The Fitness Maven

An increasingly vocal faction of the medical community is expressing skepticism about the effectiveness of vitamin supplements to the diet. While a balanced diet of ordinary food contains sufficient quantity and variety of vitamins for most people, some doctors have felt that supplements of concentrated vitamins could be beneficial, especially to those with strains on their bodies such as nursing mothers or the elderly. Many ordinary people have also believed that vitamins, in concentrated form, would give them an extra burst of vitality. But evidence is mounting that the healthiest way to receive vitamins is still in their natural form – as part of a varied diet rich in fruits and vegetables. Although we don’t know everything about what substances the body derives from food and how it processes them, it does appear that our bodies have evolved to derive maximal nourishment from food as found in nature. So next time you’re thinking about a vitamin c pill, try blueberries, oranges, or cranberries!