Do You Really Want That Vitamin?

A study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association suggests that daily vitamin supplements taken by millions of people could be increasing their risk of death. The researchers concluded that beta carotene, Vitamin A, and Vitamin E increased mortality rate. Vitamin A increased death risk by 16 per cent, Vitamin E by 4 per cent, and beta carotene by 7 per cent. Keep in mind that these vitamin supplements were synthetic supplements, which are not the same as the natural vitamins found in food. Another study conducted on Vitamin E was published in the Annals of Internal Medicine. Daily intake of Vitamin E in amounts of 400 IU or more for one year or more also showed an increase in the risk of death. In fact, in this study, researchers suggested "sellers should consider removing vitamin preparations that contain 400 IU or more of Vitamin E from stores."

Synthetic vitamins are not the only supplements that are causing concern in the scientific community. The British Journal of Nutrition has published new research that asserts synthetic folic acid is metabolized differently than the natural form of folate that is found in food. Natural folate is broken down in the stomach while synthetic folic acid is broken down in the liver. The problem is that the liver can not process an abundance of synthetic folic acid. The worry is that the liver may release undigested folic acid into the blood stream causing excessive levels in the blood. Excessive levels have been linked to breast cancer and brain decline in the elderly. Again, natural folate in food does not cause this problem.

So, what do you do to stay healthy? You get your vitamins, your antioxidants, your minerals, and your immune boosters naturally through food, organic food, preferably. Getting your nutrients in the form of food produces better results. To maximize the benefits to your body, different nutrients must work together. Scientists have not yet determined exactly which nutrients working in concert give your body the best protection against disease.

Organic food is your best bet in making sure you are getting these necessary nutrients. For example, organically grown fruit, on the average, contains 50 per cent more antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals than conventionally grown fruit that has been intensively farmed. Studies have shown that the conventionally grown orange you are eating today has less Vitamin C than the conventionally grown orange of 50 years ago.

Stop your daily multiple vitamin and mineral supplements—they´re doing more harm than good—and switch to organic foods which are abundant in the nutrients to keep you healthy.