THE WORD ON SUPPLEMENTS
Fiber. The daily recommendation is 25 to 30 grams of dietary fiber daily—men
over 50 should try for 38 grams a day. If bowel movements and GI tract
function are normal, most people don’t need to supplement; if not,
there are lots of good supplements on the market.
Fish oil. Again, most doctors advise getting your omega-3 acids from foods, not
supplements. “The data really is mixed on how much fish oil supplements
help to decrease mortality,” says Dr. Shiraz. “I don’t
usually advocate an omega-3 supplement, but there’s no danger in
taking one.”
Garlic. Not only does it make food delicious, it also could slow the buildup of
plaque in your arteries and lower blood pressure. “It certainly
can help, and using garlic in food is one of those things that help reduce
inflammation,” says Dr. Shiraz. “Fresh garlic is good for
you, but there’s no evidence that garlic supplements help reduce
heart disease.”
Turmeric. “Most of the studies showing turmeric’s health and prevention
benefits have not been duplicated here in the U.S.,” Dr. Shiraz
notes, “so we can’t call for a turmeric supplement as standard
of care. But in food preparation I believe turmeric absolutely can help
and certainly doesn’t hurt.”
Coenzyme Q10. This antioxidant is thought to be important protection against many forms
of CAD. “CoQ10 is a crucial molecule in our bodies,” says
Dr. Shiraz, “but it’s hard to know whether supplements do
more good than food, because most folks have enough in their bodies. Your
doctor can’t measure it. So it’s another ‘might help,
can’t hurt’ supplement.”