Please provide some do's and don'ts regarding vitamins and supplements.

Do: Do not take garlic, ginkgo or other herbs prior to surgery.

Don't: Don't self-prescribe a multivitamin without first discussing it with your physician.

Don't: Don't take supplement advice from a doctor that sells supplements.

Don't: Don't use a supplement unless it has the USP or consumer labs certification.

Have: Have your doctor confirm a vitamin deficiency instead of assuming you have one.

Vitamin: Vitamin d requirements vary with sun exposure, stress, lifestyle, alcohol, and air pollution.

Vitamin: Vitamin k2, derived from vitamin k1 found in plants, works with vitamin d3.

Pay: Pay attention to ingredients. Many supplements are not FDA-regulated.

Avoid: Avoid using megadose of single vitamins, this is very dangerous over time.

Make: Make sure that half of your dinner plate consists of vegetables.

Put: Put your medications and vitamins next to your toothbrush to remind you to take them.

Did: Did you know that alcohol is a depressant? It also cancels out the effect of antidepressant meds.

Take: Take fat soluble vitamins (like e and d) with food to improve absorption.

Get: Get into a routine of taking the supplements. Place them where you will remember to take them.

Many: Many people are deficient in vitamin d3, get a blood test to check your level.

Taking: Taking a balanced multivitamin on a daily basis can help prevent chronic degenerative diseases.

Use: Use of areds formula vitamins slows or stops macular degeneration.

Cryoshape: Cryoshape is a new advance in treatment of resistant keloids.

You: You should take coenzyme q10 if you are taking a statin drug.

A new TipTap: The vitamin industry is unregulated. Purchase your vitamins from a reputable supplement company.

Myth:: It's a myth that vitamins and supplements can make up for an unhealthy diet.

Avoid: Avoid excess vitamin c & e. Take b12, omega-3s, and vitamin d3.

Make: Make sure any vitamin e in your supplements is natural vitamin e.

Ask: Ask yourself if the supplement sounds too good to be true. If it does, it probably is.

Even: It's a myth that: even if a product may not help me, it at least won't hurt me.

Folate (folic acid): Folate (folic acid) reduces some birth defects of heart and nervous system. May reduce preterm labor & autism.

"You: Myth: you get all your necessary vitamins by eating a well balanced diet. (not true these days).

Avoid: Avoid taking more than 200 mg total of vitamin b-6, as risk of toxicity.

That: Myth: they are always safe to use because they are "natural".

60%: 60% of the american public have low vitamin d levels. Older folks lack vitamin b-12, in addition.

Don't: Don't swallow soft pills or capsules with hot liquids - they may soften and stick in your esophagus.

Often: Often times you don't need vitamins and supplements - it is far better to have a balanced diet.

DO: Do - consider fish sources for vitamin b3 (niacin): anchovies, tuna, swordfish, mackerel & sturgeon.

Myth-: It's a myth that: you have to take vitamins & supplements to stay healthy.

Eat: Eat lots of refined foods? You could be at risk for Niacin deficiency.

Do-: Do- increase vitamin b5 with veggies & fruits (sunflower seeds, shitake mushrooms & sun-dried tomatoes).

Vitamin: Vitamin b6 supplementation may be indicated in alcoholics and people who take theophylline.

If: If you are a smoker or are subjected to second hand smoke it puts you at risk for vitamin c deficiency.

Alcoholics: Alcoholics often require folate (folic acid) (vitamin b 9) supplementation.

DO: Do read labels to be sure you're not overdosing; don't substitute eating whole foods for pills.

Grab: Grab a bottle of multivitamins & read the rda's for each--that's recommended amounts you need daily.

Myth:: Myth: expensive vitamins are better than store-brand ones. They're probably just equivalent. Save $.

If: If you smoke, get extra vitamin c in your diet.

I: I take biotin 7500mcg, vitamin d3-5000iu, dhea-100mg, grapeseed extract, and a multivitamin. All proven!

Watermelon: Watermelon is a source of vitamins a, b1, b2, b6, c, e, k, niacin, folate (folic acid) & pantothenic acid.

A: A cup of strawberries is high in fiber and low in calories (2.9 grams of fiber and 46 calories).

Ignore: Depends on factors such as age, weight, and gender.

Don't: Don't take Niacin on your own as recent study suggests it may do more harm than good.

Except: Except in extreme cases, only a blood test can tell if you have a deficiency. Test before taking.

