I am a huge proponent of whole foods first but I don’t buy some of the arguments, for instance fertilizers typically only add 3 main minerals back into the ground (Nitrogen, Phosphorus, and Potassium), enough to get the plant looking like a plant, but plants utilize some 52 minerals to grow. There is a lot of crap out on the market when it comes to supplements and in many cases the amounts are based on RDA values which are outdated and based on minimum amount necessary to prevent objective disease and says nothing to how chronic low-level micronutrient deficiencies can lead to subclinical, chronic disease. Pharmaceutical drugs can also deplete the human body of micronutrients, which can be a call for supplementation, but at clinical dosages and with an appreciation for drug-vitamin-herb interactions. Most nutritionists and registered dieticians typically have 4 year degrees and don’t always appreciate the interaction between many body systems. The American Dietetic Association is also very politically motivated and often makes recommendations based on political interests and compromises its recommendations by catering to big industries (See http://www.precisionnutrition.com/ada-conference-09, “Tony the Tiger at a Nutrition Conference?). They have worked for years preventing nutrition from being a “therapeutic” option and just something to promote “general health “& wellness”…Could you see that benefiting any large industries out there?

I agree, that ideally we should rely on food, especially fruits and veggies, for vitamins. But we don’t live in an ideal world. There are situations, particularly for growing children, where vitamins may help. I wrote about it in my post “5 reasons to consider a multivitamin supplement” (http://www.littlestomaks.com/2009/01/5-reasons-to-consider-a-multivitamin-supplement/)

I do not believe we should expect vitamin supplements to “prevent” cancer, heart disease or strokes. That is why I am not convinced that studies you have cited are relevant.

A survey of physicians and nurses showed that more than half of the took dietary supplements on a regular basis (see my article http://www.littlestomaks.com/2009/07/five-for-fridays-jul-10-2009/). I am not saying that it proves anything; just that supplements may still have their place even in a balanced, healthy lifestyle. Just do it for the right reasons and with right expectations!

I agree that whole foods are usually the best source of vitamins, minerals, & nutrients. But this article, “Vitamins That Kill” contains a lot of false generalities, & I find it offensive. There is a lot of evidence for the value of various specific vitamin & mineral supplementation. People have to be knowledgeable & wise enough to use supplements appropriately. This often has to vary with the individual, but there are guidelines that may provide reasonable & helpful levels for most people.

A look back at the writings of the late nutritional biochemist, Adelle Davis, offers a lot of documented helpful information. See, for example, her books in the 1960’s: Let’s Have Healthy Children, Let’s Eat Right To Keep Fit, Let’s Get Well, and others.

See for example her warning about the depletion in the soil of Magnesium, because the industrial fertilizers did not adequately return the minerals to the soil that manure used to return. How ridiculous it is that “restless leg syndrome” is now a common ailment! This is a Magnesium deficiency condition, just as predicted by Adelle Davis in the 1960’s, except that she called it “nocturnal epilepsy”. A supplement of Calcium & Magnesium in the ratio by weight of 2 to 1, respectively, has helped my friends end their “restless leg syndrome”.

Another example is the low-fat craze to the extent that people are removing mayonnaise from their diets. Adelle Davis encouraged the use of mayonnaise because it was a source of the essential fatty acids, a healthy component of the daily nutrition.

Vitamins C & E, also advocated as supplementation, help the immune system. Not everyone can afford the whole food sources, especially in today’s economy. There are many examples where supplementation is helpful, and indeed necessary. Look at the current literature on the benefits of Vitamin D3 supplementation. Many people don’t have enough opportunity to form it via sunlight, and indeed many dark-skinned people may not be able to form it adequately even with sun exposure.

I hope there aren’t many people taking this 1/8/10 “Vitamins That Kill” article too seriously. It can do a lot of harm.

Any person who has spent any time growing crops of any kind knows that you can not continually grow the same crop on the same plot of ground. Certain plants require certain minerals at different amounts for healthy growth. All respectable farmers know that crop rotation is necessary. Providing NPK fertilizers does not replenish the soil, Nitrogen phosphate and potassium (NPK) simply force plants to grow and appear healthy. However plants grown using these chemicals are not nutritious to consume. Take a look at this site http://www.usnnm.com for the real truth when it comes to soil depletion and mineral supplementation

You are wrong about the nutrients in the soil….They are very much depleted in Macro, Micro, and Nanno Nutrients. I have been studying this now for quite some time. The NPK’s that have been used for the past 40 years has been killing the microbes in the soil.

Why don’t you think that your lawn will not grown unless you add the NPK. Don’t even get me started on what it is doing to our rivers and streams and most of all our drinking water. I agree that there are a lot of supplements that do not do anything which there are too many reasons to list, But I have been taking some Micro Excelerite pills for the past 3 years and I can sure tell you what it has done for thousands of people because it is 100% naturally chelated with a balanced pH of 6.7 to 7.3.

It does not matter if you are eating chemical or organic grown food neither one has the nutrients in it. Also USDA only recognizes 16 nutrients. this company has over 78 nutrients which used in many uses is unbelievable. We are made up of water and dirt, why would you think by adding something made made is better than what Mother Nature has left for us. If you think that Monsanto is doing a better job making GMO’s and spraying them with a new type of round-up that kills everything but the GMO plant what do you think that is going to do to us when we eat that?

Go to http://www.usnnm.com or look up on a google search EXCELERITE and see what others are say about this product. We need to spread the word so people can get healthier. We all need to get on the same page