Vitamin Supplements - Are they Beneficial or Just Hype?

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Vitamin supplements have been increasing in popularity and

availability over the past 30 years. In North America it has

become a multi billion dollar industry. Vitamin supplements

have been hailed as powerful antioxidants that fight against a

wide variety of health conditions such as cancer and heart

disease. They are also credited with causing reverse affects in

the aging process, and enhancing athletic ability.



The question is, however, do these claims have substance or is

it a product of the giant corporate machine that preys on

societys fears, fuelled by the media. The media has a tendency

to sensationalize certain ideas and findings, often

misrepresenting them. This is one process by which consumer

trends are created or molded.



If this is the case, the following question may be raised. Which

food trends are inspired by factual information that is truly

beneficial to health? In other words do certain products really

deliver on promises made by industry or the media? If not, then

who is to blame?



The media may be partly to blame for playing up on certain

fears, facts or ideas. At the same time the corporations could

be partly responsible as well. Where the real problem lies is in

miscommunication. These problems would be solved if a reliable

and effective stream of communication existed between the

scientific community, the government, the media and the

corporate world.



This is the objective these organizations should be striving

for. Until such a system is put into place there will be no

accurate way of telling whether the consumer can count on every

benefit promised.



Now lets get back to vitamin supplements. In order to find the

facts we must go right to the source. In other words we have to

look at results from scientific studies. A recent study, that

included tens of thousands of subjects, showed that vitamin E

and beta carotene supplementation did not lower the risk of

heart disease or death from heart disease. Foods, however, that

contain antioxidants are still recommended. (1)



Over the last twenty years there have been many similar studies

with varying results. In fact they have been largely

contradicting. And so to this day the subject remains

controversial. If you look at the facts as a whole, you will

find that vitamin supplements show no clear benefits in healthy

people with well balanced diets.



On the other hand, in cases of malnutrition or other forms of

vitamin deficiencies, vitamin supplementation subscribed by

physicians has been proven to be beneficial and essential.

Countless studies have proven that vitamins and nutrients from

real food sources are much more effective.



In fact several key studies were done to determine why certain

areas around the world had low incidents of heart disease and

cancer. Evidence suggested that these low rates were attributed

to diet. And in all these studies vitamin supplementation was

virtually nonexistent. These areas of study have included the

Mediterranean region, Japan, France, the Arctic, Africa and

South America. It was found that these cultures contained diets

with foods rich in natural antioxidants.



Some of these foods include fresh and cooked vegetables, wild

greens, fruits, wine and variety of nuts. Compared to the

American diet these diets contained higher contents of unrefined

carbohydrates and/or higher fish contents and much lower

quantities of red meat, hydrogenated fat and dairy products.



One reason why vitamin supplements have become so popular in

North America is the type of lifestyle we lead. As a result of

our busy, fast paced way of life we find less and less time to

prepare proper well balanced meals. Most of us, therefore, are

not getting enough essential vitamins and nutrients from our

diet. We are eating too much of the wrong foods and often feel

tired and burned out.



Instead of improving our eating habits, we get sold on the pitch

that we need vitamin supplements to increase strength and

vitality. If we had well balanced diets in the first place, we

wouldnt have to throw away large sums of money on supplements,

the vast majority of which are completely ineffective.



The wiser thing to do is try to incorporate some of these diet

patterns that have been proven beneficial to health in the

regions mentioned earlier. First of all we must increase fish

intake and decrease consumption of red meat. Increase intakes of

fruits, vegetables, whole unrefined carbohydrates and decrease

amount of simple carbohydrates like sugar and products with

white flour, saturated and hydrogenated fats made from animal

sources, margarines, creamy dressings and dips, and gravies. In

other words, decrease the amount of processed food.



Furthermore, when combining a well balanced diet with regular

exercise participation, the health benefits become tenfold. You

will become more relaxed and able to sleep better. Your energy

threshold will be increased, enabling you to perform at a higher

level while feeling less tired. You will lose weight, your

health and appearance will improve, and youll feel better about

yourself.



References:



1 http://www.clevelandclinic.org, Fighting heart disease:

Should you be pro or anti antioxidants, retrieved 29 Oct.

2004 from

http://www.clevelandclinic.org/heartcenter/pub/guide/disease/cad/

vitamin_e.htm



About the author:

John Tiniakos helps make weight loss easier through proven

weight loss methods using information and analysis from the

worlds leading scientists. To subscribe to his free monthly

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For more information on his latest ebook Nulife Natural Weight

Loss Program visit http://www.nulife-weightloss.com/natural.htm