Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/118258
live in good health V is for Vitamin Wondering which letters in the alphabet soup of vitamin supplements busy women actually need? We turned to Mark Anderson, family practitioner at UW Health-Yahara Clinic, to spell it out To B or not to B Though Anderson says it's possible for women to get all of their B vitamins through food sources such as eggs, fish, meat, vegetables and grains, for many women a vitamin B complex is recommended. B vitamins boost the body's energy production and support the nervous system. It's best to take the full complex of B vitamins in one supplement. In addition, women prone to adrenal gland fatigue and hypothyroidism may find that B vitamins can help. C is for Calcium Women can meet daily calcium requirements through four to five daily servings of dairy, sardines or cooked green vegetables. Even so, Anderson recommends taking 1,500 mg of calcium daily if you are under 25, over 65, postmenopausal, pregnant or breastfeeding. Supplementing calcium keeps bones strong and helps prevent osteoporosis. D Light Vitamin D helps the body absorb phosphorus and calcium—necessary minerals for strong healthy bones. Research shows this mineral also improves immune function, and lessens pain and fatigue. Sunlight offers a plentiful source of vitamin D, and would likely be all that was needed if you lived in California. For us Wisconsinites, Anderson recommends supplementing with 400-1000 i.u. of vitamin D each day. Give Me an F It's well-known that folic acid can be an important supplement for women in childbearing years, says Anderson, because of how important it is for a developing baby. But this mineral also gets high marks for significantly reducing women's risk for heart disease, stroke and some kinds of cancer. 12 BRAVA Magazine April 2013 Supplements available at Complete Nutrition, 515 S. Gammon Rd., Madison; (608) 395-2348 or East Towne Mall, Madison; (608) 240-9348.