What do you know about supplements? Take the quiz

Posted on Dec 27th 2006 4:40PM by Martha Edwards

Filed Under: Diet & Weight Loss, Nutrition & Supplements

These days, it seems like everyone's medicine cabinet is stacked to the top with vitamin supplements that promise various benefits. We've come a long way from taking a Flintstone's multivitamin everyday -- now drugstores are full of different nutrients and vitamins. But do we really need them? And what do people really know about those supplements they take diligently every day? Supplements have many health benefits, but they can also have drawbacks.

It's no secret that many people don't know the real story behind the supplements they are taking and it's important to know what we are putting into our bodies. This quiz can offer some valuable insight into the world of supplements as well as advice on taking supplements. If you're currently taking supplements or are thinking of starting on a supplement regime, I encourage you to take it.

I got 4 out of 5. What about you?

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21 Comment

Tags: flintstones, multivitamin, quix, supplements, vitamins

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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

Emilee 1-04-2007 @ 5:38PM

There is no research on over the counter medicinal herbs because nobody uses them. Please consult a doctor for your body health regimen before starting any supplements.

MIKE POLSKY 12-30-2006 @ 7:55AM

LETS FACE IT PEOPLE , THE DOCTORS ,DRUG COMPANIES, INSURANCE COMPANIES, AND YES OUR GOVERMENT ARE ALL STACKED AGAINST US. ITS ALL ABOUT MONEY AND HAS NOTHING TO DO ABOUT HEALTH. YES I WILL LOOK TO HERBS AND SUPPLEMENTS BEFORE GOING TO A DOCTOR. I RECENTLY APPLIED TO BLUE CROSS/SHEILD AND WAS TOLD THE MONTHLY PREMIUM WOULD BE 1 THOUSAND $, IN OTHER WORDS THEY ARE NOT TAKING EVEN THE SLIGHTEST RISK. I AM 49, MALE, AND TAKE A THYROID PILL; THATS ALL; I'M HEALTHY. SO I'M NOT REASONABLY INSUREABLE; SO BE IT. I'D RATHER TRY A NATURAL APPROACH TO ILLNESS AND DIE BEFORE I WASTE ALL MY $ ON THESE BASTERDS AND DIE ANYWAY. CHECK WITH AN HERBAL/SUPPLEMENT EXPERT WHO KNOWS THESE PRODUCTS SO YOUR NOT TAKING TOO MUCH OR TOO LITTLE AND GET ADVICE ON DIET TOO. THIS IS INEXPENSIVE AND OFTEN FREE. IT COST ME 30 $ TO CURE AN EAR INFECTION WITH EAR OIL AND ECHINACEA.

Jean Blair 12-30-2006 @ 8:32AM

Amen to the previous post from Mike. There are some wonderful books that explain about the herbs, what each one can do or cannot do, which ones to stay away from and which ones could interact with the traditional meds. In fact, a lot of meds are derived from herbs. Then things are added that are NOT good for you so the pharms can patent them. They cannot patent something natural. God put all these things on earth to help us. The drug companies have a license to kill and the herbalists go to jail for healing. Drugs are cheap to make as we all have found out what with some of the druggists being able to sell a generic scrip for 4.00 each. We have 3 drug stores in our small town that do this. There is no reason to have to pay the outrageous prices. If you Dr. insists you have the expensive drug, go somewhere else. I got a generic Nexium. You would not believe the difference. Better get off my soap box now. Jean

leon 12-30-2006 @ 8:46AM

I agree. Supplements work for me. I just could not take the allergy medication. supplements help me 100%.

Joy Kent 12-30-2006 @ 9:25AM

I wanted to let you know that your site is very attractive, easy to follow and comes up easily which the other sites on AOL do not. There is also great thoughts and information. thank you

Loren 1-03-2007 @ 9:38PM

Last year I began having many female problems. I had never been sick before that. After a few visits to the doctor, I asked them if maybe my hormones could possibly be the cause of all of my troubles. I am a 36 year old mother of 3 children. The FEMALE doctor said that no, it could not be hormones. She suggested that I get a hysterectomy! A hysterectomy! and she refused to check my hormones. None of the other doctors would consider checking my hormones because she had said no (she apparently was the head doctor).
I came home and researched and found herbal supplements (Vitex and astragalas). I take one daily plus a multi-vitamin and I am well now, with no thank you to the doctors that wanted to remove part of me!

gypsyblueyes 12-30-2006 @ 10:31AM

Are you KIDDING me!?!?!

