Gregory Smith
Professor Virginia Uhley
FNS 370
14 April 2014
The Vegan Diet: A Healthy Risk
Consuming foods rich in nutrients is more likely to reduce the risk of degenerative diseases than taking a broad array of supplements for many reasons. Research has shown that people who eat more vegetables and fruits have lower risks of several diseases including heart disease, cancer, diabetes, and high blood pressure. Supplements cannot provide all of the nutrients of food. Although many of the same vitamins are provided, it is not proven that vitamins are solely responsible for reducing disease. Whole foods also contain many other naturally occurring substances that help protect you from many diseases. For example, grains provide essential fiber that prevents diabetes and heart disease (Mayo Clinic, 2013). Supplements containing too many individual nutrients can actually cause health problems due to toxicity and vitamin interactions. Since there is no significant data to suggest that vitamin intake is the sole reason for reducing specific diseases, healthy food consumption is a better route to good health. * Some people believe that consuming food is not any more likely to prevent the risk of degenerative diseases than taking supplements. Many of the same vitamins in minerals found in whole foods are provided in supplements. Many Americans are struggling to meet daily recommendations in their diet. Poor food consumption is damaging health and a broad array of supplements can help people obtain essential nutrients. Of course, supplements do not have the power to fight off disease if an awful diet of whole foods is being consumed. But sometimes eating fruits and vegetables just is not enough. Many people try hard to eat healthy foods but still remain deficient in some important areas. A healthy diet does not promise to fulfill nutrient needs while many supplements