Everything you think you know about supplements is wrong, according to a new book
If you pop a daily vitamin to stay healthy, you might be doing more harm than good. A new book called Do You Believe in Magic?: The Sense and Nonsense of Alternative Medicine debunks several of the major theories behind alternative medicine, citing decades’ worth of scientific research to make its case. In an excerpt recently published by The Atlantic, author Paul Offit, M.D., explains that there’s no evidence that taking vitamins or minerals—including antioxidants—is a good idea. Furthermore, it may actually be dangerous.
Studies show that people who eat more produce are generally healthier, so it follows that it would be even better to take a supplement and get more of the good stuff found in produce, right? As it happens, that’s not how it works. In his book, Offit explains that “free radicals aren’t as evil as advertised.” Research suggests that you actually need some free radicals in your system to combat harmful bacteria and other health threats like new cancer cells. So large, concentrated doses of antioxidants may wipe out too many free radicals, heightening your risk of heart disease and cancer, writes Off it.
The evidence against supplements continues to stack up. For instance, in a newly released University of Copenhagen study out this week, men who participated in an 8-week workout program didn’t reap the cardiovascular benefits of exercise when they took supplements of resveratrol, the antioxidant found in grape skins.
There’s no question that the safest way to get the nutrients your body needs is by eating them, which gives you the vitamins and minerals you need in much lower—and safer—doses. So instead of swallowing pills, load up on these vitamin-rich foods:
No comments:
Post a Comment