Which Supplements Do Doctors Take?

from Healthy Looks Great on You · host Dr. Vickie

Confused about which vitamins and supplements are actually worth your money? Dr. Vickie takes you into her own "mini medical school" to break down what she and her physician colleagues really take and why. In this episode: Why the decades-long advice to take calcium + vitamin D got walked back, and what the risks turned out to be The difference between a vitamin (your body needs it) and a supplement (a manufactured product) and why that distinction matters The 4 facts everyone should know before buying a supplement, including why potency can vary wildly bottle to bottle How to spot third-party verified supplements (look for NSF International or USP) What the COSMOS study really found about multivitamins, brain health, and aging, including the sub-studies that didn't confirm the benefit Why creatine is having a moment with doctors, not just bodybuilders Magnesium, fish oil, and fiber supplements: when they help and when food beats the pill The one supplement every woman of childbearing age should be taking, even without a pregnancy planned A caution on high-dose vitamin A and E Evidence-based, no fear-mongering, no sales pitch, just what the research actually shows. 📩 Want more of this? Get evidence-based health info straight to your inbox, plus one simple step each week to move your health forward: healthylooksgreatonyou.com Links mentioned in this episode: Harvard Health Report: https://www.health.harvard.edu/preventive-care/do-multivitamins-make-you-healthier https://healthylooksgreatonyou.com/should-you-take-a-vitamin-d-supplement/ https://healthylooksgreatonyou.com/creatine-promise-for-muscle-and-memory/ https://Healthylooksgreatonyou.com This podcast is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for medical advice. Please continue to follow up with your physician or healthcare provider.

Episode metadata supplied by the publisher feed · Published Jul 17, 2026

What this episode covers

What vitamins and supplements do doctors actually take for themselves? Dr. Vickie opens her own medicine cabinet, and a friend’s, to show you what’s really worth taking. From the reversal on calcium and vitamin D (once recommended to nearly every woman, now linked to kidney stones and even heart risk in high doses) to the surprising new interest in creatine among physicians, this episode breaks down what the evidence actually supports. You’ll learn the difference between a vitamin and a supplement, why supplements don’t have to be proven to work before they hit the shelf, and how to spot third-party verification (look for NSF International or USP on the label). Dr. Vickie digs into the COSMOS study on multivitamins and brain health, explains why magnesium and fish oil are more nuanced than the marketing suggests, and shares the one supplement every woman of childbearing age should have in her cabinet, even if she’s not planning a pregnancy. Plus: the truth about fiber supplements versus food, and why ”natural” doesn’t mean ”necessary.” Evidence-based, no hype, no fear-mongering, just what to actually put in your cart. Links mentioned in this episode: Harvard Health Report: https://www.health.harvard.edu/preventive-care/do-multivitamins-make-you-healthier https://healthylooksgreatonyou.com/should-you-take-a-vitamin-d-supplement/ https://healthylooksgreatonyou.com/creatine-promise-for-muscle-and-memory/ https://Healthylooksgreatonyou.com

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