. According to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), 100,000 Americans die from reactions to prescription drugs each year, making it the fourth leading cause of death in the US.

These potentially inappropriate medications can be prescribed by the charming doctor you love and trust so much, yet they may know little or nothing about a new drug other than what you learn from a salesperson (perhaps with just one high school education) who visits the office who has memorized a script and buzzwords provided by the pharmaceutical company he works for.

If you are interested in improving your nutrition and increasing your chances of a healthier and more attractive old age, what can you do? To get started, do the easy thing: clean up your diet. Get rid of as much refined carbohydrates as possible. Read product labels for carbohydrate content. I know how hard it is to get rid of sugar, but it is a killer. Instead, I use Stevia in moderation.

Eat: eggs, fresh fruits and vegetables, meat and fish without antibiotics or hormones. Taste the delicious hemp hearts in your coach’s oatmeal. (Both available at Costco). Enjoy with organic blueberries (frozen from Costco). If you haven’t tried almond milk, please do so. You’ll know you’re on the right track when your grocery shopping bypasses the middle aisles and instead focuses on the fresh produce aisle.

If you are not taking supplements and would like to start, be gentle on yourself. Start with a quality daily multivitamin like Centrum. One of my favorite resources is Life Extension magazine. If you’re a newbie, don’t let the magazine articles scare you off. There is a lot we all need to know to help us achieve healthy longevity. Remember, your health is YOUR responsibility, not your doctor’s.