Do vitamin and mineral supplements make a healthy person healthier? The vitamin manufacturers would like you to think so. The supplement industry rakes in $24 billion a year despite mounting evidence that taking vitamins does not help prevent cancer and in some cases such as beta carotene and lung cancer, supplements have been shown to actually increase cancer risk.
Most recently, calcium supplements were linked to an increased risk in heart attacks for women. To be sure, women at risk for osteoporosis and taking calcium under their doctor's advice must find this statistic confusing and frighting. A simple solution would be to get calcium from your food such as low-fat dairy, green leafy vegetables and fish.
Often people take vitamin supplements as an insurance policy or to fill in possible dietary gaps. The typical supplement user is actually well educated, has a higher income, eats well and is physically active. Basically the people who need vitamins the least are most likely to take them.
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Popular opinion is the American diet is poor in nutrients. The fact is healthy Americans rarely have frank vitamin deficiencies, much of our food supply is fortified, and the vast majority of people can meet their nutrient requirements through food.
Do you really want to better health your health? Eat more fruits and vegetables and less of everything else. Move more, sit less. Don't smoke. And if you are tired, stressed out and depressed, don't pop a vitamin pill - get a good night's sleep. I promise you will feel better in the morning.
