Michael Brickey, Ph.D.

Magazines are full of articles such as, folic acid (Vitamin E, Beta Carotene, etc.) prevents.... This is presented as if it were news. The articles imply we should run out and buy the supplements. Such articles are especially common in magazines that advertise vitamins and supplements. Every month they seem to find or recycle a couple more vitamins and supplements.

What’s wrong? If you were to take all of the vitamins and supplements they recommend in a piecemeal fashion you would be heavily taxing your liver and your wallet. Many of these vitamins and supplements are included in a multiple vitamin and taking both may be taking too much. Many vitamins and supplements can cause serious health problems if taken in extreme amounts.

The articles give little consideration to how the vitamin or supplement interacts with other vitamins and supplements, e.g., high doses of Vitamin C can inhibit the absorption of B-12, calcium needs vitamin D. Supplements such as Gingko Biloba and aspirin thin the blood, which may or may not be desirable and certainly needs to be considered if you are going to have surgery.

The research often isn’t realistic. No one questions that we need folic acid. But the research should have large numbers of people in an experimental and placebo groups and a treatment program that lasts several years. The control group should take a good daily multiple vitamin with the amount of folic acid that multiple vitamins usually contain. The treatment group would take the same multiple vitamin plus additional folic acid. Results should show a statistically and clinically significant effect. Research should also control for socioeconomic factors (people who normally take vitamins tend to be better educated, more affluent, eat more healthily, and exercise more). Rarely do popular press articles meet these criteria.

As consumers we need to eat healthy foods and take a good multiple vitamin as an insurance policy against whatever our diet misses. Then ask what special needs you have that call for additional supplements, e.g., men taking saw palmetto to help prevent prostate cancer, people with a risk of heart disease taking daily low dose aspirin, women who have problems with urinary tract infections drinking cranberry juice or using cranberry extract. Overdoing supplements and piecemeal use of supplements may cause more problems than they help.

Most people get enough iron from their food and don’t need iron in their vitamins. Iron in particular can contribute to free radical damage. People who may need iron in vitamins or supplements include: children, women who menstruate, people who donate blood, and people who are anemic.

On the lighter side, there is the story about two cows that saw a milk tank truck drive by. In large bold letters it said, Pasteurized, Homogenized, Vitamin A added. One cow turned to the other and said, “makes you feel sort of inadequate, doesn’t it?”

The bottom line is to take a good daily multiple vitamin geared to your age and gender. Then consider if there are any other supplements you need beyond what your multiple vitamin is providing. Only take those that fit with your plan. Largely ignore the endless piecemeal articles on miraculous vitamins and supplements.




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This article may be reprinted in E-zines, newsletters, newspapers, and magazines provided they the content is not edited and the following attribution is given:

Dr. Michael Brickey is President of the Ageless Lifestyles Institute and author of Defy Aging. His new book, 52 baby steps to Grow Young, gives two-page-a-week practical steps for developing a youthful mindset at every age. Further information is at www.DrBrickey.com.

Michael Brickey, Ph.D.

Toddlers love to play a game in which they bravely venture away from their parents. They have in mind just how far is safe and comfortable. If the parent happens to move further away or go out of their sight, they rush back to a safe distance.

When today’s seniors grew up, values were clearer and stricter. Often their children rebelled against their values. As they reach middle age, however, the adult children often feel a little lost. Like a toddler, they look to their parents’ more conservative values and ways for reassurance. Even if they are not willing to undergo the self-discipline their parents’ values requires, they often find reassurance in their parents being a consistent ballast in their lives. This is especially true for those who have been divorced and are struggling with shared parenting.

Years ago I went to my 25th high school reunion with my wife. I sat across from a gorgeous classmate. I couldn’t believe the transformation. She had been a wallflower in high school. Now she was strikingly beautiful, owned her own business, raced cars, etc. At the end of dinner people still sat at their tables, waiting for the slow eaters to finish. My classmate said she was feeling restless and wished she could go for a walk. I said, “Why don’t you?” and she responded, “In front of all of these people?” Driving home I was baffled by her being so inhibited and asked my wife what she thought. She perceptively said that a reunion brings out the behaviors you had back then, and back then she was very shy and self-conscious.

The same can be true for when adult children visit their parents. In many ways their emotions, and possibly behaviors as well, are those of a child. Many an adult child walks into their parents’ home and their hand automatically reaches for the cookie jar.

Rebellion is a normal part of growing up and becoming a unique adult. Your adult children may not tell you how much they respect and reference your values, but they probably do. Keeping the light on for them can be a lighthouse in their lives.





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This article may be reprinted in E-zines, newsletters, newspapers, and magazines provided they the content is not edited and the following attribution is given:

Dr. Michael Brickey is President of the Ageless Lifestyles Institute and author of Defy Aging. His new book, 52 baby steps to Grow Young, gives two-page-a-week practical steps for developing a youthful mindset at every age. Further information is at www.DrBrickey.com.

Michael Brickey, Ph.D.

When Betty Rogers retired from her State job, she became a professional speaker. For fun she taught seniors to do stand up comedy at the Funny Bones Comedy Club. At first the seniors weren’t very good at stand up comedy. But that would be true of most people. Eventually many became quite funny.

Of course not everyone wants to be a comedian. Studies find older people are better story tellers than younger people. It comes at a perfect time in life as one of the roles of elders, however is to be story tellers. Story telling is part of the glue that bonds families. It is the conduit for family traditions. How you tell a story determines if it is fascinating or boring. Some people have a knack for story telling. Most of us could use some help. Rather than fumbling and bumbling through a story or shirking from your role as a story teller, practice. Think out, or better yet write out a story. Ask yourself:

• What would be a great opening line?
• Can I paint more pictures in my story?
• Does it pass the shark test–that every word adds to the story?
• What do I want listeners to feel?
• What will help bring about these feelings?
• What is my story telling style?

There is no right or wrong answer. Will Rogers had a plain talk approach. Andy Griffin had a country boy flavor. Some story tellers have a tall tale style. Some have a fond, loving, caring style. Is there a style that best fits you? Staying with a style and enhancing the style will help your story telling become like a brand name.

It also helps to listen to people who are good story tellers and take mental notes on what makes their stories so interesting.

As James Keller put it, “Tell your tales; make them true. If they endure, so will you.”

After you have polished your story and told it, ask for feedback and for suggestions on how to make it more interesting and effective. Your stories are the family jewels. Keep them polished and display them often.



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This article may be reprinted in E-zines, newsletters, newspapers, and magazines provided they the content is not edited and the following attribution is given:

Dr. Michael Brickey is President of the Ageless Lifestyles Institute and author of Defy Aging. His new book, 52 baby steps to Grow Young, gives two-page-a-week practical steps for developing a youthful mindset at every age. Further information is at www.DrBrickey.com.