Staying Healthy For Years To Come I remember taking vitamin supplements years ago and wondering: Are these really doing me any good? Vitamins and minerals don't necessarily give you a clear physical sensation of feeling healthier, so you take them on faith that you're promoting good health in the long run. Of course, the hundreds of studies I've read over the past few years have convinced me of the long-range value of nutritional supplements. But I was recently reminded of the faith factor in taking supplements when I received an e-mail from a colleague who's a respected doctor and nutritional expert. He wrote: "EVERYONE takes medication these days. My mom needed surgery 3 months ago at age 83 (her first since a broken wrist 20 years ago), and the nursing staff actually refused to believe that she was on zero medication. They showed up with a big pad to write all the drugs down and questioned her 3 times about how important it was to be up front about the drugs. They said it had never happened in the hospital in anyone even 30 years younger.
"Multiply the people over 50 in this country by just a few drugs - that's the kind of money we're talking about. No wonder it's such an up-hill battle! Both my parents are getting the pay-back of the money they spent on supplements all those years. He's 87, she's 83 and they both walk 1/2 mile to the tennis court daily and play for 45 minutes before walking back." The health of my colleague's parents can be attributed to more than just supplements, of course. They obviously get regular exercise. And the presence of a dedicated, loving partner probably helps keep them healthy too. But the combination of no drugs and years of nutritional supplements seems to have served them very well. We should all be so fortunate. To Your Good Health and… Go Ravens! Jenny Thompson
Health Sciences Institute
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