The last bunch of chapters
in my text have been about vitamins and minerals. Let me summarize.
Humans need a whole bunch
of different vitamins and minerals for optimum function. However, we do not need huge quantities of each
one. In fact, the symptoms of vitamin
and/or mineral toxicity are often as horrible as the symptoms of
deficiency. (Heart arrhythmia? Nerve damage?
Coma and death, anyone?) In this,
as in so many things, we want the Goldilocks way: just the right amount.
It is extremely human to
think: I will do this the easy way and
pop some supplements and then I can go on my merry, donut-eating way. Sadly, this does not work as well as we might
hope. For one thing, the body absorbs
many vitamins and minerals more efficiently from food. For another, supplements, given the state of
regulation in the industry, may or may not contain what they are supposed to
and might even contain a bunch of stuff they are NOT supposed to. The exceptions: some vegans, people with genetic disorders,
and folks taking certain medications may require supplements. (Please note:
I take a bunch of supplements myself, but I’m weeding them down as a result
of what I’ve learned.)
If I had to summarize
this entire book, not just these chapters, the advice would be the same: Eat a varied diet with lots of fruits and
vegetables, whole grains, and lean proteins; don’t forget to move.
Unfortunately, I don’t think
the summary will be enough to pass the test…