1. "There is no research on over the counter medicinal herbs because nobody uses them. Please consult a doctor for your body health regimen before starting any supplements."

Wow, Emilee- you are really in a dark place...MILLIONS of people take them!! There is TONS of research on supplements!! Good flippin GRIEF!!! It is as stated before- there are FDA rules that make things what they are today- confused, overpriced, unavailable...
Check out what has been done to those who preach use of herbal or other natural "treatments"/"preventatives" by our (FDA)government. ie.=Kevin Trudeau

gypsyblueyes 12-30-2006 @ 10:29AM

Wow Loren!!! Way to GO Girl!!!

Damn straight it is time we all looked out more for our OWN health- Doc's are NOT gods!! They make mistakes- thousands are injured/killed each year simply by medication "errors"...not even going into all the other possibilities here.

Thank goodness you had it in you to "fight" the "norm" and look into your own (much, much better) solution!!!

P.S.
I am a current 4th yr. Nursing student and it would scare the be-jeebers out of many of you to know some of what I have seen already- even PRIOR to becoming a licensed nurse!!! (Huge sigh...)

rick 12-31-2006 @ 12:27PM

Congress was paid millions to keep competition out of medicine! Medical insurance is a joke because of this. Take my advice and get your medicine from overseas or mexico. Forget the BS about conterfeit drugs. Countries like india put you to death for even possessing them. Either we get competition or we go to socialized medicine, if working class people are to get any care at all. How about thinking of voting LIBERTARIAN in the next election so that you can actually have free market competition and fair competition with no trade deficits. This will only get worse if you don't!!!

C Ruth Wieck 12-30-2006 @ 12:20PM

I have a friend whose Dr. put her on Lipator for high cholesterol. She got such muscle cramps that she couldn't walk. She went off the drug and started eating a bowl of oatmeal every morning. She sprinkels it with cinnamon and sljvered almonds--both natural cholesterol lowereing foods. Her numbers went down as low as the drug within a month, and she had no side effects. So much for expensive drugs. If people are willing to make lifestyle changes, many of them will never need drugs.

joyce ryals 12-30-2006 @ 12:01PM

I was taking zantac each and every day until I switched to apple cidar vinegar caps twice a day and that was over two yrs ago. I have not had indigestion or heartburn since. I suffered with the same every day. So I praise apple cidar vinegar.

Linda 12-30-2006 @ 12:15PM

If people would do some checking they might find that prescriptions started out with herbs and supplements. Some contain herbs still. Over the years the drug companies have added more and more drugs. People are getting pro-active and are going more toward preventative health care. It's better for your health and cheaper too. Health insurance companies are more willing to pay drugs and operations, and then, only when they choose.

larry 12-30-2006 @ 9:59PM

I was in a horrible boating accident that practically cut me in half four years ago. Although the trauma team miraculously saved my life, I have a long road ahead. I have fantastic doctors, but the truth (according to them) is that they don't know what to do with me. Using the outstanding advice of the local herb and vitamin lady, I targeted specific areas of my body's damage: muscles, nerves, bones/joints and immune system. I am having a miraculous recovery and I credit God first of all, the phenomenal work of my doctors, my current PT regimen and the supplements. I should note that supplements are just that: they don't make up for a poor diet.
THE BOTTOM LINE: Use every resource available to become better informed about your health.

mike polsky 12-30-2006 @ 9:59PM

EMILY IS EITHER A DOCTOR OR CONNECTED TO DRUG COMPANIES OR MAYBE INSURANCE COMPANIES TO MAKE SUCH A COMENT TWICE. ALL THE OTHER BLOGS ARE ON THE MONEY; NATURAL HERBS AND SUPPLEMENTS ARE THE WAY TO GO !!!!!!!

bobby f. 12-30-2006 @ 12:55PM

I dont know dit-squat about medicene. So dont ask me.

