Hello againUnfortunately, this is long email - probably longest we have ever done, but after critical report regarding vitamins and minerals from Food Standards Agency that was printed in The Times, newspaper has been doing a debate on issue, as they were inundated with letters.
From our own point of view, a letter that was sent in by a Doctor really puts things into perspective and felt a need to share this and other points with you..
"As senior partner in an NHS general practise, I am very disturbed at recent publicising of information purporting to show dangers of nutritional supplements.
I would like to point out that nutritional supplements are generally a great deal safer than prescribed drugs. Their dangers have been grossly and, I fear, wilfully exaggerated for commercial reasons.
There is overwhelming evidence that our current Western diet does not give us adequate nutrition and that we need to take active steps to protect ourselves from damaging effects of environmental toxins.
Both of these major health problems can be significantly reduced by appropriate use of nutritional supplements, including minerals, vitamins and antioxidants."
Dr Stephen Brooke, Swindon, Wiltshire
Well, we definitely agree with that, and let's face it, there were so many flaws with report, that if like us, you read into things, we are sure you will agree that there does seem to be a hidden agenda for large pharmaceuticals. But, if we are taking care of our own health, surely it would be better for NHS?? Yet of course, they wouldn't earn as much in drugs being prescribed - we know!
However, we thought you may like to see just a few (yes! Only some) research points and quotes on different nutrients that we have come across.
Evidence is constantly being provided by ongoing research, that Antioxidants may have an important role in prevention of some of most degenerative diseases in world today, for example, arthritis, heart disease and cancer. References: A Good Health Guide "The Antioxidants", R A Passwater, PhD, 1985. A Good Health Guide "The New Superantioxidant - Plus", R A Passwater, PhD, 1992. Getting To The Heart Of It, Bill Davison, G W P Davison Pty Ltd, Australia, 1987. Heart Disease, Stroke, Oral and Intravenous Chelation Therapy, Dr K W Donsbach, 1993.
"patients with Angina and those at risk of heart disease, should be given supplementary vitamin E at a level, far higher than what we get from our dietary intake." Professor Morris Brown, Cambridge University, England
"we now have substantial evidence implicating Beta Carotene with low rates of breast and lung cancer as well as heart disease." Dr Meyskens, Clinical Cancer Centre, University of California. Annual Conference of Nutritional Society of Australia.
A clinical trial was conducted on men aged between 20-30 who smoked at least one pack of cigarettes per day. They were either given a placebo, or a vitamin c supplement in form of ascorbic acid. After only one week there was a decrease of 81% in blood-lead levels for those taking nutritional supplement.
"in order to obtain identical results as supplements, one would have to consume up to 1.2kg of carrots per day. The reason for this, is that Beta Carotene is not always efficiently or consistently absorbed from food." Dr Phillip Gaffney, Research conducted by Brisbane Hospital, Australia.
"In future, we will not be able to rely any more on our premise that consumption of a varied balanced diet will provide all essential trace elements, because such a diet will be very difficult to obtain for millions of people." As told to Congress in 1977 by Dr W Mertz, US Department of Agriculture.
"It is bad news to learn from our leading authorities that 99 percent of American people are deficient in minerals, and that a marked deficiency in any one of more important minerals actually results in disease. Any upset of balance, any considerable lack of one or another element, no matter how microscopic body requirement may be, and we sicken, suffer, and shorten our lives." Sentate Document No.264 of United States Congress, 2nd session, 1936.