The Vitamin Dilemma

We are all trying to be healthy and extend our lives, which might be why I ended up at the vitamin store. Actually, it was more because I have a friend named Joe, who is eighty-five years old but looks sixty, jogs nine miles a day, and is in incredible shape.

A very persuasive friend

The guy is a ball of energy, married to a much younger woman, and generally happy and healthy. One day I asked him, “Joe, what vitamins do you take?” My birthday was looming, and I panic every time August rolls around.

Joe sent me his list of nutrition advice and daily vitamins and supplements. It began with a handful of toasted nuts and a bite of unsweetened chocolate first thing in the morning. Armed with that list, I finally made it to the vitamin store in the hope of extending my life and enhancing its quality.

The supplement aisle

Joe told me I could easily add the nutrients on his list to my morning protein drink. After perusing shelves and talking to the saleswoman, I ended up with Spiru-Tein powder, optimized carnitine, cruciferous veggie extract, calcium, and magnesium.

When I got home, I had three jars of vitamins and no idea what some of them were for. Ironically, my mother is ninety-four years old and takes one multivitamin a day and the occasional aspirin. My new regimen felt rather more foreboding.

There is no way I am going to eat broccoli, Brussels sprouts, and cauliflower all the time, so for now I will stick with the daily juices and the cruciferous veggie extract. Wish me luck.