With all the news about vitamins, it can be pretty confusing. With all that’s available, what do you really need? Maybe you don’t need any supplements – that’s if you are among the 7% who never skip a meal and the less than 1% who actually eat the recommended amounts of fruits, vegetables, grains, and fats. For the other 93 – 99% of us, supplements are a great way to fill in the gap from what’s missing from our diets and may protect against disease.

Looking to current research studies, we will try to demystify the basic vitamin dilemmas. We will cover the basics that women should consider taking every day (based on the latest safety and efficacy research). Then we’ll go a bit deeper and discuss specific supplements that have been studied to help with specific conditions, such as arthritis.

As of yet, regardless of what many advertisers lead to you to believe: There is no ENERGY in a PILL and without adjusting your diet and life-style, swallowing a PILL will NOT melt the pounds from your body. Vitamins are not meant to replace a healthy diet and life-style, but they can compensate for what you’re missing – and maybe give you a some peace of mind.

The Basics: An easy 1-2-3 program that includes a Daily Multiple Vitamin, a Calcium Supplement and an Omega – 3 supplement. ( Any amounts of vitamins or herbs that are specified are for adult women, not men or children.)

Daily Multiple - When choosing your Daily Multiple vitamin, look for one with a moderate-dose formula. By this, we mean one that covers 100% of the RDA and covers a wide range of vitamins and minerals. This is not the time to ‘super – size’ your portions. OneLife’s Daily Multiple meets these requirements.

2. Calcium Supplement - If you are not consuming at least 3 servings of calcium rich foods everyday that add up to 1,000 – 1,200 mg., then you should consider supplementing your daily multiple with a calcium supplement. Make sure your calcium supplement has magnesium and vitamin D. OneLife’s Calcium Plus or Coral Calcium supplements meet these requirements.

3. Omega – 3 Supplement - If your diet is not rich in fish, you may want to consider supplementing with Omega – 3’s. Look toward pure salmon oil, taken from free-swimming cold-water salmon – this type of oil is rich in omega –3’s. OneLife’s Something Smells Fishy meets these requirements.

You may want to consider customizing this basic 1-2-3 program to meet your specific needs. Read on for details on the most commonly used supplements that have been studied to address specific needs of women.

Customize your supplements:

Black Cohosh – May help control hot flashes during menopause. Should not be used by women who may be pregnant of who have had breast cancer. Found in OneLife’s Fem Pause Support formula.

Echinacea – Researched for its ability to perhaps lessen the severity of cold and infections. People with allergies may experience a reaction to this herb. Should not be used by women with autoimmune diseases or liver problems. Speak to your health care provider before using if you are pregnant or nursing. Found in OneLife’ Advanced Anti-Oxidant in a base of Echinacea and Garlic.

Ginkgo Biloba – May boost memory and concentration, improve circulation, aid in the treatment of dementia or tinnitus (ringing in the ears). May cause stomach upset or headaches. Should not be used by pregnant or nursing women, or in conjunction with blood thinning medications. Stop taking at least 36 hours before surgery. Found in OneLife’s Something for Women product.

Glucosamine and Chondroitin Sulfates – May help with pain and joint stiffness caused by arthritis. Look for formulas that contain 500 mg. of glucosamine and 400 of chondroitin. Studies show it is difficult to absorb more than that at a time. Expect is to take 2 months to see an improvement. If you haven’t noticed any difference in 4 months, then these compounds probably are not going to help you. Discuss using this with your health care provider if you are pregnant or nursing. Found in these amounts in OneLife’s Joint Flex product.

Co Enzyme Q-10 (Co Q-10) – This coenzyme aids in energy production and immunity. Studies show it may help prevent certain cancers and help those with heart disease. Studies have also shown that the consumption of cholesterol lowering drugs limits the body’s ability to produce its own Co Q10. If you take a cholesterol-lowering drug, discuss taking CoQ-10 with your healthcare provider. Most commonly taken dose is 30-60 mg. per day. For improved absorption; look for CoQ-10 in softgels instead of capsules or tablets. OneLife’s Co Q-10 is softgel form and contains 50 mg. per gel cap.