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In this episode of The Functional Medicine Radio Show, Dr. Carri’s special guest Dr. Tieraona Low Dog talks about supplemental products.
Dr. Tieraona Low Dog is an internationally recognized expert in dietary supplements and integrative medicine. In addition to her many years as a clinician and educator, she has been involved in national health policy and regulatory issues, serving on advisory panels for the White House and the National Institutes of Health and chairing two committees on dietary supplements for the U.S. Pharmacopoeia. She is the author of Healthy at Home, Life is Your Best Medicine, and Guide to Medicinal Herbs. Her latest book is Fortify Your Life: Your Guide to Vitamins, Minerals, and More.
Main Questions Asked:
- Tell us the story of your father and his experience with medication.
- What can listeners do to make sure the supplements they buy are effective?
- What are some questions we should be asking our doctors when we go for a visit?
- How can we be sure the supplements we buy online are legitimate?
Key Points Made by Dr. Tieraona Low Dog:
- Vitamins, minerals, and nutrients are largely off the radar of traditional medicine.
- Prescription medications can interfere with our body’s ability to absorb vitamins and minerals.
- Oftentimes medication is prescribed to people who are not well suited for it. Roughly 70% of people should not be on their medication for longer than 6-8 weeks.
- A huge number of people in North America are deficient in at least one nutrient.
- Typically, vitamins and minerals in supplemental products are not the issue. It’s the extra ingredients on the label that are a source of problems.
- Understanding what’s in the supplemental products you take can help you choose the right products.
- According to a study by the CDC, over 16 million people were very deficient in vitamin C. Vitamin C deficiency can lead to scurvy and a host of other health issues.
- A lack of nutrients can lead to health issues which can then lead to the prescription of medicine to treat the symptoms, which can then lead to more nutrient deficiencies.
- 30 million people in North America are vitamin B6 deficient which leads to depression, fatigue, anxiety, and other problems.
- Vitamin deficiencies can be difficult to identify.
- You should know what your vitamin C levels are.
- Check your lab results, ask your doctor for a copy.
- If you’re taking Metformin for diabetes, you should know what your vitamin B12 levels are.
- Don’t be afraid to talk to your doctor about your health and ask about your nutrient levels.
- You are your best health advocate – no one will have a more vested interest in your own well being and health than you.
- Buying brand name supplements can be more reliable than non brand name. Be cautious of supplements and brands you have never heard of before.
- Health is a resource that must be carefully managed.
- Listen to your instincts and the way your body feels. How you feel is the best indicator of your body’s requirements.
Key Resources Mentioned:
Book – Healthy at Home: Get Well and Stay Well Without Prescriptions
Book – Life Is Your Best Medicine: A Woman’s Guide to Health, Healing, and Wholeness at Every Age
Book – Fortify Your Life: Your Guide to Vitamins, Minerals, and More
Book – Reclaim Your Energy and Feel Normal Again
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