supplements

Posted on by Sameer Oza

Vitamins and supplements are DRUGS! They are NOT substitutes for healthy living.

NIH DIETARY SUPPLEMENT FACT SHEETS – check this before taking any supplement.

Supplements are not regulated by the FDA. The manufacturers do not need to prove health benefits and so they use vague promises. Doctors who sell this snake-oil out of their offices are no better than the manufacturers.

Americans spend $30 billion on drugs every year! It is literally, money spent to make expensive urine in my opinion.

Supplements do not extend your lifespan.

If you eat plant based diet, the 2 nutrients you need to make sure you are getting in your diet are:

  1. Omega 3 fatty acids – there are 3 omega-3 fatty acids – DHA, EPA and ALA – the body does not make them so you need to ingest them. You can get ALA from chia seeds, hemp seeds, walnuts, soy, kidney beans and green leafy vegetables. DHA and EPA – obtained from algae and seaweed (fish eat seaweed, that is why they are high in omega-3). If you don’t eat seaweed, you can get DHA and EPA from algae oil supplement.
  2. Vitamin B 12 – there are no plant based sources of vitamin B12. You either need to take a multivitamin or foods fortified with B12. Vegan society has a good review on this subject.

Supplements that may help with AFIB:

  1. Magnesium
  2. CoQ-10 – a small study in patients with heart failure showed benefit. Not for all AFIB patients.
  3. Garlic – good data on cardiovascular disease and hypertension which may indirectly help AFIB. Incorporate in your diet rather than taking capsules that may have varying formulations.

Supplements that have been shown to cause AFIB:

  1. Stimulants – Basically all of them are LEGAL METH – DMAA, DMBA (other names – 1,3-dimethylbutylamine,
    2-amino-4-methylpentane, 4-amino-2-methylpentane,
    4-amino-2-methylpentane citrate,4-amino-2-pentanamine,
    4-AMP,4-methyl-2-pentamine, 4-methylpentane-2-amine
    AMP citrate, Amperall, Dimethylbutylamine, Methylpentane
    Pentergy) BMPEA, Methylsynephrine (other names – oxilofrine, p-hydroxyephedrine). .
  2. Caffeine supplements. Coffee in moderation is good.
  3. Creatine
  4. “Ephedra-free” weight loss supplements – contained caffeine, theobromine, synephrine.
  5. Ginkgo biloba

Supplements promoted for AFIB that can cause harm:

  1. Curcumin – case report of complete heart block. Use turmeric as a spice but please don’t use curcumin as a supplement.

Beth Mole wrote “Dose of Reality“, about the supplement scam.

NY Times article about supplements.

Johns Hopkins article about multivitamins.