Vitamins a waste of time and money? Ask a nurse

A new study declares that vitamins are a waste of time and money.

Researchers, Marian Neuhouser of the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Centre in Seattle, who led the study published in Archives of Internal Medicine, said: "To our surprise we found that multivitamins did not lower the risk of the most common cancers and also had no impact on heart disease." Their conclusion? Middle-aged women who swallow multivitamin supplements are just creating expensive urine.

As a nurse with more than 30 years experience, I respectfully wish to disagree. There is a flaw in their results that I have seen repeatedly working in health care. That is, the myopic vision of the medical community when it comes to health and disease. The medical model is one of diagnosing and treating disease. Few are actually trained on what it takes for optimal health. So it is not surprising that when Marian Neuhouser found that there was no impact on cancer and heart disease, it was declared that vitamins are useless.

What was not taken into account was whether vitamins are helpful in maintaining a healthy state. As an avid vitamin taker, I can tell you that I have more energy, fewer colds, and a better mental status when I take my supplements. They may not prevent disease, but I believe that they help maintain health.

The researchers also claim that you can get all the vitamins you need by a balanced diet. Good luck. Unless you grow your own vegetables in a year round garden, it is very hard to get fresh fruits and vitamins that are loaded with vitamins. And that is if you eat perfectly. Most of us are not quite that good. Contrary to a recent claim by Mountain Dew, soda pop is not part of a healthy diet.