Bob 12-30-2006 @ 9:59PM

The author of this article probably got paid by a drug company to print negative things about supplements so that people would start mistrusting natural products, and run to doctors (legal drug dealers) for a prescription. Why do scientists study plants in the rain forests? Why do some even live with tribes of Africa or South America, learning their medicine? If they didnt believe that natural herbs could help you. No one would waste their time. Natural is the way to go. The only real doctors are the ones who can help you in an emergency, such as surgeons. All the other ones don't know anything except how to drug you so you dont feel your pain or have the side effects of an illness. No one really "cures" you of the illness. It is illegal to cure anyone. Those side effects will go away and you forget about your pain, then you go back a year later w/ another side effect, stemming from the same problem which was never treated.

Howard 12-30-2006 @ 9:58PM

THIS IS RIDICULOUS! Herbs and other notions & potions are NOT a cure-all. Ask why the vitamin & herbal medicine industry refused FDA (Food & Drug Administration) oversight or regulation. Because they knew that folks would find out what CONSUMER REPORTS and others have reported. Many "supplements" are useless, or in the case of some manufacturers, either contain incorrect amounts (as advertised) or don't contain all that they say they will do. Folks, wake up! This is not the 19th century: we don't need "snake oil" any more. Yes...there are some supplements out there that are helpful. Yes...not all modern medicine has all the answers. But having lived in Asia where they have a cultlike belief in herbal medicines (like some in this feedback) are often basing it on spurious, folklore or other non-scientific medicine. Just as some here accuse doctors or researchers of going after money, one can also accuse "allopaths, naturopaths" and other "non-licensed so-called 'doctors'" of the same. If u want to use herbal medicine, at least let your physician know what you're using. Research it BUT NOT ON SELF-PROMOTING "natural herb/medicine" websites that often are there to "sell/push" their own product$. There's no need to go back in time: use what modern science & research has to offer and be WILLINGLY to at least see what they do. Does modern medicine/doctors have all the answers? Of course not. But I will certainly check with them before I put my health & life based on "rumors, urban legends or myths" about many herbal medicines & supplements. There may be some out there that help, but you better believe that I'll check it out first. Do that! Don't let the phony "doctors" with their "snake oil" fool you!

Tena 12-30-2006 @ 9:57PM

One of the best books I have read was by Suzanne Somers. Women that are going through menopause or pre-menopause should read her book. I did research on my own plus reading her book. I was going through some really hard times, I feel like a new person now. Go Natural all the way. It's the healthier way. The difference is like Day and Night from what I am feeling and what I was feeling. I'm glad I did, other wise I would still be feeling like death because the doctors said nothing was wrong with me. I got on natural Hormones.
The best thing to happen to me, I'm a new women....

Sharon Turpin 12-30-2006 @ 9:57PM

I agree with everyone but Emily. Two years ago I became very ill with something that baffled all the so-called medical experts. For more than six months I continued to go down hill till I could barely function. I was told I had a mass on my lungs and it could be anything from lung cancer to TB. These experts could not figure out what to do. I realized if I wanted to live, it was up to me to take charge of my own life. I began studying extensively and taking supplements relevent to my symptoms. Two weeks later, I was recovering and told by my doctor "You cured yourself, pay the receptionist."

Sharon Turpin 12-31-2006 @ 6:49AM

Emily, I hope you don't become seriously ill and rely on doctors to cure you. Two years ago I became very ill. For more than six months I continued to go down hill. The so-called medical experts did not know what to do for me. I was told there was a mass on my lungs, which could be anything from lung cancer to TB! I realized if I wanted to live, I was going to have take control of my own health. I began studying and taking supplements relevent to my symptoms. Within two weeks, I was healthy. My doctor replied "You cured yourself", and then handed me the bill!!!

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