Today it occurred to me (okay, someone sent an email on one of my listserves) that there are a plethora of food first, anti-supplement people out there. And, though I agree that a person should eat real food in their diet versus relying solely on dietary supplements (I just ate lunch actually; and took a multivitamin as well as glucosamine & chondroitin sulfate right after), I think the food versus supplement debate doesn’t make sense. It’s like comparing sunscreen with moisturizing lotion. They serve different purposes but both are good for your skin.
Every time I read something by someone slamming the dietary supplement industry, my mind drifts off wondering….Has this person looked at the rates of vitamin D deficiency? Have they worked with an athlete who needs 4,000 calories per day just to maintain weight? Have they ever been in a car in a busy city and relied on a protein bar or RTD instead of taking the time to go get “real food?” Do they take a multi or reach for a probiotic because they are having digestive issues? Do they vary their diet enough to incorporate every single vitamin and mineral we need? I have yet to see a diet like this and as a dietitian I can tell you my diet isn’t perfect. Take copper for instance, the best source is beef - something I haven’t touched since my freshman year of college (one too many fast food joints during softball season was enough for me). Oysters are the next best source… you can see where I’m going with this.
So what about McCain’s supplement bill? It starts out by saying dietary supplements may “pose safety risks unknown to consumers.” Okay, yes there have been some very non-legit supplement manufacturers out there who have sold stuff that at best is ineffective and at worst is dangerous. But, the last time I checked, the FDA has a running list of number of food recalls for safety issues. If you think that peanut butter scare a few years back (traced to a plant in GA) would scare me off from eating peanut butter forever, you’d be wrong. And, for the anti-supplement people out there, I wonder if they’ve sworn off food? Did they give up everything with hydrolyzed vegetable protein in it (the latest recall)? What about beef, spinach, peanut butter….and the list goes on and on for those foods that have had safety hazards.
I do think people should eat and drink real food and beverages versus just popping pills all day long. But, I have yet to run into a person that can’t benefit from some form of a dietary supplement. There are many, many reasons I could site for choosing a supplement. I just hope that freedom of choice isn’t taken away by John McCain and our other senators.
but very comfortable and confident when I stepped onto the field, court or a track. I learned many lessons about teamwork, winning, disappointment and working hard to earn my playing time. I stepped on an airplane for the first time (for a summer travel softball team trip to AZ – where we ended up playing Lisa Fernandez’s team) and later learned to juggle college classes, practice, road trips and injuries.
