Getting real - What supplements won't do for you
Despite the many promising benefits that supplements can offer, its important to note their limitations - and to question some of the extravagant claims currently being made for them.
As the word itself suggests, supplements are not meant to replace the nutrients available from foods. Supplements will never make up for a poor diet: they can't counteract a high intake of saturated fat (which is linked to an increased risk of heart disease and cancer), and they can’t replace every nutrient found in food groups that you ignore. Also, although scientists have isolated and extracted a number of disease-fighting phytochemical compounds from fruits, vegetables and other foods, there may be many others that are undiscovered - and ones you can get only from foods. In addition, some of the known compounds may work only in combination with others in various foods, rather than as single, isolated ingredients in supplement form.
Supplements won't compensate for personal habits that are known to contribute to ill health, such as smoking or a lack of exercise. Optimal health requires a healthy lifestyle - this applies particularly to people who are determined to age as well as they can.
Although some of the benefits ascribed to supplements are unproved but plausible, other claims are far-fetched. Weight-loss preparations are the leading example. Though they're extremely popular, it's questionable whether any of them can help you to shed weight without the right food choices and regular exercise. Products that claim to 'burn fat' won't burn enough on their own for significant weight loss.
Similarly, claims of boosting performance, whether physical or mental, are difficult to prove - and any 'enhancement' will be limited at best in a healthy person. Although a supplement may improve mental functioning in someone experiencing mild to severe episodes of memory loss, it may have a negligible effect on the memory or concentration of most adults. Likewise, a supplement shown to combat fatigue isn't going to turn the average jogger into an endurance athlete. Nor is it clear that 'aphrodisiac' supplements enhance sexual performance if you aren't suffering from some form of sexual dysfunction.
No supplements have been found to cure any serious diseases - including cancer, heart disease, diabetes and AIDS. The right supplement, however, may help to improve a chronic condition and relieve symptoms such as pain or inflammation. But first you need to consult a health professional for treatment.
As the word itself suggests, supplements are not meant to replace the nutrients available from foods. Supplements will never make up for a poor diet: they can't counteract a high intake of saturated fat (which is linked to an increased risk of heart disease and cancer), and they can’t replace every nutrient found in food groups that you ignore. Also, although scientists have isolated and extracted a number of disease-fighting phytochemical compounds from fruits, vegetables and other foods, there may be many others that are undiscovered - and ones you can get only from foods. In addition, some of the known compounds may work only in combination with others in various foods, rather than as single, isolated ingredients in supplement form.
Supplements won't compensate for personal habits that are known to contribute to ill health, such as smoking or a lack of exercise. Optimal health requires a healthy lifestyle - this applies particularly to people who are determined to age as well as they can.
Although some of the benefits ascribed to supplements are unproved but plausible, other claims are far-fetched. Weight-loss preparations are the leading example. Though they're extremely popular, it's questionable whether any of them can help you to shed weight without the right food choices and regular exercise. Products that claim to 'burn fat' won't burn enough on their own for significant weight loss.
Similarly, claims of boosting performance, whether physical or mental, are difficult to prove - and any 'enhancement' will be limited at best in a healthy person. Although a supplement may improve mental functioning in someone experiencing mild to severe episodes of memory loss, it may have a negligible effect on the memory or concentration of most adults. Likewise, a supplement shown to combat fatigue isn't going to turn the average jogger into an endurance athlete. Nor is it clear that 'aphrodisiac' supplements enhance sexual performance if you aren't suffering from some form of sexual dysfunction.
No supplements have been found to cure any serious diseases - including cancer, heart disease, diabetes and AIDS. The right supplement, however, may help to improve a chronic condition and relieve symptoms such as pain or inflammation. But first you need to consult a health professional for treatment.
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