I mentioned before when talking about multivitamins 
that I am not a big fan our nutrient pill popping habits in the US. With the advances of modern nutrition research we are learning more about what food components are good for us and how exactly they benefit our health.
We know that green tea is full of antioxidants. Wine, due to the skin of grapes, contains this amazing little component called resveratrol that has anti-aging properties. Fish oils can improve cardiovascular health and reduce inflammation.
All of this we have learned from nutrition research. After finding this, do you know what we have done with this information? Yes, we’ve encouraged people to consume the foods and drinks. Well, except for alcohol. Our government can’t be irresponsible and promote alcohol consumption despite the fact that cultures all over the world enjoy the health benefits. Sorry, that is another topic all together.
Anyway, along with a little promotion about including it in your diet came the huge spike in the creation of supplements. If we can identify the one tiny substance in a wonderful food, we should just put it in a pill and consume it that way. How innovative. How convenient.
My question is – why? Why would we rather swallow a pill than eat a delicious salmon entrée? Why would we rather turn to a pill bottle than to an evening with a glass of wine, socializing with friends? Is it that people want to feel better about consuming fast food daily or skipping meals by popping a fish oil pill every now and then?
I’ve tried to figure it out, but it just makes no sense to me. I understand the theory behind some of it. I did a project about green tea in school and I know to reap the benefits of some of these compounds you need to take in large amounts. Usually more than most people would consider having in a day. However, with regular consumption over time I truly believe you’ll get these same benefits. Healthy cultures like the Japanese and Chinese speak for themselves.
There are two main reasons why I disagree with this society that has been created. The first is that it takes away from the enjoyment of food. This is something the US as a whole has long forgotten and many other cultures still remember. We should not be scared to enjoy real food, even those foods that have a little too much fat and calories should be enjoyed in moderation.
Eating should be satisfying. Personally, I want to eat all those foods, taste them and savor them, not just swallow them. Getting up on a cool morning and enjoying a cup of tea has benefits for both physical and mental health, as does the consumption of many other real foods.
I feel that a lot of our problems both with obesity and obsession with healthy foods – yes they are both problems, comes from the fact that we simply do not have a healthy relationship with food. We worry and think about it so much on both ends of the spectrum that we forget to enjoy it.
Second, we take away additional benefits of the foods that contain these substances when we isolate them into pill form. There is valuable protein in fish in addition to the fish oils. Fruits and vegetables give us healthy carbohydrates and fiber in addition to their vitamins and antioxidants. I just think by isolating substances we are missing out on the whole healthy picture.
So tell me, do you prefer pills? Tell me why. Maybe I’m wrong. Maybe there is a future and necessity to this industry and nutrition pill popping society.
Photo courtesy of Free Range Stock
