10. Is the pill form of a vitamin better than the food source?
Even if you managed to down the recommended five to nine servings of fruit and vegetables a day, consider this: The soil in most parts of the country is depleted of selenium and contains marginal levels of zinc, magnesium, calcium and other minerals. And nutrient-rich foods don't grow out of nutrient-depleted soil.
Also, most of our food travels a long way -- on average 1,500 miles -- to our table, and produce begins to lose nutrients from the moment it gets picked.
Do the math. Yes, you can do better by eating organic: A study showed that these fruits and veggies have more antioxidants than their conventional counterparts. But most people don't eat five serving a day of conventional, let alone, organic foods, and so a large number of us miss key vitamins and minerals.
So, yes, multivitamins are good insurance.
Reviewed by: David Rakel, M.D.
Date reviewed: December 2007
©2007 Revolution Health Group, LL C.Labels: health, supplements |
