MEET OUR MIRACL Our Senior Cat Spotlight
Can Vitamins Be Customized?
Hi everyone, my name is Chen, and I live with my dad Homer. He calls me Blue Eyes. I’m almost 13 years old, and I should probably mention that I’m a cat. On Dec. 27, 2009, some not-nice people left me and my buddy Wilson on the side of the highway. We were only about a year old, and it was snowing and very cold! Thankfully, some much nicer people found us and brought us to a shelter, where we met my mom and dad. They had seen a story about us in the paper and came down to adopt us both. I was sick at the time, so the shelter tried to give Mom and Dad another cat, but they wanted me. After I got better, Wilson and I went to our new home. It was really scary at first, and we hid under the couch for about 10 days, but I went out and explored at night until it was safe. A long time ago, I accidentally got out and Mom and Dad were really upset. I guess I got kind of lost because it took me about two
Everyone knows it’s important to get their vitamins. But do people need the same amount of certain vitamins, or does it vary? Some researchers say it varies, so vitamin supplement companies, like monthly vitamin subscription service Care/of, customize their pill offers based on your personal health and/or goals. But do these services actually work? Since supplements aren’t regulated by the Food and Drug Administration, how do we know whether their packages contain the vitamins and minerals promised?
Vitamins may not help as much as you think.
Johns Hopkins researchers found that for many illnesses (especially heart- related), taking supplements didn’t make a big difference. One study involving 450,000 people found that multivitamins did not reduce risk for heart disease or cancer. Another study tracking the mental functioning and multivitamin use of 5,947 men for 12 years found that multivitamins didn’t reduce risk for mental decline such as memory loss or slowed-down thinking, either. The only exception? Young women. Larry Appel, M.D., director of Johns Hopkins Welch Center for Prevention, Epidemiology and Clinical Research, says that supplemental folic acid for women of reproductive age may be helpful. “Folic acid prevents neural tube defects in babies when women take it before and during early pregnancy. That’s why multivitamins are recommended for young women.” The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends women of reproductive age to intake 400 micrograms of folic acid daily, and the amount of iron in a multivitamin may be also beneficial.
‘Barkuterie’ Board
Ingredients
But can customized vitamins make a difference?
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Cucumbers, sliced
Carrots, sliced
If you’re a young woman, or you have a doctor’s orders to get a multivitamin for certain conditions or treatments, the bad news is that right now, hardly any customizable vitamins have a third-party certification for quality and accuracy. If the vitamin or brand doesn’t have ConsumerLab.com, NSF International, or U.S. Pharmacopeia certification, you simply can’t know what you’re getting. So, the best multivitamin is the one designed for your age group with third-party certification. Even if it’s a $10 bottle from Target, it’s likely more effective than what’s trending online.
Melon, cubed and seeded
Cheddar cheese, cut into 1/2-inch-thick squares
Dog treats
Unseasoned and cooked meats, cut into 1/2-inch- thick squares
Xylitol-free peanut butter Hard-boiled eggs, diced
Bananas, cut into 1/2-inch-thick pucks
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