About a week ago (7/20/2005), nutrition experts Alice H. Lichtenstein, DSc and Robert M. Russell, MD at Tufts published their results of a study in the JAMA that questioned the benefits of supplementation of nutrients as opposed to taking in natural and whole foods.
The results, as expected, said much of what I firmly believe in... you can't get the best nutrients from a dried plant or fruit or anything!
An article from www.medpagetoday.com tells about the study and reports, in a deadpan type of manner, the following brainbuster:
"Essential nutrients that come from foods are better than pills from bottles, concluded nutrition researchers. Indications for supplements, they added, occupy a narrow niche."This study has two outcomes and one bone head suggestion: (1) That it is possible to over supplement, (2) That diets high in fruits and vegetables are better than a diet with supplements to prevent disease and (Bonehead suggestion) Fluoride should be supplemented in a child's diet. I'll start with the first two and then finish up with their poisonous script.
I'm not concerned that these doctors are studying the effects of supplementation. I'd like to applaud them for this. Many people need to be aware of over supplementation and also need to be told that a multivitamin doesn't exactly cut it.
I'm concerned that money is being spent incorrectly. I'm concerned that it took a study at Tufts (where researchers are paid handsomely) to decide that eating a banana might have more nutrient value than a banana pill where all the nutrients are stripped of water, enzymes and LIFE. This is pretty straightforward stuff as far as I'm concerned.
I’ve always believed the best way to optimum health is through fresh, natural and organic fruits and vegetables. Ask Dr. Jensen or Dr. Schultze, they've helped thousands of people HEAL THEMSELVES with juice supplementation over many decades.
When you juice a fruit or a vegetable, you've taken away the fiber and concentrated to nutrients and enzymes, which your body can assimilate immediately. In this pure form your body can take in 90-100% of the nutrients and it does this very fast.
With a dried pill, your body does not take in the nutrients in the same manner and many of this excess is passed off as waste... as evidenced by the fluorescent color of urine after taking most multivitamins.
What frightens me most is that the doctors, after coming to the conclusion about these supplements, are weak to suggest a solution because of a fear to put anyone's panties in a bundle.
"Our conclusion is based on the lack of a complete understanding of nutrient requirements and interactions, disappointing results of intervention studies with single nutrients or nutrient cocktails, and limited understanding of how the message would be interpreted with respect to dietary and lifestyle behaviors."That’s quite a non-committing statement. I don't understand what "limited understanding of how the message would be interpreted" means. Does this mean they are afraid to cause some waves in a big business... like the supplement business? I'd imagine this is part of it. These doctors are just as good as the protestors that go to the rally and cover their faces with bandanas. How can you believe so strongly about something and then cover face when you’re protesting your beliefs! It is an act of cowardice.
To support the doctors, they do speak on how over supplementation could cause harm, which is certainly true. Though I, myself, would have liked to collect the big-stash grant money to come to this conclusion. Maybe I could have eaten 100 carrots a day, turned bright orange and said, "Look, there's certainly something happening here, it might be bad!" (Next line with hand held out: "Give me my money!)
Finally, like a swift kick in the butt, which may have negated all the somewhat good from above, the nutrition "experts" suggest that fluoride should be supplemented in a child's diet to halt tooth decay. I’ve never been big on suggesting that a poison like fluoride should be suggested for anyone to ingest. There are enough warnings and studies that show the dangerous effects of fluoride that I’m shocked these nutritionists have made such a blatantly dangerous recommendation.
That’s what I’ll talk about next week!
Stay on top of the curve,
Kevin
