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Resveratrol is a compound found in the skins and seeds of grapes, peanuts, and a handful of other plants that has been shown to help prevent a wide range of health conditions.

Most multivitamins contain nutrient doses equal to or less than what is commonly known as Recommended Daily Allowances (RDAs). While RDAs define the level of nutrients needed to prevent deficiency diseases, they don’t reflect the amounts needed for optimal health.

Learn how specific vitamins and supplements can benefit your health, and what science says about their efficacy.

Chromium is essential for protein, carbohydrate, and fat metabolism, and it also plays a key role in blood sugar control. Chromium deficiencies are extremely common, which is why supplementation is important.

Purslane is a plant that Americans generally consider to be a weed, yet Europeans and Asians love to eat. But purslane has a health benefit that everyone can appreciate—its ability to help control blood sugar.
 

Gymnema sylvestre is an extract from the leaves of a climbing plant native to the forests of central and south India. It has been shown to lower blood sugar levels, making it an effective natural treatment for diabetes.

Vanadyl sulfate is a stable, inorganic form of vanadium, a unique trace mineral found in foods such as mushrooms and shellfish. As a nutritional supplement, it is extremely effective for diabetes and blood sugar control.

Berberine, a plant alkaloid revered in traditional Chinese and Ayurvedic medicine, is a powerful and versatile herbal supplement, and is particularly effective for diabetes and blood sugar control.

The health benefits of vitamin D are often underestimated. Learn why most Americans are deficient and why it's important to take the form called vitamin D3.

Good nutrition can help with disease prevention. Here, Dr. Whitaker explains the role of vitamins in healthy aging.

For any condition, there are multiple nutritional supplement solutions, and it can take time to discover which one is best for you. As a general rule, consider these factors: age, prescription medications, and overall health status.

For anyone using supplements, I recommend three additional supplements and vitamins for people over age 50. They aren’t absolutely necessary, but they’re great additions to a high-quality multivitamin. They include CoQ10, DHEA, and resveratrol.

This table outlines the recommended dosage levels for the nutrients that should be included in a high-quality multivitamin.

Do you have a question about using vitamins and nutritional supplements? Here are answers to some of the most frequently asked questions.

Most supplements, when used properly, are appropriate for daily, long-term use. A few, however, should be taken only as needed for specific, generally short-lived conditions, and others should be discontinued periodically.

Unless otherwise directed, the best time to take your supplements is at meal time, in divided doses with a glass of water.

Many prescription drugs deplete nutrients from the body, and this is one of the reasons you may need nutritional supplements. Check the nutrient-depleting drug list below to see which vitamins your medication may be robbing from your body.

For some nutritional supplements, being “all-natural” definitely does matter—but for others, it doesn’t make a whit of difference.

Herbal supplements have a few rules of their own when it comes to safely selecting and using them. Here's what you need to know.

With thousands of nutritional supplements available, choosing which ones to take can be nothing short of overwhelming. That’s why I put together this list of things to look for to help you choose the best quality supplements.

If you’re taking a daily multi and accessory nutrients for general health, plan on taking them indefinitely. Nutritional supplements taken to address specific conditions are also safe and prudent for daily use until your condition improves.

One of the biggest supplement safety concerns is about supplement interactions with prescription drugs. Although there aren’t very many drug-supplement interactions, there are some nutrients that you do need to be careful with.

It’s easy to become overwhelmed by choices when you step into a health food store. Here’s a summary of what you need to keep in mind as you select your supplements.