03/20/07
Leave it to sensationalism in science to confuse the public yet again. A new research study in the latest edition of the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) published February 28, 2007 concludes that beta-carotene, vitamin A, and vitamin E might actually increase mortality (patient death), contrary to what we have been told time and time again from our health care providers over the last quarter century. Their conclusion is based upon a meta-analysis study performed by clinicians comparing multiple randomized trials of vitamin supplements dating back to October 2005.
According to the Council for Responsible Nutrition (CRN), the study may "inappropriately confuse and alarm consumers who can benefit from supplementing with antioxidants." Whether or not a true correlation between high or low level vitamin supplementation and mortality exists, remains to be seen. However, a great deal of current data does exist evaluating the effects of supplementation for different treatment outcomes, most of which show a definite benefit for patient care. This one study hopefully will not curtail the good research that has already been performed and the great outcomes that can be experienced by the patients and our community. But supplementation isn’t always the answer.
Here at BNI, we believe that nature has already provided us with an abundance of foods that offers great protection against various diseases. Nuts, whole grains, legumes, and of course fruits and vegetables are excellent examples of foods that naturally offer an excellent source of phytonutrients that have been linked to a lower risk of cancer, diabetes, heart disease, and other chronic illnesses. Unmodified whole foods such as broccoli, carrots, tomatoes and a host of others are some examples of these beneficial foods. Many of the benefits found in supplements are already available in the foods that are widely present in a balanced, nutrient-dense diet. However, this is not to say supplements are not necessary; quite the contrary as calcium supplementation is very useful for most people but requires heavy dosages of calcium not easily obtained in a typical diet.
Food and nutrients in their natural form are best adapted to the human digestive system; the body knows what to use and what to discard. In other words, it is always better to eat the tomato with the meal than to take an isolated lycopene supplement with the meal. Simplicity in design is tantamount to a reliable and useful dietary regimen. Hippocrates stated "Let food be your medicine and medicine be your food." Consistency in a healthy diet is key to adhering to a healthy lifestyle.
Although it is tempting to walk down the aisle of a health food store and read promising labels of health promoting products, simply maintaining a core diet of healthy eating will provide better health effects. The produce aisle of the market can offer more than the supplement aisle of the specialty store. A nutrient dense regimen of whole foods for optimal disease prevention is the best choice. Supplements are added insurance for those who have already adapted to a healthy foundation of eating. Food has so much value—most of us just need proper instruction on how to structure our diet to maximize the value of our food that we consume.
What this all means is that foods are synergistic. The interaction of whole foods has a sum total benefit that outweighs the benefit of each food’s individual nutrient. In addition, the synergistic effect of foods also means that foods work together to provide the optimal level of vitamins and nutrients that the body needs to function properly. Having supplements can help support a healthy lifestyle, but popping a pill cannot compensate for a poor diet. It is the whole food that makes a difference.
