How many websites, articles and wacky-sounding ideas have you come across in order to kick the Freshmen 15 in the bum and keep it off yours for good? Or maybe you’re a vegetarian and have this feeling you’re missing something in your diet (besides that meaty, juicy, …okay I’ll stop).
Well, here at HCMSU we have one list that doesn’t involve energy drinks, marathon training or crash dieting, to get you on the healthy straight and narrow path in college and hopefully for life. Most of us will have enough baggage once we leave MSU with student loans already—no need to carry a bigger load you’ll wake up dragging around each day.
Now I don’t think we need to call myth busters to know that vitamins are as crucial to our bodies as Sparty is to Michigan State. Ronda Bokram, has worked as a registered dietician and nutritionist at MSU’s Health Services in Olin for 24 years, and was excited to help out her fellow MSU women. As an alumnus herself (…but also a Wisconsin alumnus *gasp!), here’s some of her need to know advice about vitamins.
- Health Services at the Olin Center are FREE for students! So if you’re curious about what your body might be missing, foods you’re eating or changing your diet completely; let the nutritionists be the experts. They’ll be able to counsel you on what vitamins you might need or which old vitamin bottles to throw out
- Even vitamin companies understand being on a budget. Various health and grocery stores are long time supporters of a wide variety of vitamins to choose from at prices under $10. They also come in powder, gummy, chewable and pill forms.
- MYTH ALERT: Vitamins do not provide energy. Vitamins provide nutrients but, protein, fat and calories are where energy comes from. They also don’t help speed up your metabolism. This is why it is so important to eat food with vitamins because vitamins are a supplement, meaning, “in addition to.”
- Bokram said many college girls give up drinking milk when they go to college and with Michigan lacking sunny days, a Calcium or Vitamin D supplement would benefit them. Make sure the bottle clearly says Vitamin D or Calcium instead of a combination of substitute ingredients.
- VEGGIE and VEGAN ALERT: I’m jealous to report that Bokram said these diets are healthy, as long as you remain conscious about getting nutrients you’re foregoing elsewhere. If you’re eating dairy, that’s a step in the right direction, but if not, a Vitamin D or Calcium supplement can support your lifestyle. As a vegan, it’s important to replace meats with other iron rich foods such as fried beans, iron fortified cereal and more. However, before taking an iron supplement it is very important to check with a nutritionist or doctor.
- BIRTH CONTROL and PERIOD ALERT: To ensure a vitamin or other health supplement doesn’t affect your birth control or period, it’s worth checking with a nutritionist or doctor at Olin. Some health products may affect hormone levels or metabolisms, even though Bokram says you should be fine with a generic vitamin.
- Multivitamins are an option and can be taken two to four times a week or whatever is recommended on the bottle or by your doctor. More isn’t always better with vitamins because your body can’t absorb it all and this will cause various other nutrients to compete with them. Also, it’s okay to take the same vitamin the rest of your life if you need it.
- Finally, stay healthy!