There are several types of supplements that are so beneficial, just about everyone should be taking them. And if you suffer one of a number of common illnesses and conditions, certain targeted supplements may also be well worth your time.
Superfood Supplements
The title “superfoods” can sound arrogant to some of you. I believe these fruits and herbs deserve this title because of their extremely high concentrations of healing properties. These properties have been extensively studied for decades and proven to reduce disease when provided in food.
Superfood supplementation goes far beyond the benefits of synthetic vitamins and minerals. My favorite superfood powder contains concentrated spirulina, chlorella, acai berries, gogi berries, maca root, mangosteen, amla fruit, noni fruit, sea buckthorn, ashwagandha root, alfalfa leaf, green papaya, cordyceps and bladderwrack. These and other fruit, vegetable and herbal concentrates (pure, dried organic foods) can be consumed daily in combination with nutrient-rich whole foods. The perfect example is to mix a heaping tablespoon of dried superfood mixture into a fresh fruit/vegetable smoothie or fresh juice.
Nutrient Supplements That Can Benefit Everyone
There are nutrient supplements that can improve the health state of virtually every person in America.
To summarize:
- Digestive health: Digestive enzyme blend with food; probiotic blend once daily.
- Phytonutrients (best from superfood powder concentrates as discussed above): Includes things like mixed carotenoids (beta-carotene, alpha-carotene, lycopene, astaxanthin, lutein, zeaxanthin), polyphenols (resveratrol, flavonols) and others.
- Omega 3 fatty acids (fish or fish oil): At 5,000 mg daily with EPA/DHA at a ratio of 3:2 can reduce endothelial inflammation. [1] [2]
- Herbal teas: Green and black tea contain the phytonutrient epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG). [3] [4]
- Vitamin D3 (at 2,000 to 5,000 IU daily unless you get consistent sunlight): Blood levels need to be 60-80 ng/ml.
Nutrients That Significantly Reduce Chronic Illnesses And Their Costs
A recent report [5] by the Council for Responsible Nutrition (CRN) states that “75 percent of total U.S. healthcare expenditures are spent on preventable diseases — but only three percent of total healthcare expenditures are invested in disease prevention programs.”
This report came from an extensive systematic review of the scientific literature performed by the consulting firm Frost & Sullivan. They looked for the nutrient supplements that directly reduce major common illnesses when taken in preventive doses by adults age 55 and older, along with the huge economic savings this would produce. [6]
Here is what they found:
- Omega-3 oil: Would save nearly $4 billion from heart disease-attributed costs from 2013 to 2020 if taken by patients with coronary heart disease (CHD).
- Vitamins B6, B12 and folate: Would prevent 808,225 CHD-related events from 2013 to 2020 if taken by patients with CHD.
- Phytosterols: $4.23 billion per year would be saved in avoidable hospital costs if taken by patients with CHD.
- Psyllium dietary fiber: $4.38 billion per year would be saved from 2013 to 2020 if taken by patients with CHD.
- Chromium Picolinate: 649,944 coronary events from 2013 to 2020 would be avoided if taken by patients with diabetes and CHD.
- Lutein and Zeaxanthin: $3.87 billion per year would be avoided in healthcare use costs if taken by those with cataracts and age-related macular degeneration.
- Calcium and Vitamin D3: $12 billion would be saved in osteoporosis-related costs if taken by women with osteoporosis.
- Magnesium: $6.8 billion from 2013 to 2020 would be saved in avoidable hospital use costs if taken by women with osteoporosis.
There are still other supplements that could lower the cardiovascular disease risk, including phytonutrients: polyphenolics, [7] [8] lycopene, [9] anthocyanins, [10] astaxanthins, [11] beta-carotene, [12] bioflavonoids, [13] lutein[14] /zeaxanthin, [15] indoles, [16] chlorophyll [17] and phytosterols. [18]
Anti-Cancer Supplements
In addition to those already mentioned, these nutrient supplements help treat cancer:
- Vitalzym or Wobenzyme: The types of eznymes used by Nicholas Gonzalez, M.D., in his clinic.
- Yeast fighters (Yeast can be an underlying culprit to immune weakness): Olive leaf extract, whole leaf aloe vera extract, oil of oregano and grapefruit seed extract.
- Parasite cleanses: Using black walnut, sweet wormwood (Artemisinin) and cloves.
- Amino acids: L-lysine (3 grams/day), L-proline (1.5 grams/day), L-arginine (2 grams/day), often termed the Matthias Rath protocol.
- Beta Glucan: A complex sugar from baker’s yeast, oat and barley fiber, and maitake mushrooms.
- Topical blood root (Sanguinarine) juice: For skin cancer.
- Essiac Tea: Burdock root, slippery elm bark, sheep sorrel, Indian rhubarb root.
- Ellagic Acid: From various berries, walnuts, pecans and pomegranates.
- Graviola and Paw Paw: See http://www.pawpawresearch.com/
- Hydrazine Sulfate: See http://alternativecancer.us/hydrazinesulfate.htm.
- Laetrile: See http://alternativecancer.us/laetrile.htm.
