Friday Q&A: Vitamins & Supplements

Answering your questions about cleanses; vitamin B12; ashwaganda, & fish oil

ICYMI

• 👉 Monday’s Newsletter: Can Dietary Supplements Do Harm?

• 👉 Other recent newsletters:

  • Are You Anxious?

  • The Food Group You May Be Missing

  • How Much Alcohol is Okay?

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As always, question #1 (about juice cleanses) is free for everyone; questions #2-4 (about vitamin B12; ashwaganda for anxiety, and fish oil for heart health) are for paid subscribers only.

Click here to submit your questions (about anything) for future Q&A posts!

Disclaimer: The views expressed here are entirely my own. They do not reflect those of my employer, nor are they a substitute for advice from your personal physician.

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QUESTION #1

Do you recommend juice cleanses?

- Anonymous

Dear Anonymous, 

Juice cleanses get a TON of attention on social media. Cleanses are sold with the promise that they can remove toxins and cleanse our guts, among other things. However, there is little evidence that juice cleanses provide any of the health benefits that the wellness world purports. 

Some people do report that they have higher energy levels while on a juice cleanse, likely because they are drinking more water and consuming less sugar, alcohol, and processed foods than normal. Plus, there’s the pleasant feeling one gets from taking control of their health—it feels good! However, someone on a juice cleanse is likely consuming a woefully inadequate total amount of calories, which can cause a host of negative side effects such as headaches, irritability, and inattention. Juice cleanses can also enable disordered eating and the false narrative that foods are either “clean” or “dirty.”

So, rather than going on a juice cleanse, I recommend to my patients to focus on long-term, sustainable changes they can make to their diets, such as getting at least five servings of fruits and vegetables, eating three solid meals, and experiencing fullness at regular intervals throughout the day. (One of the major missing food groups these days? A satisfying LUNCH.)

If you have a hankering for a healthy juice, I say go for it! But know that if you have two kidneys and a liver, you are cleansing just fine. 👍

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QUESTION #2

Dr. McBride, I trust you as my doctor when you recently suggested I take vitamin B12 for my aging brain. My level was low, I think you said it’s because I take Prilosec for acid reflux. But you wrote about vitamins often being unnecessary, so now I am confused! (I was going to call your office but I thought others might want to hear your answer.) Thank you!

- Pamela

Dear Pamela,