
Americans are making shifts in the supplements they take — fewer multivitamins and vitamins C and E, more fish oil and vitamin D. Many think of supplements as magic bullets, but studies don’t always support their supposed benefits. Some research is positive. Vitamin D is important for good health and very hard to get naturally from foods or, if you live in northern latitudes, from the sun. So you might need a supplement to meet daily needs. But first ask your doctor for a blood test to check your level and, if it’s low, whether it’s safe for you to sit in the sun twice a week for 15 minutes to allow your body to make D naturally. Significant studies show that it’s better to get certain nutrients directly from food. For instance, while foods high in omega-3 fatty acids, from walnuts to oily fish, have been linked to reduced risk of heart disease, the omega-3s in fish oil capsules may not deliver the same benefits. A 2018 study conducted by the U.S. Department of Agriculture found that many supplements — from vitamins A and D to the minerals selenium and chromium — contain higher amounts of the nutrient than stated on the label. That’s a concern because some good-for-you supplements can be harmful at high doses — even calcium, which is highly touted for… read on >