Popping the right kind of pills

When I was young, I thought Flintstone chewable vitamins were the greatest invention next to bubblegum flavored medicine. I used to pop three or four when my mom wasn't looking. I continued the habit until the pills changed from colorful prehistoric people to ordinary white horse pills. My addiction soon changed from vitamins to cherry fruit roll ups and I stopped taking the healthy pills.\nUp until three weeks ago, I forgot vitamins existed. Calcium pills and a once-a-days were never really top on my priority list. But over my spring break biking adventure, I would drink a bottle of pickle juice if it was guaranteed to give me energy and cure my muscle cramps. I started taking calcium and since the trip I have included vitamins as a part of my routine. I never thought pills and fruit would bring me so much life.\nI realize, in a world full of beer and Big Ten pizzas, fruit and vitamins aren't exactly popular 1 a.m. picks. But according to a report released by Collegiate Presswire, bad eating habits now could lead to "big killer" diseases such as cardiovascular disease and cancer. The report also mentioned that 70 percent of freshmen are not meeting the recommendation for fruits and vegetables. I think this statistic is a result of parents stuffing peas and apple chunks down their children's throats. It takes a while to recover from such circumstances. But regardless, the five-a-day fruit and veggie requirement is important.\nWith three weeks until finals, stress is creeping into our schedules. Don't think you're the only one who hates the world right now. Studies show that a proper diet helps give you the energy to focus on your studies. \n Soyouwanna.com says that certain "brain foods" can improve basic functions of the body. If you're having problems remembering facts, researchers claim vitamin A can help. Also, if you're not a big fan of scars, cut a vitamin E pill open and pour the liquid on the wound.\nIt's wise to take a multivitamin to get the brain working in the morning. And the calcium in milk is what does a body good. College women typically have low calcium levels. Women between the ages of 19 and 24 need to be concerned with calcium levels because doctors can determine if they will develop osteoporosis by the age of 25. \nIt is possible to overdose on vitamins. According to a report released Monday by Texas A&M University, too much vitamin C can result in diarrhea, kidney stones and intestinal problems. That sounds real nice. On the flip side, high calcium consumption may make you constipated. It's also important not to substitute vitamins for essential food groups.\n Looking at the bright side, vitamins also help protect your immune system. If you are not a big fan of hacking up yellow goop while chilling in the health center, it would be wise to pop some vitamin C. \n Proper nutrition is important. We learned it at the Flintstone chewable age, but we tend to forget about it when we don't have our moms to cook us well-balanced meals.\nI'm no health science major, but I have been doing my own vitamin and healthy eating experiment. And so far, it's working.\nIn fewer than 24 hours, I'll be competing in the Little 500. And before I go to the track, I will pop two calcium pills and one multivitamin. Regardless of how much they are actually affecting my body, mentally I feel like they make me stronger. And tomorrow I'll need all the strength I can get.