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12/22/2008

Studies Show Vitamin Supplements Don't Fight Cancer

There is more and more evidence that taking individual element supplements don’t have the same benefits as whole foods, when preventing cancer or other diseases.

A recent news article published in the Los Angeles Times says that nearly all of the studies done on synthetic vitamins and minerals fail to show any benefit from taking these supplements. Two long-term trials showed that taking supplements don’t reduce the risk of many types of cancer, strokes, or cardiovascular disease.

Dr. Edgar R. Miller, a professor as John Hopkins University School of Medicine says, “These things are ineffective, and in high doses can cause harm. People are unhappy with their diets, they’re stressed out, and they think it will help. It’s just wishful thinking.”

One six year trial of smokers in Finland, found that men who took beta carotene were 18% more likely to be diagnosed with lung cancer than those that didn’t. Research has revealed that beta carotene curbs the body’s ability to metabolize vitamin A, which is needed to keep cancer cells in check.

This article gives five examples of multimillion dollar studies which show the ineffectiveness of synthetic vitamins and minerals to help prevent many types of diseases. The article points out that vitamins and minerals manufactured into pills are not identical to those that occur naturally in foods.

http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/front/la-sci-vitamins21-2008dec21,0,7589706.story

Another article from Cancer Monthly suggests consuming Cranberries not only help with urinary tract infections, but may have potent anticancer properties. The complex mixture of phytochemicals in Cranberries and other whole-fruit products contain tumor-inhibiting compounds.

http://www.cancermonthly.com/iNP/view.asp?ID=233

There are more than 5,000 individual phytochemical molecules in fruits and vegetables including Vitamin C, E, and B. Other phytochemicals include carotenoids, phenolics, flavonoids, and glucosinolates. There are benefits to using whole foods rather than isolated vitamins and minerals because all of these molecules work synergistically in ways that aren’t completely understood by science.

NOTE: Nature’s Logic is the only line of pet food that does not use any synthetic vitamins, minerals, or amino acids.  Instead of the synthetics, we use whole food ingredients to derive nutritional adequacy for your pets.