- MGN-3: Rice bran enzymatically treated with sugars from shitake, kawaratake and surehrotake mushrooms (http://alternativecancer.us/mgn3.htm).
- Modified Citrus Pectin: Binds cancer cells to help prevent spread.
- OPC (Oligomeric Proanthocyanodins): From grape seed extracts.
- Pau d’ Arco bark extract: See www.paudarco.com.
Nutrient Supplements For Alzheimer’s
The peer-reviewed scientific literature shows strong evidence that the some supplements are useful in the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease (more particularly for Alzheimer’s):
- Polyphenolic herbs and extracts: Green tea (EGCG), [19] ginkgo biloba with ginseng, [20] blueberries (anthocyanins), [21] grape seeds (resveratrol), [22] curcumin, [23] marine algae (fucoxanthin), [24] [25] cat’s claw,[26] [27] [28] bilberry and black currant, [29] Vinpocetine. [30] [31]
- Amino acids: Acetyl-l-carnitine, [32] [33] L-glutamine and L-tyrosine.
- Phosphatidyl serine: [34] [35] [36] [37] [38] Useful along with phosphatidyl choline (lecithin), and omega-3 oil (inclusive of both DHA and EPA).
- Vitamins: B1 (thiamine), [39] [40] vitamin D3, [41] [42] vitamin E (d-alpha-tocopherol with mixed tocopherols). [43]
- Coenzyme Q10. [44] [45]
- Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH). [46] [47]
In addition, these supplements are useful for Parkinson’s disease:
- Amino acids: Acetyl-l-carnitine daily, with R-alpha lipoic acid, [48] [49] tryptophan, tyrosine, phenylalanine and N-acetyl-cysteine. [50]
- Chelators DMSA [51] or EDTA: Used along with antioxidant supplements [52] if there is reason to suspect heavy metal toxicity from previous exposure to lead, cadmium, mercury or arsenic.
- Melatonin: 1 mg one hour before bed five days per week.
- Phytonutrient extracts: Ashwagandha leaf extract. [53] [54] [55]
- Black tea (extract) and coffee. [56] [57]
- Phytonutrients: Rutin, [58] [59] resveratrol and mucuna pruriens.
- Vitamins: C and E. [60]
As you can see, we have come a long ways since the days of single nutrient synthetic vitamins. This information should arm you with what you need to know about supplements to prevent and treat many diseases.
To feeling good,
Michael Cutler, M.D.
Easy Health Options
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[5] Council for Responsible Nutrition at www.crnusa.org/CRNfoundation/HCCS. The summary report is found here: http://www.crnusa.org/CRNfoundation/HCCS/chapters/CRN-HCCS-brochure0913.pdf
[6] Frost & Sullivan investigated the scientific literature looking for a causal relationship between dietary supplement intake and the incidence of specific health conditions of interest. Then for each supplement they could determine the overall impact of the dietary supplement intervention on a disease event occurrence. Then with data from the Agency for Healthcare Research & Quality on current costs of particular medical events associated with disease endpoints, they could determine the expected savings from medical interventions still to be realized with increased supplement usage.
[7] Asami DK, et al. Comparison of the total phenolic and ascorbic acid content of freeze-dried and air-dried marionberry, strawberry, and corn grown using conventional, organic, and sustainable agricultural practices. J Agric Food Chem. 2003 Feb 26;51(5):1237-41
[8] Cazzola R, et al. Anti-oxidant, anti-glycant, and inhibitory activity against α-amylase and α-glucosidase of selected spices and culinary herbs. Int J Food Sci Nutr. 2011 Mar;62(2):175-84.
[9] National Cancer Institute at www.5aday.gov
[10] Ibid
[11] Riccioni G, et al. Novel phytonutrient contributors to antioxidant protection against cardiovascular disease.Nutrition 2012 Jun;28(6):605-10.
[12] National Cancer Institute, www.5aday.gov
[13] Ibid
[14] Riccioni G, et al. Novel phytonutrient contributors to antioxidant protection against cardiovascular disease.Nutrition. 2012 Jun;28(6):605-10.
[15] National Cancer Institute, www.5aday.gov
[16] Ibid
[17] Ibid
[18] Ibid
[19] Mandel S, Weinreb O, Amit T, Youdim MB. Cell signaling pathways in the neuroprotective actions of the green tea polyphenol (-)-epigallocatechin-3-gallate: implications for neurodegenerative diseases. J Neurochem. 2004 Mar;88(6):1555-69.
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[29] Vepsäläinen S, Koivisto H, Pekkarinen E, et al. Anthocyanin-enriched bilberry and blackcurrant extracts modulate amyloid precursor protein processing and alleviate behavioral abnormalities in the APP/PS1 mouse model of Alzheimer’s disease. J Nutr Biochem. 2013 Jan;24(1):360-70.
[30] Patyar S, Prakash A, Modi M, Medhi B. Role of vinpocetine in cerebrovascular diseases. Pharmacol Rep. 2011;63(3):618-28.
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[38] No reference available
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[60] Ibid
