Supplements are…just supplements
I have written in my previous posts that I take supplements to help improve my immunity and health in general. Several years ago, I was diagnosed with a very low level of Vitamin D and Vitamin B-12. My joints were not flexible. It was taking me a few seconds to stand up straight after sitting for several minutes. When my physician got the blood test results, he was very worried about the vitamin levels in the body and immediately gave me shots of vitamin D and vitamin B-12. He also recommended me to incorporate these two vitamins as supplements in my daily diet. I have been following this advice and take both vitamin supplements every other day. I also take multi-vitamins, not daily though.
The benefits of multi-vitamins have come into question many times. Everything I have read on this topic, suggests that the benefits from multi-vitamins are questionable. Despite not getting a clear direction, I have continued to take multi-vitamins. But this post is not about multi-vitamins. Instead, it is about Prevagen– a so-called supplement for memory boost.
Prevagen has been a heavily market supplement to help improve memory. This supplement does not come cheap either. There have been questions about the benefits of this supplement. But now there are lawsuits challenging its benefits https://www.cbsnews.com/video/lawsuit-claims-prevagen-doesnt-boost-memory. I don’t have any medical knowledge or research to suggest whether this supplement works on not. But I have always believed in the fact that supplements should be treated as supplements; meaning they should not be taken as the main source of vitamins or any other mineral boosters.
The main source of various nutrients should be food or something coming directly from nature, e.g the sunlight. If food or other natural sources are not sufficient, then we should start including supplements. People usually lean towards supplements first because it is easily available and easier to take. But I believe should first try to give food or other natural sources a chance first. In my example of low vitamin D, the main source of getting vitamin D is through sunlight. But just like many people, I work indoors, so there are weeks when I do not get enough sun. Getting enough sun in winter is also challenging because many of us are fully covered. So I have to depend on supplements to get the right amount of vitamin D. Some would say that it is easier to find natural sources for many vitamins and minerals, but how do you improve your memory through food. This is where food needs to be combined with exercise – exercise for the brain.
Our brain “muscles” acts similar to our body muscles – the more we use it, the stronger it gets. You don’t need to have rigorous training and exercise routines for the brain. Although it won’t hurt to do some challenging brain activities, usually some very basic activities are good enough to keep our brain healthy. Simply talking to other human beings makes our brain work because we are thinking and processing the information we hear. Active reading is also another good exercise for the brain. Meditation is another highly recommended activity for the brain. Reducing the time in front of a TV also helps.
In short, don’t jump to take supplements to improve your physical or mental health. You may be wasting your hard-earned money and potentially exposing yourself to unproven chemicals that might be harmful to your body. First and foremost, focus on food and exercise to see if that helps. And always remember, HAPPINESS IS THE KEY TO IMPROVE YOUR PHYSICAL AND MENTAL HEALTH.
