Nutritional Supplement

Question
Would it be healthy to completely turn to a diet of nothing more than vitamins and nutritional supplements. Examples: protein shakes, multivitamins, vegan powders ect...?  What affect would this have on the body?

Thx,

Mike

Answer
Dear Mike,


     Thank you for your nutrition question. Most studies have shown that taking separate supplements is fruitless in terms of disease prevention. The majority of the research has found that foods, which contain many more phytonutrients than the single nutrient studied, are more reliable sources than supplements alone in fighting disease.

Therefore, it would not be healthy to completely replace regular food with nutritional supplements.  Science cannot duplicate the nutrients which are found in mother nature. For example, there are thousands of plant chemicals found in an apple which cannot be made in a lab. Many plant chemicals are yet to be discovered by scientists.
   In addition, many supplements are not well absorbed by the body so they would simply be passed through the kidneys.  Taking large doses of an individual vitamin or mineral is not only overkill but may precipitate disease rather than provide added health and vitality.

Supplements are not a replacement or a substitute for a healthy, balanced diet. They should be viewed as compliments to whole foods and be used to fill the gaps in your diet - particularly for women, vegetarians, and the elderly.
Hope this helps.

-George Rapitis, Bsc. Nutritionist

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