- Your dietary needs change as you age, and you might find that supplements take a regular place in your daily routine.
- One supplement people over the age of 50 should take is a multivitamin designed for that age group.
- There might be other supplements you need, as well, such as B vitamins, or calcium.
The right supplements can help you to maintain a healthy mind and body longer. Of course, supplements are only a part of an overall healthy lifestyle. Go PRO today for access to certified personal trainers, workout plans, nutrition trackers, and more.
What Are the Best Multivitamins?
The best multivitamins are the ones that have all of the components you need to maintain your health. Yes, this is a bit vague, but the truth is that there are quite a lot of different multivitamins that are designed for different uses and purposes.
For example, there are multivitamins that are designed specifically for women over 50 and multivitamins designed for men over 50. Then, as if that weren’t specific enough, there are multivitamins designed for people over 50 who are active or inactive, healthy, and so on.
What this means is that the best multivitamin is one that specifically suits your needs. If you aren’t sure exactly what you need, you can talk to your doctor and ask what he or she recommends based on your current health as well as your diet.
You should consider choosing multivitamins that are manufactured in the USA. This is because products that come from other countries are usually the ones that are pulled from the shelves because of contamination of their ingredients.
In the United States, the guidelines for creating supplements are stricter than they are in other countries.
U.S. Companies are required to maintain good food practices as defined by the FDA. This is not the case in other countries.
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Sign UpWhat Are Specific Vitamins Commonly Taken By Those Over 50?
There are some vitamins that tend to naturally deplete in the body as you age, as this video addresses:
If you aren’t interested in a multivitamin, you may want to target specific health needs, such as a lack of calcium or a lack of iron. Deficiencies of both of these are common as you age.
You should also consider vitamins, such as A and E that promote healthy cells. These vitamins are antioxidants and can prevent illnesses, such as cancer, liver disease and more. Increasing your antioxidants as you age can help you to live far longer!
Another vitamin group that you will want to target are the B vitamins. Taking a series of B vitamins can help reduce your risk of heart attack, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol.
You should consider speaking to your doctor to determine if there is an area he or she thinks you should focus on.
If you have low iron, for example, they might recommend you take iron supplements.
Talking to your doctor before you take vitamin E is important as well. That is because too much vitamin E can actually be harmful to your health. In fact, new studies suggest that too much vitamin E can shorten your life.
Some doctors recommend that you don’t take any vitamin E supplements at all!
Are There Other Supplement Options Other Than Multivitamins?
There are plenty of other supplements people over 50 can consider. One option is to take powder versions of fruits and veggies in capsules. This allows you to get the nutrition that you need from a food source without having to eat all of the food necessary to do it.
For people who find that their appetite decreases as does their tolerance for certain foods as they age, this is an excellent supplement option.
Powdered fruits and veggies should be freeze-dried in order to maintain and provide the highest nutrient benefit.
There are also things like protein powders that can ensure you are getting the right levels of protein in your diet. You can also find fiber shakes and vitamin shakes if you just don’t like taking pills.
Is Taking Supplements Safe for People Over 50?
The safety of supplements depends more on the person taking them than the supplement itself, in most cases. That is because medical conditions or medications can be affected by the supplements you take.
For this reason, it is important that you seek the advice of your doctor before you start taking any supplement products.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Do I have to take supplements?
Unless your doctor has instructed you to take certain supplements, you do not have to take them.
Are supplements safe?
Whether or not dietary supplements are safe to take depends on a number of factors. Learn more about the safety of supplements here.
What supplements do I need to take?
No one can answer that aside from your doctor. To learn more about the various supplements that doctors commonly recommend, check out this article.
And don’t forget! Even for people over 50, it’s never too late to start a fitness program to help maintain total body health. Go PRO today and see how Exercise.com can help you live your best and healthiest life.