The Nutrients You Need to Stay Vital

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It might seem like you hear it five times each week: The "five-a-day" rule for eating fruits and vegetables, which are loaded with disease-fighting antioxidants such as vitamins C and E and selenium, beta-carotene and Coenzyme Q10.

You probably know, too, that a healthful diet contains limited amounts of fat and sugar and instead emphasizes whole grains, legumes and fish.

But try as you might to follow sound eating principles, your diet may still lack crucial vitamins and minerals. "It's hard to maintain a truly healthful diet with the hectic lives we lead these days," says T. Franklin Williams, M.D., a geriatric medicine professor at the University of Rochester and scientific director with the American Federation for Aging Research.

Does your diet contain all of the following recommended nutrients?

• Beta-carotene. Found in orange, yellow and leafy green vegetables, this antioxidant, like others, helps the body to fight cancer by attacking destructive free radicals. Beta-carotene might also protect against cardiovascular disease and memory loss, but more studies are needed to confirm the association.
• Vitamin A. Liver, whole eggs and whole milk, as well as carrots, cantaloupe and sweet potatoes are examples of foods rich in vitamin A. Other foods, including breakfast cereals, are fortified with the vitamin, which seems to fight cancer and heart disease. Supplementation is rarely necessary and usually not recommended because of the vitamin's potential to reach toxic levels and cause fatigue and problems with the skin, hair, liver and spleen.
• Vitamin C. This antioxidant, found in citrus fruits, berries, peppers, tomatoes and potatoes, is being studied not only for its cancer-fighting potential, but also for its possible memory-enhancing effect. But the vitamin can have a down side at high levels, causing some people to experience chronic diarrhea and kidney stones.
• Vitamin E. Vegetable oils, nuts and green, leafy vegetables contain this antioxidant vitamin, which is being studied for its potential to reduce the risk of heart attacks as well boost immunity and protect against several types of cancer. Recent studies suggest that a vitamin E-rich diet can help protect some people against Alzheimer's disease.
• Selenium. This mineral has antioxidant properties that, according to some studies, could decrease the death rate from lung, colorectal and prostate cancers and might promote heart health.

• Three B Vitamins: B6, B12, and folic acid (folate). These vitamins can become depleted as one ages, compromising the body's ability to fight disease, including heart disease. The B vitamins may be associated with memory function as well. In the diet, B6 is plentiful in fish, chicken, liver, pork and eggs; B12 in red and organ meats; and folate in leafy vegetables, liver, some fruits, and fortified breads and cereals.
• Coenzyme Q10. Preliminary evidence suggests that this compound, which occurs naturally in the body and is found in food sources such as cold-water, oily fish, whole grains, and liver and other organ meats, may benefit the heart. Coenzyme Q10, which is available in supplement form, also is being studied for its possible protective role in Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases.
• Lycopene. Tomatoes and other red vegetables are packed with this carotenoid, which can significantly lower the risk of prostate cancer and heart disease.

If you're worried that the food you eat might not supply all of the nutrients you need to ward off disease, consider supplements to round out nutrient intake. "You might not need supplements if you ate the world's best diet," says Daniel Perry, executive director of the Alliance for Aging Research, "but how many of us count the vitamin content of our food?"

Consider a Multi-vitamin
A traditional daily multi-vitamin and mineral supplement is a popular and safe start to filling any nutritional void. "Overall, it's wise to take a multi-vitamin/multi-mineral supplement in our adult years — probably in childhood, too," notes aging expert Williams.

Even then, you may need additional supplements to stay healthy, particularly as you age and your body becomes less efficient at processing nutrients. Most of the nutrients above are available in supplement form at your local grocery or vitamin store or pharmacy.

Be sure to stay within recommended doses of any purchased supplements, though, because the risk of toxicity exists. Be especially careful when products are unavailable in the United States and must be ordered from overseas sources because their quality may be sub-standard.

To be on the safe side, it's wise to find a doctor who can give you supplementation advice based on your age, dietary habits and any medical conditions.