Should We Stop Taking Multi-Vitamins?

A huge study was done at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center to determine whether multi-vitamins are worth the price. Visit for details. http://tiny.cc/0QXP1

It seems that multi-vitamins aren’t worth the price. I’ve taken a multi-vitamin each day as “insurance” for those days when my intake wasn’t optimal. But it seems that taking multi-vitamins doesn’t give you a health advantage in oder to avoid any type of cancer, heart disease, or any risk of dying. The only risk of taking multi-vitamins is that we’re making the supplement industry rich and our wallets lighter.

The conclusion from this study was that the best way to get your nutrients is through what you eat. So go for whole foods, whole grains, fruits and vegetables, low-fat choices of dishes. Enjoy the bounty that nature has to offer and you’ll be the healthier for it. Of course, this isn’t new news and fortunately, the trend is toward eating “closer to the land”, i.e., foods that are less processed. It’s just been hard for some people to get on that bandwagon. Hop aboard – you’ll be better off for it.

With that said, there may be specific nutrients you should supplement because it is somewhat challenging to get enough in the diet. Vitamin D, calcium, and omega-3 fatty acid are the three that come to mind. It’s especially hard for people in northern latitudes to make enough vitamin D through sun exposure since there just isn’t that much sun shining in the winter up north. I know that’s true living in the Northwest. This was an especially cold and gray winter.

Calcium in the amounts science is suggesting we need is also not that easy to get just through food. Just remember that dairy isn’t the only source of calcium. Dark leafy vegetables, broccoli, and tofu are examples of vegetable sources of calcium. And to kill two birds with one stone, eat canned salmon with the bones and you get omega-3 fatty acids and calcium at the same time.

If the average American were graded on his or her nutrient intake per day or even per week, I fear he or she might be sent to study hall to help raise those grades. Come on, America, do your part to make us a healthier nation!