17 April 2008

Dr Rosmary Leonard talking on the BBC (Full video below)

Healthy eating with no supplements could mark the end of Health shops around the country.

The BBC have reported on the dangers of using health foods in your diet. Gareth Edwards, the highest graded Shukokai karate instructor based  in North Wales and a School Governor at Ysgol yr Hendre (which encourages healthy eating for its pupils) has been saying for years that people need to eat healthily and not supplement their diet with profit making supplements. Now it seems what he has been saying is true. The report will no doubt shy people away from visiting Health shops and instead turn to a regime of more healthy eating and a good exercise plan.

Gareth told us:

"I have been preaching for years that these supplements do more harm than good. People in sports are very keen to use anything that encourages a healthier lifestyle, but exercise can become an obsession and the participator can feel forced into taking these vitamins. Through Karate, students are able to find the right balance of training and diet. The problem is that people try to lose weight through dieting and this only achieves results over the short term."

"To lose weight AND to keep the weight off, one must completely change their lifestyle."

"The right path to this is a correctly balanced diet and regular training or exercise."

"One should include fresh vegetables and oily fish into one's diet as this can help the body achieve a more healthier existence.
I have always told my students to steer away from supplements (except for cod liver oil if they do not have fish in their diet, or do not like eating fish), as this encourages more supple joints and so aids mobility"

"I urge everyone to take up a fitness regime and join a local club or gym,"

"We welcome new students at our Karate club and full details can be found on www.ZanshinKarate.co.uk
Our club meets every Friday at Ysgol Yr Hendre (6pm -7.30pm) and all ages are welcome.
The first lesson is free so I urge people to try it out.

The report by the BBC states: "Research has suggested certain vitamin supplements do not extend life and could even lead to a premature death.

A review of 67 studies found "no convincing evidence" that antioxidant supplements cut the risk of dying. Scientists at Copenhagen University said vitamins A and E could interfere with the body's natural defences. "

See a video of the experts view here (taken from the BBC website) by resident Doctor Rosmary Leonard

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/7350117.stm

The BBC news report went on to say:

'Just eat well'

The trials involved 233,000 people who were either sick or were healthy and taking supplements for disease prevention.

"After various factors were taken into account and a further 20 studies excluded, the researchers linked vitamin A supplements to a 16% increased risk of dying, beta-carotene to a 7% increased risk and vitamin E to a 4% increased risk.

Vitamin C did not appear to have any effect one way or the other, and the team said more work was needed into this supplement - as well as into selenium.

In conclusion, "we found no evidence to support antioxidant supplements for primary or secondary prevention."

This will be bad news for Health Shops around the country as people will be inclined to steer clear of supplements incase they do themselves harm. The government hopes that more people chose to eat healthy meals instead of trying the quick fix sold in health shops.

VITAL VITAMIN FACTS

Vitamin A: Found in: Oily fish, eggs and liver; Good for: Thought to boost immune system, and help skin, sight and sperm formation

Vitamin C: Found in: Many fruit and vegetables; Good for: Helps heal wounds and assists the body in absorbing iron, may boost the immune system

Vitamin E: Found in: Vegetable oils, seeds and nuts; Good for: May help boost circulation and keep elderly people active

Beta-carotene: Found in: Vegetables that are reddish-orange in colour; Good for: May boost vision and keep the mind sharp

Selenium: Found in: Butter, nuts, liver and fish; Good for: May boost the immune system

How many take vitamins? Between 10-20% of people in the West