Supplement Secrets: What Do Health Professionals Take?

The Healthcare Professionals (HCP) Impact Study found that 72% of physicians and 89% of nurses use vitamins, minerals, herb and other supplements regularly, occasionally, or seasonally. OB/GYNs form the group most likely to recommend supplements, typically prenatal vitamins for their pregnant or likely-to-become pregnant patients.

Curious about who takes what? We asked a doctor, nurse, dietitian, a fitness expert, and a super-healthy chef what they take and why.

Mehmet Oz, MD
www.realage.com
Famous in his role as the surgeon who performed President Clinton’s open-heart surgery and as a frequent guest on  Oprah, Mehmet C. Oz, MD, with his writing partner, Michael F. Roizen, MD, is the author of You: On a Diet and the follow-up, You: Staying Young The Owner’s Manual for Extending Your Warranty.  Oz, the real-life-turned-TV-doctor, advises dividing your supplements in half, taking some in the morning and some in the evening. In addition to a recommending a multi-vitamin, Oz and Roizen suggest a regimen that involves eating 10 tablespoons of tomato sauce each week (for lycopene), one leafy green a day (for lutein), a handful of walnuts daily (omega-3’s), drinking two cups of coffee and green tea, and daily use of the spices cinnamon, red pepper, and turmeric. The doctors recommend these additional supplements: acetyl-L-carnitine, coenzyme Q10, baby aspirin, alpha-lipoic acid, and probiotics. For the recommended dosage amounts, check out their books, and find bonus information at their website.

Marlene Hinkle, RNFA
Hinkle, a registered nurse and certified surgical first assistant, has specialized in cardiac care for more than forty years and is vigilant about taking supplements. In addition to the regimen suggested by Oz, she’s added other supplements to her personal plan. Because her husband is a heavy-smoker, she uses a homeopathic preparation called “Defend-Ol” (made by Unicity/Rexall) that’s rich in minerals to guard against environmental pollutants. She takes additional B vitamins to counteract the stress of working in the operating room, and stirs a packet of  “BiosLife,” a probiotic soluble fiber, into water, a practice she credits with keeping her cholesterol in check and helping her maintain a steady glucose throughout the work day. A bonus: it provides an extra source of calcium.

Julie Church, RD, LD
www.juliechurchnutrition.com
Church espouses the mantra of most dietitians, which is, “the best source of nutrients is from whole foods.” But she admits that none of us is a perfect eater. She takes a pre-natal vitamin (Congratulations!) and supplements that with 18 mg ferrous sulfate (because of a past iron deficiency and her present pregnancy), and Nordic Naturals Ultimate Omegas, a rich source of 325-650 mg EPA and 225-450mg DHA (depending on the dose of 1 or 2 pills taken daily).

Jari Love, PFT
www.jarilove.com
Certified personal trainer Jari Love is best known for bringing serious weight-resistance training to men and women (with class participants ranging from Olympians to cancer survivors) through her critically acclaimed Get Ripped! video and live gym workout series.
In addition to taking calcium, Vitamins C, D, and E, liquid iron (Love is at risk for exercise anemia), omega’s 3 and 6, and a multivitamin, she’s a fan of protein shakes. “I use a whey protein isolate because it’s a naturally complete protein, meaning that it contains all of the essential amino acids required in the daily diet.  It's very soluble, easy to digest, and is efficiently absorbed into the body.  Some refer to this form as a ‘fast’ protein because of its ability to nourish muscles quickly.” Love mixes psyllium and ground flaxseed (grains) and stores them in the fridge.  “Every time I have a protein shake, I add one tablespoon of this mixture. It helps my body process protein, facilitates digestion, adds fiber into my diet, and helps stave off water retention.”

Chef Alex Jamieson
www.healthychefalex.com
Chef Alex Jamieson, known as “The Healthy Chef,” is a graduate of the Institute for Integrative Nutrition and author of The Great American Detox Diet. She appeared in the award-winning documentary, Super Size Me. “I’ve been taking New Chapter Organics "Every Woman" supplement for more than a year. I was taking the company’s prenatal vitamins during my pregnancy and feel that it is a quality, whole-foods based supplement.”

—Michele Deppe

Talk to your doctor or a registered dietitian before deciding upon any supplementation regimen.