Omega: Omega 3 fatty acids can help to lower LDL cholesterol. Check out cold water fish.

Consult: Consult with your family doctor before adding any supplements to your diet. Drugs can interact!

For: For muscle cramping try magnesium oxide 400mg two times a day. Available over the counter.

Chewable: Chewable and gummy multi vitamins digest more completely.

Protein: Protein supps. Are fast/convenient for 1 or 2 meal replacements but body absorbs natural protein better!

Don't: Don't take multivitamins if you eat a healthy diet mostly plant based diet plus wild fish like salmo.

Beware: Beware of doctors who sell supplements. They may not have your best interests at heart.

Don't: Don't trust doctor newsletters that want to sell you supplements. They are often misleading.

Don't: Don't give children any dietary supplement that is not recommended by a board certified pediatrician.

Be: Be aware that you can overdose on some vitamins and develop toxicity.

Don't: Don't use eyedrops to 'get the red out' every day.

Make: Make sure the supplement contains an appropriate dose/amount of the active ingredient.

Do: Do talk to your physician about supplements you take; include them on your list of medications.

Vitamins: Vitamins consumed in fresh foods are better absorbed and generally higher quality/safer than pills.

Check: Check the color of your tongue, a healthy tongue is pink, any other color needs supplementation.

Superfoods: Superfoods such as green powders are highly recommended.

Most: Most women are deficient in vitamin d. Take 2000-3000 iu a day.

Iron-rich: Iron-rich foods are organ meats, clams, beef, spinach, artichokes, and beans. They can help anemia.

Aspirin: Aspirin may increase macular degeneration, but keeps you alive.

Never: Never substitute vitamins or supplements for prescribed medications without discussing with your dr.

Don't: Don't confuse strontium citrate with strontium ranelate because they are not the same.

Your: Your diet is a bucket with holes. To plug those holes, use vitamins and supplements. Only necessary.

Most: Most people get far more sodium and less calcium and iron than they think: check the labels on foods.

Zinc: Zinc deficiency is common. Zinc increases testosterone in men and immunity in both sexes!

Do: Do not take too much vit c and e! keep c intake down to 100mg and e to 500iu. Too much is bad!

Take: Take daily multivitamin. Most of us eat the same foods regularly & can become deplete in micronutrients.

Magnesium: Magnesium lowers blood pressure, prevents muscle cramps, and has many benefits. Take 400mg mg a day!

Magnesium: Magnesium helps the body in many ways. Most americans get 50% or less of the minimum daily allowance!

Apart: Apart from its effect on testosterone levels in men, low zinc has a negative immune system impact!

Copper: Copper (2mg) may be necessary when taking zinc 9 (< 50mg / day) to prevent "copper" depletion!

Do: Do understand how a treatment is supposed to work before you buy it. Don't buy sham treatment.

Don't: Don't overdose vitamin e. Body needs only 300iu or less internally. More may be harmful!

Improve: Improve cholesterol levels: pantethine 300mg 3 times per day.

Do: Do not take more than 500 iu of vitamin e per day. Too much has not been shown to help!

Do: Do beware of doctors selling supplements. Your best interests may not be in mind.

If: If you take metformin for diabetes there may be a slow decline in vit b12. Be sure your dr. Checks.

Do: Do take vitamins if you have documented deficiency do not take vitamins for general health purposes.

If: If you are taking a multivitamin daily, try to be consistent every day as much as possible.

Take: Take a multivitamin with food to improve absorption.

Make: Make sure any supplement you take has research to support its benefits.

Too: Too much vitamin a can lead to toxicity.

Vitamin: Vitamin a is different in pills. It is not dangerous in foods. But avoid more than 3000 iu total

Over: Over 10, 000 iu (3000mg) of vitamin a can be toxic. Add up pills, supplements in cerials, etc. Check.

Vitamin: Vitamin a in supplements is not the same as in food. Over 5000 iu a day is detrimental.

Don't: Don't take multivitamins, but if you do, never take more than recommended daily allowance.

Don't: Don't take advice from doctors to take supplements who know little about you and your medical hx.

Mega-doses: Mega-doses of vitamin b12, a water soluble vitamin is a waste of money because the body discards it.

Most: Most people over 40 should consider taking a daily chewable baby aspirin.

Don't: Don't take iron or calcium at the same time as thyroid medication - they will block its absorption.