Nutrition is the science that studies how what people eat affects their health and performance, such as foods or food components that cause diseases or deteriorate health (such as eating too many calories, which is a major contributing factor to obesity, diabetes, and heart disease).
The field of nutrition also studies foods and dietary supplements that improve performance, promote health, and cure or prevent disease, such as eating fibrous foods to reduce the risk of colon cancer, or supplementing with vitamin C to strengthen teeth and gums and to improve the immune system.
Finally, after more than 50 years, leading medical journals now recommend
all adults take multivitamins. Both the New England Journal of Medicine and
the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) have concluded that:
"Most people do not consume an optimal amount of all vitamins by diet alone"
"Inadequate intake of several vitamins has been linked to chronic diseases,
including coronary heart disease, cancer, and osteoporosis."
"Suboptimal folic acid levels, along with suboptimal levels of vitamins B6
and B12, are a risk factor for cardiovascular disease, neural tube defects,
and colon and breast cancer; low levels of vitamin D contribute to osteoporosis
and bone fracture; and low levels of the antioxidant vitamins (vitamins A, E and C)
may increase risk for several chronic diseases."
"It appears prudent for all adults to take vitamin supplements." A large body of
research has clearly demonstrated that the nutrients found in dietary supplements
reduce your risk of chronic disease, improve quality of life, and increase longevity.
