If you do nothing else in your life to maintain your wellness, the chances are that you take some kind of vitamin, mineral or supplement. Often unhealthy people will chuck back a few vitamin pills at the end of the day and feel like they are doing enough to boost their wellbeing and take care of their body. They will be devastated, then, to learn that a new study has shown that certain vitamin pills could actually do more harm than good, and that rather than increasing your wellness they could, in fact, shorten your life.
Premature death has been reported as an associated side effect of certain multi vitamins, leading to serious health concerns about taking them on a regular basis. This giant study was carried out by reviewing data taken from 67 other studies. It found that there was no convincing evidence whatsoever that antioxidant supplements increased lifespan or prevented any diseases. In addition to this, the scientists at Copenhagen University who carried out the research said that vitamins A and E, along with beta-carotene, could actually interfere with the body’s natural defence mechanisms. The scientists found that a large dose of these vitamins and supplements was likely to be linked to premature death.
It had previously been thought that minerals were able to stop damage to the tissues in the body through eliminating free radicals and reducing oxidative stress. This damage can lead to several diseases, including heart disease and cancer.
As a result of the study, scientists are advising that you should not take vitamins in pill form, but should simply try to eat well and maintain a natural balance in your diet. Vitamin A, for example, can be found in eggs, liver and oily fish, whilst Vitamin C is found in many brightly coloured fruits and vegetables.