Why shipping crews should avoid antioxidant supplement overload

A new study shows that a balanced diet — including regular amounts of fruits and vegetables, not supplements — may be the best way to get antioxidants into your body. Researchers at the University of Alberta in Edmonton have discovered that it’s easier to overdose on antioxidants when you take supplement pills than it is when you eat fruit and vegetables. The antioxidant effect Antioxidants are thought to help your body defend itself from the birth and death of cells that occurs in our bodies each day. These antioxidants are found in fruits and vegetables, according to a How Antioxidants Work article on WebMD but also “whole grains, nuts and legumes.” Damaged cells are called free radicals. They bounce around your body, injuring other cells and giving disease a place to spawn. Ensuring that you’re getting the right dose of antioxidants may help your body thwart free radicals, which can build up in the body thanks to any number of toxins present in the environment. Vitamins A, C and E are some of the more well-known antioxidant supplements. But our busy, modern lifestyles often mean that people, especially shipping crew, forget to eat the recommended servings of fruits and vegetables. Instead of altering their diet, they may resort to supplements to fill the gap. Protect yourself from a megadose Researchers have learned that excessive doses of antioxidant supplements may do more harm than good. As CBC News reports, “taking antioxidants in excess” may actually weaken the body, preventing it from offsetting the damage of free radicals. Regular or occasional usage of supplements isn’t the problem. But taking multiple supplements may expose you to what researchers are calling megadoses. Experts say that if that your daily habit of guzzling several supplements continues for long periods of time, those megadose could put your jeopardize your health. One of the researchers at the University of Alberta, Professor Jim Kehrer, told CBC News that megadoses of vitamin A could cause severe liver damage. He also said that people must to do a better job of understanding their nutritional requirements and reduce their use of supplements, if necessary. At Global Catering Canada, we’re experts in marine and maritime catering. We believe that the best way for shipping crews to get the right dose of antioxidants is by providing good health hygiene and healthy eating on ships. As always, we recommend that you consult your doctor before using beginning any supplements or multivitamin regimen and remember that sometimes the best way to stay healthy is to improve your diet. Sources: CBC News WebMD

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Fruit & Vegetable Market by Alexander Baxevanis via Flickr/Creative Commons