Nutrition Tips from Dr. Weil
I recently checked out an interview Kevin Rose did with Dr. Weil, and I found the video so worthwhile that I had to write this post about the nutrition and health knowledge it shares. Since watching this interview I have implemented a few supplemental suggestions from Dr. Weil into my own life. After having made these changes I’ve noticed an improvement in my overall health and mood.
The two supplements that I purchased and have started taking since watching this video are fish oil, and vitamin D. Some research suggests that a vitamin D deficiency might underlie seasonal depression and I certainly agree that there is a correlation here. On some winter days when the sky is dark and my body is deprived of vitamin D I can feel the bleakness of the weather in my body. I have found that supplementing vitamin D and trying to get as much sunlight as possible has really helped with this. Exercise, of course, is another method I use to turn my mood around on any given day.
If you are wondering how much Vitamin D to take, according to Dr. Weil:
“More than 70 percent of the U.S. population is D-deficient, I recommend that everyone take a daily supplement of 2,000 IU. Don’t be concerned that 2,000 IU will give you too much. With exposure to sunlight in the summer, the body can generate between 10,000 IU and 20,000 IU of vitamin D per hour with no ill effects. In addition, no adverse effects have been seen with supplemental vitamin D intakes up to 10,000 IU daily.”
Fish Oil makes the claim to improve brain functioning, and also helps to regulate cholesterol levels in the body. The reason for these benefits is due to the high levels of omega-3 fatty acids that fish oil contains. In addition, studies published in 2004 and 2009 suggest that fish oil may reduce the risk of depression.
One cool tip that I liked from this interview was the advice to “Eat across the color spectrum.” This is simple advice, and yet effective. If you consider any rich colored fruit, like blueberries, or pomegranates, these contain antioxidant rich poly-phenols. It makes sense that food of different natural colors will have unique health benefits of their own so I have tried to integrate this tip into my diet whenever possible.
Since it is impossible to eat every type of food in a single day I recommend that you take multivitamins as a way to ensure you get your daily intake of nutrients. Multivitamins are not created equal and I recommend spending enough to get a good quality multivitamin as it will easily pay for itself in the health benefits you will receive.
Dr. Weil also recommends drinking a fair share of high quality Green Tea, and this is a practice I also stand by. Green tea has antioxidants and really helps to cleanse an over caffeinated system.
For more cool health tips like these follow @DrWeil on Twitter and check out the website DrWeil.com.
Feedback
Do you take any supplements or vitamins? What have been the health effects for you, and what do you recommend?
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Anders Cohen, brooklyn, NY
