Unsafe Supplements

Forget Pills. Natural Is Best.

 

If there ever were a case for the benefits of the whole food and the dangers of synthetic vitamins, recent studies would be strong evidence for the prosecution.

 

We're all familiar with the basic wisdom: EAT YOUR FRUITS AND VEGETABLES. Why? Numerous studies have shown that people who consume whole foods containing natural antioxidants reduce their risk of developing a wide range of diseases - including cancer and cardiovascular disease.

 

But what about synthetic vitamin supplements? Do they provide the same benefits? Could pill-popping replace your daily requirement for fruits and vegetables?

 

Unfortunately for the veggie-phobe, recent studies on the affects of anti-oxidant supplements, published in the Archives of Internal Medicine, indicate that neither extracted nor synthesized antioxidants have demonstrated the same disease-reducing properties as the complete nutrients of whole foods.

 

Even more concerning, is that in some cases, antioxidant supplements increase the likelihood of disease for certain populations. Synthetic supplements were found to be beneficial for men with low blood levels of prostate specific antigen... but these same supplements actually RAISED the risk of cancer for men with high prostate specific antigen.

 

Meanwhile, it was reported that antioxidant supplements did nothing to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease in high-risk women.

 

Thus, synthetic antioxidant supplements increase the risks of certain diseases in some populations while having little or no affect on others. Unfortunately for both potential supplement takers and supplement makers, there is no “rule” about who could benefit and who could be harmed by antioxidant supplements.

 

If you are considering taking a supplement as an effort towards disease prevention, you should consult your doctor to ensure that you are not increasing your risk for disease. Or you can take the time-tested all-natural route: just eat the fruit, the whole fruit, and nothing but the fruit (or the vegetable).