If you are like me, you grew up on Flintstone Vitamins.  I searched my 8 year old butt off for a Pebbles or a Bam Bam.  Listen, anyone could find a Wilma, but a Pebbles was a serious win.  Plus those bad boys were delicious.  I would sneak extras.

Guess what?  One of the primary reasons kids get their stomach pumped these days are those delicious Flintstones vitamins.  Turns out they have a safety cap and a warning for a reason.  If kids take in more than the recommended dose they can have “shortness of breath, stomach pain, nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea.”  Fun times.  I seriously do not mean to pick on Flintstones.  Apparently, all multivitamins, vitamin D, Calcium, and Vitamin C, are not worth our money, regardless of the brand…

A new study was published in The Journal of the American College of Cardiology (May 28, 2018) found  that vitamin D, calcium and vitamin C did not help in preventing in cardiovascular disease, heart attack, stroke or premature death.  In fact most vitamins even though they don’t harm you, they don’t help you in any way.  In 1993, a similar study, said the same thing.  In 2017 36 Billion Dollars was spent on Vitamins, but we have to supplement our Farmers’ Income!?!  The crazy thing is these studies are proving what you know in your heart.  A simple pill is not the answer, you know what is? Fruits and Vegetables, so stop wasting your money at the pharmacy, and go to the farmer’s market.

I find it funny that people are so quick to say about vitamins, “Well, it was good enough for me as a kid, so it is good enough for my kids.”  When I was 3, we would “double buckle” to carpool to school instead of riding in a carseat, now 10 year olds ride in a booster car seat.  (For those of you who don’t know, “double buckle” is 2 kids in 1 seat with 1 seat belt pulled over both of them.  Seriously, what could go wrong?)  We could play lawn darts, and Kid Cuisine with a soda was a solid dinner choice (it had every food group and a chocolate sandwich cookie).  We have progressed and learned things about health and safety.  Why are you holding on to vitamin technology created in 1968?

According to the USDA’s dietary guidelines, the average sedentary person should consume 5-13 servings of fruit and vegetables every day.  If you are working out, even 30-45 minutes, now you need 16-20 servings.  A serving is a fist size, and if you have really big fists, you probably need a bigger serving.  How many servings have you had today?

Then it gets really tricky, because different colors do different things.  You need a whole rainbow.  I like spinach, broccoli, basically any berry, apples.  I think papaya and squash are disgusting, but my body still needs those.  We gravitate usually to the same (I’ll be generous) 10 types and our kids are worse.

So I challenge you while it is still warm, get out to the farmer’s market this weekend, or head to the store and pick up a fruit or veggie you normally wouldn’t.  Go on pinterest and fish around for a new recipe.  Try something new.  Sneak a couple more servings of fruits and veggies into your families’ diet, and stop wasting your money on vitamins.  Miles Laboratories has made enough money on your family.  It is the local farmer’s turn.

I am not a doctor.  This is not medical advice and is not meant to be in place of medical advice.  I am just a concerned mom that knows she needs to do better with her & her families’ health, and is sharing her thoughts and feelings on a subject she is passionate about.  If you figure out how to get 20 servings of fruits & veggies in a 2 year old…  SHARE!  YOU ARE MY HERO!  We Have our easy button, but always open to hearing yours!