I recently came across a 2003 press release from the Lewin Group titled “New study finds increased use of multivitamins by the elderly could save Medicare $1.6 billion.”

Excerpt from the release: “While the evidence strongly supports the beneficial effects of multivitamins in improving immune function and reducing the risk of heart disease, the researchers also reviewed the literature that examined the preventive benefits of multivitamin supplementation in relation to with colorectal cancer, prostate cancer, diabetes and osteoporosis…”

Think about what that could mean, especially for those in a nursing home. I doubt residents are routinely given a daily vitamin. I think one of the reasons COVID killed so many nursing home residents was poor nutritional status. His nutrient-deficient immune system couldn’t handle the virus.

Remember, this was published in 2003 and little has changed since then. The American people are still eating mostly a nutritionally ruined fast food, off the shelf diet. More people take supplements to correct a nutritional deficiency, but many supplements are taken only occasionally and recommended doses are often inadequate.

For example, according to the Mayo Clinic, the recommended daily amount of vitamin C for adult men is 90 milligrams. For adult women it is 75 milligrams with the warning not to take more. (I’ve been taking megadoses of vitamin C for decades, and as you can see, it still hasn’t killed me.) The Linus Pauling Institute at Oregon State University recommends 400 mg/day of vitamin C, but who follows that “crazy” advice? The chance of getting 400 mg/day in most daily diets is very small. What is the problem? It is a general animosity towards proper nutritional supplementation.

Nutrition education in medical schools is totally insufficient. In “State of Nutrition Education in Medical Schools” we read: “Numerous pleas have been made over the past two decades to improve the nutritional knowledge and skills of medical students and physicians. However, most of graduating medical students continue to rate their nutritional preparation as inadequate.”

In fact, it is inappropriate. Unless your doctor is self-taught about good nutrition, don’t bother asking what to eat. He may scoff at your suggestion to take vitamins, saying, “Just eat a good diet and you’ll be fine.” You may eat cold pizza for breakfast while driving to the office, indicating that you have no idea what constitutes a good diet.

We pride ourselves on having the best “health care” system in the world. However, the term “health care” primarily refers to drugs from the pharmaceutical industry, which is not “health care” but a for-profit business. Big Phama produces a parade of expensive and often dangerous drugs, many with side effects worse than the condition being treated. That the pharmaceutical industry has the nerve to advertise its products on television (“Ask your doctor if XYZ is right for you”) is despicable.

Related to the above, consider this: 34% of older adults in the US are prescribed potentially inappropriate medications. Inappropriate medications given to older adults are linked to increased hospitalizations and cost patients, on average, more than $450 per year, according to a new study. According to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), 100,000 Americans die from reactions to prescription drugs each year, making it the fourth leading cause of death in the US.

Such potentially inappropriate drugs may be prescribed by the lovely doctor you love and trust so much, but he/she may know little or nothing about a new drug other than what is learned from a salesperson (with perhaps only a high school education). visiting the office he has memorized a script and buzzwords provided by the pharmaceutical company he works for.

If you’re interested in improving your nutrition and increasing your chances of a healthier, better-looking old age, what do you do? To get started, do the easy thing: clean up your diet. Get rid of as many refined carbohydrates as possible. Read product labels for carbohydrate content. I know how hard it is to get rid of sugar, but it’s a killer. In moderation, I use Stevia instead.

Eat: Eggs, fresh fruits and vegetables, meat and fish without antibiotics or hormones. Try the delicious Hemp Hearts in your Trainer’s oatmeal. (Both available at Costco.) Enjoy it with organic blueberries (frozen from Costco). If you haven’t tried almond milk, go ahead. You’ll know you’re on the right track when your grocery shopping skips the middle aisles and focuses on the fresh produce aisle instead.

If you’re not taking supplements and would like to start, take it easy. Start with a quality daily multivitamin like Centrum. One of my favorite resources is Life Extension magazine. If you’re a newbie, don’t let the magazine articles scare you. There is much we all need to know to help us achieve healthy longevity. Remember, your health is YOUR responsibility, not your doctor’s.