| Be careful about substituting a vitamin supplement | | | | surgery, but it could be harmful to take a lot of |
| and herbs for a balanced diet. Some vitamin | | | | garlic supplements before surgery. |
| supplements can be toxic when taken in excess. | | | | If you believe you need a vitamin supplement and |
| Although some herbs are wonderful to cook with | | | | herbs daily you should check with your doctor |
| you don't want to rely on them when you have a | | | | before consuming large amounts of any |
| condition that merits a visit to the doctor. | | | | supplement as some of these can have toxic |
| Take garlic for example. Garlic is a member of | | | | effects. Manufactures of vitamin supplements and |
| the onion family and no cook should be without it. | | | | herbs, unlike manufacturers of drugs, do not have |
| Some people refer to garlic as the "natural | | | | to prove that their products are safe before they |
| antibiotic." These are the same people however, | | | | are put on the market. The FDA regulates these |
| that take a handful of processed garlic pills when | | | | dietary supplements as food and not as drugs and |
| they feel a cold or some perceived or real | | | | so after a product like this causes a problem or is |
| infection coming on instead of seeing their doctor. | | | | unsafe then the FDA can take action. |
| Now I don't see my doctor for every cold. But if | | | | The FDA is watching though. In December 2005, |
| I think I need an antibiotic I'm going for the real | | | | they sent out warning letters to nine companies |
| McCoy. Besides, garlic has blood thinning capabilities | | | | that were promoting their dietary supplements |
| and we get enough of the good stuff by cooking | | | | could prevent, treat or cure bird flu. When the |
| with it. Yet I know people who pop those garlic | | | | label reads like that, then the FDA has to look at |
| pills to ward off anything they think they are | | | | it like a drug and not food. That is why on all or |
| coming down with without any regard to the | | | | nearly all vitamin supplement and herbs labels you'll |
| possible interaction of these garlic pills with another | | | | see the disclaimer that says something like, " |
| vitamin supplement and herbs and/or their | | | | These statements have not been evaluated by |
| prescription medicine. | | | | the FDA and we're not saying they will cure you." |
| Another thing to consider regarding garlic: Even if | | | | That's a rough paraphrase but you get the idea. |
| you aren't taking blood thinning medication, you | | | | In the end, we are the ones responsible for what |
| don't want to have consumed a lot of garlic | | | | we put into our bodies. Check with your doctor |
| before you have surgery because you need your | | | | before you believe any outrageous vitamin |
| blood to clot. That doesn't mean you can't have | | | | supplement and herbs claims. |
| your favorite spaghetti sauce before having | | | | |