The Healthy Diet »

Many Americans apparently think so; between 35 and 40 percent of the population take a daily supplement. But if you area healthy per­son who eats a well-balanced diet, you probably do not need any supplements at all. No study has ever conclusively proved that using supplements will let you live longer or perform better, lower your stress level, improve your sex life or cure a cold or any other illness. In a few special cases, supplements have proven to be helpful: For exam­ple, some women may benefit from taking supplements if they are pregnant or menstruate heavily.

Unfortunately, many people take supplements in the belief they will compensate for an inadequate diet. They will not. Vitamins only won with other nutrients contained in the food you eat. They cannot re­place food or turn a bad diet into a good one.

Do athletes or people who exercise a great deal need a special diet to give them more energy?
Usually not. Studies show that consuming special foods or beverages or "loading up" on carbohydrates or protein does not improve strength, power or endurance. Because of their increased energy needs athletes may need to eat more food than the average person. But the balanced diet recommended in this book supplies all the for fueling exercise and athletic performance.

Some researchers and trainers believe that a special diet designed to increased the amount of stored carbohydrates — glycogen — in an and liver can help prolong endurance during lasting longer than 90 minutes. But whether carbohydrates loading can improve performance remains coptroversial. And do not believe it can significant) benefit anyone Except elite athletes, who train intensively.