Vitamins: Trend or necessity?<\/p>\n
By Rita A. Widiadana<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Have you ever woken up on a sunny morning
\nfeeling week and exhausted? You need food and vitamin
\nsupplements, proclaims an advertisement for \"health food\".<\/p>\n
Another advertisement asks, \"Are you afraid that your world is
\nbeing contaminated by pollutants? You may need anti-oxidant
\nvitamins.\"<\/p>\n
Today the very elements we need to sustain in life: air,
\nwater, food and even sunlight now pose a serious threat to our
\nhealth. Pollution, food preservatives, heavy metals, Ultra Violet
\nradiation and stress are among the biggest culprits of free
\nradical production.<\/p>\n
Therefore, everyone seems to be captivated by
\nadvertisers' promises. More and more people are eating foods rich
\nin antioxidants and taking antioxidant supplements.<\/p>\n
Top executives and managers are among the faithful consumers
\nof these products. Harry, an executive at a U.S. based computer
\ncompany joked, \"I use vitamins as part of my exercise routine. I
\nneed more energy to do my job, yet I have no time to eat
\nproperly. That's why I swallow all the food supplements and
\nvitamins I can.\"<\/p>\n
\"I line up bottles of vitamins and food supplements in my
\nbathroom so that I won't forget to them to help enhance my
\nproductivity, \" said Rini, a designer at a noted advertising
\nagency.<\/p>\n
\"There is no day without vitamins,\" explained another
\nexecutive who is seemingly addicted to the products.<\/p>\n
Medical researchers have long been sending out the word that
\nanti-oxidants, such as beta-carotene and Vitamins C and E, may
\nhelp prevent cancer and heart disease and reduce stress.<\/p>\n
Vitamin E, an antioxidant, embeds itself in cell membranes and
\nprotects fatty molecules by neutralizing free radicals. A
\ncontrolled clinical trial published recently in The New England
\nJournal of Medicine showed that men and women taking a daily dose
\nof Vitamin E had two-third the risk of developing heart disease
\nof those who didn't take supplements.<\/p>\n
Imbued by various scientific studies, and the high demand for
\nanti-oxidant and food supplements, businesses have immediately
\nflooded the local market with a large variety of health food and
\nvitamin products.<\/p>\n
These food supplements and vitamins are usually made from
\nnatural and man-made elements. The ingredients used range from
\nvegetable and fruit extractions, including carrot, garlic,
\noranges and bananas, to various marine products such as seaweed
\nand algae. They are available in the form of pills, capsules,
\nsyrup, jelly and liquids.<\/p>\n
Surprising<\/p>\n
It is not surprising that such products, both local and
\nforeign made, are easily found in local supermarkets, body-care
\nshops and drug stores.<\/p>\n
Chicken Brand, Squalene, Omega-3, Garlic, Ginseng, Royal H.
\nJelly & Bee Pollen, Wheat Germ Oil, Vitamin ABC Plus (Multi-
\nVitamin & Multi-mineral Formula included Beta-carotene, anti
\noxidant), and Natural Bounty are a few of the concoctions
\navailable. The newest offering in health food and vitamins is
\nproduced by the Australian herbal medicine company, Blackmores.<\/p>\n
Marcus Blackmores, president of the company, commented during
\nthe launching of a product last week that Indonesia is a
\npotential market because the country's economy is growing
\nsteadily. The number of the targeted middle to upper class group
\nhas increased.<\/p>\n
To compete with existing products, Blackmores has launched
\nitems like Blackmores Naturetime for Executives which functions
\nas a stress reliever, and Blackmores Bio-Ace which is billed as
\nan anti-aging product.<\/p>\n
Concern<\/p>\n
However, the deluge of these products into the local market
\nhas concerned the government, the Indonesian Consumer Protection
\nagency and nutritionists.<\/p>\n
Richard Panjaitan from the Directorate General of Food and
\nDrug Control Agency, warned producers to list all the
\ningredients.<\/p>\n
\"Don't cheat your consumers with heavenly promises,\" stressed
\nPanjaitan. He also suggested that people be careful in choosing
\nproducts because that not all nutritional foods and vitamins are
\nregistered with the Ministry of Health.<\/p>\n
The consumer agency asked the producers to inform the public
\nabout the quality of their products. Many items are often falsely
\nadvertised as cures for illnesses.<\/p>\n
Nutritional experts who recommend these supplements place
\nequal emphasize on the importance of eating properly, exercising
\nregularly, reducing stress and making other individual lifestyle
\nadjustments necessary for good health.<\/p>\n
Eat healthy foods and don't depend entirely on vitamins, is
\ntheir main message.<\/p>\n
Studies note that eating the recommended five servings of
\nfruits and vegetables such as broccoli, carrots, bananas, apples
\nand green vegetables a day provides sufficient antioxidant
\nvitamins.<\/p>\n
Prominent nutritionist Walujo Soerjodibroto commented
\nthat food supplements are should be used to balance one's diet.
\nHe stressed that as long as we consume well-balance diet,
\nsupplements are not necessary.<\/p>\n
Many people, he said, have been misled. They swallow various
\npills and tonics in the belief that the drugs enhance their
\nenergy.<\/p>\n
People who work extremely hard, including top executives and
\nathletes, may require food supplements and vitamins. But, they
\nshould first consult their doctor or a nutritionist to determine
\nthe supplements they require, he said.<\/p>\n
Side-effects<\/p>\n
\"If you eat properly, consuming supplements may cause various
\nside-effects,\" Waluyo explained.<\/p>\n
Dr. Wurry Wuryani, a researcher at the Indonesian Institute
\nof Science believes that it is better to eat natural foods rather
\nthan packaged products.<\/p>\n
She said that supplements are trendy in Indonesia, but have
\nlost their shine in western countries.<\/p>\n
She continued that food supplements may stimulate effective
\nabsorption of nutritious substances but cannot replace real food.<\/p>\n
Wuryani added that the appropriate dose of vitamins is
\nimportant. Each person requires different kinds and amounts of
\nvitamins. \"You can't generalize that all people need the same
\namount of Vitamin C, Vitamin E or Calcium,\" she explained.<\/p>\n
A pregnant woman may need more calcium compared to another
\nwoman of the same age. \"Basically each person has unique body
\nsystem that required specific nutrition and vitamin intake
\naccording to their age, weight and physical condition, \" she
\nstated.<\/p>\n
Taking excessive amounts of food supplements, vitamins and
\nother minerals can be poisonous, she added.<\/p>\n
Therefore, the merit of food supplements have not been proved,
\nshe maintained.<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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