Recent articles in the New York Times and elsewhere about the possible downsides of taking extra doses of dietary supplements have had my clients grilling me about vitamins. Not whether to take them or not, but whether or not to stop taking them. The article referred to two new studies that showed that taking vitamins may be harmful to your health. One study, which focused on vitamin E and selenium, found that men who take these vitamins had a slightly higher risk of developing prostate cancer. The other study found that women who took multivitamins and other supplements had a higher risk of dying than those that did not.
So how do I answer my clients? It seems legit to be fearful after reading a study (or two) like this, but my answer hasn’t changed.
The best way to get all the nutrients you need is through a balanced diet. I have yet to see a study that shows that a diet that’s well balanced, with an assortment of colorful vegetables and fruit, can cause cancer or death. Although taking some vitamins in pill form may be necessary for some people, they are not the solution. A healthy diet and sensible lifestyle choices (good amounts of sleep and exercise, and regular check-ups) are your best bets for a long, healthy life.
(That said, some nutrients are just not easily obtained through food, regardless of how great your diet is. I have almost every one of my clients taking a vitamin D supplement. This is a “sun” vitamin, one that our body manufactures when we are exposed to the sun. However, many of us wear sunscreen (good work!), live in smoggy areas, or spend most of the daylight hours inside, working at a desk, and all these factors can keep the body from synthesizing enough vitamin D on its own.)
Instead of worrying about which pills to take, focus your energy on what’s on your plate. Get your vitamins and minerals from food, make sure you have variety in your diet, and live a healthy, active life.
[Photo: Lintilla/flickr]
