According to an article published by CNN this year, taking vitamins such as vitamins A and E (which are antioxidants) may actually increase your risk of death. A review of 67 studies, which was published by The Cochrane Collaboration, involved more than 230,000 people and found “no convincing evidence” that vitamins (specifically beta-carotene, vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin E and selenium) prolong life. What’s more, it turns out that researchers found that beta-carotene, vitamin A and vitamin E seem to increase mortality!

Antioxidant Craze for Nothing?

People are absolutely obsessed with antioxidants in the United States. Some even feel that it is the end-all-be-all of what will make you healthier as well as what will help you to live a longer life. So, now how could researchers tell us that vitamins aren’t good for us? According to the article, the research that was conducted involved different doses of each antioxidant listed above. Forty-seven trials included over 180,000 people and had a low risk of bias in which the “antioxidant supplements significantly increased mortality”.

According to Patrick Holford, a nuritionist from Biocare, the Cochrane review was a “stitch up” and was cited in the article as saying,

Antioxidants are not meant to be magic bullets and should not be expected to undo a lifetime of unhealthy habits. But when used properly, in combination with eating a healthy diet full of fruit and vegetables, getting plenty of exercise and not smoking, antioxidant supplements can play an important role in maintaining and promoting overall health.

What do you think about antioxidants?  Do you think they make a difference in a person’s overall health?

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Tags: Health, Health News //