Welcome to this weeks edition of Baby Boomer Health -Vitamins

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This is your host, Denise Boomer and Dr. Bee Boomer, welcoming you to this weeks edition of the Baby Boomer Health on PodcastForBoomers.com.

This week we are talking about Vitamins.

Everyone needs vitamins but most of us get all the vitamins we need in our food. In this country it is not uncommon for people to take a daily vitamin. There are plenty of ads telling us we need to take vitamins every day. But is this good for us? Do we really need these daily vitamins? What about all the interest in taking mega doses of vitamins everyday?

First of all the minimum daily dosage of required vitamins can be found in a normal wholesome diet. There is no evidence that taking a daily basic multiple vitamin with help most of us but there is also little if any evidence that it would hurt us.

Mega doses of vitamins on the other hand have been shown to be dangerous at least under certain conditions. For example in Finland in 1994 a study showed that taking 20 milligrams of beta carotene increased the risk of lung cancer by 18%. Are these solid facts? Well like all studies the results can be and are debated. But of all the studies completed there seems to be an overwhelming evidence that mega dosages of vitamins do not help but can harm your health.

So why do people continue to take them? Believers in mega dosages of vitamins argue that the studies are all flawed and no study has be designed properly to show the benefits. As the argument continues, you need to decide for yourself what you wish to do – no vitamins, daily multi-vitamin or mega dose of different vitamins.

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Until the next time, this is your host Dr. Bee Boomer and Denise Boomer saying good bye!