Food: Not A Supplement
I subscribe to a free email-based service that provides links with “experts” to journalists. I didn’t respond to the request below (for either informed or expert opinion). But it struck me as a great example of how pervasive the “fix-it with a magic bullet” mentality is when it comes to health and disease:
“I’m looking for nutritionists and RDs to respond. My piece is on foods that prevent disease. I’m not looking for general categories of foods but specific examples of foods that prevent a particular disease, based on a research study. Preferably these examples will be based on some recent research. For example, recent data show that apple juice can delay the onset of Alzheimer’s disease. This is for a requested proposal. Thanks!”
Michael Pollan and T. Colin Campbell have both pointed out that food is a complex biochemical wonder, and that it is completely wrong-headed to take an aspirin-like approach to it (take two and your symptoms will disappear!) I’d even go so far as to say that in general, supplements that isolate specific vitamins and nutrients over-promise and under-deliver. Research consistently shows that few supplements and vitamins really work to the advertised degree, yet most of us still buy them “just to be on the safe side.”
In truth, the best approach to food and disease is to have a whole grain, whole food-based diet, preferably with lots of different colored vegetables and fruits. Forget the rest. Ultimately, your health and your pocketbook will be better off for it.
