"Eating too many vitamins is good for your body", do you believe this sentence? Recently, the results of a study that has been tracked for 20 years have poured cold water on this "common sense". It turns out that the multivitamins we are familiar with may not only be not beneficial to health, but may also quietly increase the risk of death! As soon as this news came out, it immediately sparked heated discussions on the Internet, making many people call it "unbelievable".
Health is always the most concerned topic for human beings. With the improvement of living standards, people's demand for nutritional supplements is also increasing day by day. Walking into a pharmacy, a dazzling array of vitamin products always attracts the attention of many people. "Supplement nutrition, enhance physical fitness", such an advertising slogan has long been deeply rooted in the hearts of the people. However, is the reality really that rosy?
Recent research shows that taking a daily multivitamin does not reduce the risk of death, but may increase all-cause mortality by 4%. This discovery has undoubtedly given many people a slap in the face. In the US, nearly a third of people are taking a multivitamin, while in the UK, people spend up to £6 million a year on it. Behind such a huge market is people's desire for health and the expectation of "magic pills".
However, scientific research often gives us unexpected results. The large-scale study, conducted by the National Cancer Institute, followed 390,000 healthy adults for 20 years. It was found that daily multivitamins did not reduce all-cause mortality, but slightly increased the risk of death. Even more surprisingly, people who took a multivitamin did not show any advantage in terms of mortality from cancer, heart disease, or cerebrovascular disease.
Faced with such research results, many people may be confused and worried. After all, we've all been told for a long time that vitamins are essential for health. So, should we give up multivitamins altogether? The advice of the experts is not to panic too much, but also to be wary of blind supplementation.
Nguyen Quang Feng, deputy director of the Kexin Food and Health Information Exchange Center, pointed out that the results of the study were not entirely unexpected. In fact, research on multivitamins has been controversial. It has been suggested to reduce the risk of chronic disease, while others have found that it may increase the risk of death. This contradictory result reflects the complexity of nutrition research.
When discussing the pros and cons of multivitamins, we can't ignore one important factor: individual differences. Everyone's physical condition, lifestyle habits and diet are different. For some people, a multivitamin may be a necessary supplement; For others, it can be redundant or even harmful. Therefore, blindly taking a multivitamin is tantamount to "taking medicine with your eyes closed".
So, what should we make of this study? First of all, it reminds us not to be overly superstitious about the role of health supplements. A healthy lifestyle and a balanced diet are essential to maintaining good health. Secondly, it also tells us that we should be more cautious and rational when choosing nutritional supplements.
@健康达人007: "The results are horrible! Isn't the multivitamin I eat every day increasing my risk of death?"
This netizen's concern is very representative. Indeed, at first glance at the results of this study, it is easy to panic. But let's be rational: the statistically slight increase in risk shown by the study doesn't mean that everyone who takes a multivitamin is at a higher risk of death. More importantly, it's important to recognize that health is a complex system that can't simply come down to taking a certain supplement.
@营养学爱好者: "I think it's all about balance, too much. Relying solely on multivitamins and neglecting a balanced diet is the real problem. "
This netizen's point of view is very pertinent. It is true that nutritional supplementation is not a complete substitute for a balanced diet. Our body needs not only a single vitamin, but also various minerals, fiber, etc., which are often obtained through a varied diet. Relying too much on multivitamins can lead to an imbalance in the diet.
@skeptical_mind: "There are limitations to this kind of large-scale research, right? For example, it is impossible to completely rule out the influence of other factors. "
This netizen made a good point. Any study has its limitations, including this large-scale, long-term follow-up study. As experts say, the increased risk of death can be related to a variety of factors, such as poor lifestyle habits, family history, environmental factors, etc. Therefore, we need to be critical when interpreting the results of the study, and we cannot simply equate the results with cause and effect.
@中医爱好者小张: "Western research results may not be applicable to Chinese, right? I think we should look at the issue of nutritional supplementation in combination with the theory of traditional Chinese medicine. "
This netizen came up with an interesting angle. Indeed, there may be differences in the needs and absorption of nutrients in different ethnic groups and different food cultures. Traditional Chinese medicine theory emphasizes "dialectical treatment", and individualized nutritional supplementation programs may be more in line with the physical characteristics of Chinese. But in any case, the results of scientific research still deserve our attention and consideration.
@理性消费派: "I feel like the health care product industry is cutting leeks! At every turn, it is said that there is a lack of this and that, but in fact, most people don't need it at all. "
Although this netizen's remarks are a bit extreme, they also reflect the voices of some consumers. It's true that marketing strategies in the nutraceutical industry can sometimes be uncomfortable. But we can't generalize either, and certain special populations do need additional nutritional supplementation. The key is that we need to improve our health literacy and learn to make rational judgments, rather than blindly following advertising.
This study is a wake-up call for us to re-examine our health. Health is not something that can be easily obtained by eating a few "magic pills". It requires us to constantly work hard in our daily lives, maintain a balanced diet, adhere to moderate exercise, and develop good lifestyle habits.
At the same time, it also reminds us to be more rational and cautious in treating various health supplements. When choosing whether to take a multivitamin, we should first understand our physical condition and consult a professional doctor if necessary. Not only can blind supplementation be unhelpful, but it can also be potentially risky.
More importantly, this finding reminds us that scientific understanding is constantly improving. What we once thought was true may be upended by new research. This requires us to keep an open and learning mind, and keep our health knowledge up to date.
There are no shortcuts in the pursuit of health. Instead of hoping for some "magical" supplement, get back to the essence of life, enjoy fresh food, breathe fresh air, and maintain a positive and optimistic attitude. This may be the real "secret to longevity".
Let's work together to create a better future for ourselves and our families with a scientific attitude and a healthy lifestyle. After all, health is not only an individual's wealth, but also a valuable resource for society as a whole.