Popping vitamins may do more harm than good, according to a new study that adds to a growing body of evidence suggesting some supplements may have health risks.

Researchers from the University of Minnesota examined data from more than 38,000 women taking part in the Iowa Women’s Health Study, an ongoing study with women who were around age 62 at its start in 1986. The researchers collected data on the women’s supplement use in 1986, 1997 and 2004.

Women who took supplements had, on average, a 2.4 percent increased risk of dying over the course of the 19-year study, compared with women who didn’t take supplements, after the researchers adjusted for factors including the women’s age and calorie intake.

“Our study, as well as other similar studies, have provided very little evidence that commonly used dietary supplements would help to prevent chronic diseases,” said study author Jaakko Mursu, an epidemiologist at the University of Minnesota School of Public Health.

“We would advise people to reconsider whether they need to use supplements, and put more emphasis on a healthy diet instead,” Mursu said.

Via YahooNews

A toxic combination?

The new study linked a number of individual vitamins and minerals to the slight mortality risk, including multivitamins, vitamin B6, folic acid, iron, magnesium, zinc and copper.

For example, of the 12,769 women in the study who took a daily multivitamin, 40.8 percent had died by the end of 2008, whereas 39.8 percent of the 10,161 women who hadn’t taken a daily multivitamin had died.

Mursu said that the design of the study did not allow the researchers to determine if there was a specific cause for the increased mortality.

“However, we do know that most compounds are toxic in high amounts, and long-term use might predispose [a person] to detrimental outcomes,” he told MyHealthNewsDaily.

The increased chance of dying” could be related to generally high concentration of compounds that these supplements contain. Most supplements contain higher amounts of nutrients than would be derived from food, and it is known that several compounds can be toxic in higher amounts, especially when consumed for a long time, as some of these accumulate to body,” Mursu said.

Taking calcium supplements, on the other hand, actually seemed to lower the women’s death risk slightly, by 3.8 percent, although the researchers noted that there was not a relationship between consuming increasingly higher amounts of calcium and a continuing decrease in mortality rate.

Less is more

While vitamins and minerals are necessary for proper nutrition, excess intake has not shown further benefit, and recent studies have cast some doubt on the idea that vitamin supplements provide a “safety net” for people not getting enough of a given nutrient. Instead, too much may be a problem.

The study, published today (Oct. 10) in the journal Archives of Internal Medicine, is part of a series examining interventions in medicine that may be unnecessary.

“Until recently, the available data regarding the adverse effects of dietary supplements has been limited and grossly underreported. We think the paradigm “the more, the better” is wrong,” wrote Dr. Goran Bjelakovic and Dr. Christian Gluud, of the Center for Clinical Intervention Research at Copenhagen University Hospital in Denmark in an accompanying commentary.

“We believe that for all micronutrients, risks are associated with insufficient and too-large intake. Low levels of intake increase the risk of deficiency. High levels of intake increase the risk of toxic effects and disease,” they wrote.

“Therefore, we believe that politicians and regulatory authorities should wake up to their responsibility to allow only safe products on the market,” they wrote.

Wii Fit Plus
The good folks at Nintendo have recognized that the way to keep customers is to keep pace with their needs and desires, so they’ve recently released an advanced version of the Wii Fit, called the Wii Fit Plus. This new system offers several upgrades from the original Wii, including calorie tracking, custom exercise routines, and new training activities.

Add weights
Adding light hand weights to the strength-training, step aerobics, boxing, and running activities will help you feel the burn and keep your fitness level moving up. Start with only a pound or two per hand, and work up from there, taking special care to mind any pain in your elbows or wrists that could indicate the weights are too heavy. A weighted hula-hoop will also help tone your middle more effectively.

Supersize it
Exaggerate every move you make, from the steps you take during the step aerobics activity, to your punches in boxing. The bigger the motions, the more calories you’ll burn (and the more muscles you’ll use!). Make sure to empty more space than normal so you don’t trip over furniture or knock over anything.

Become the Biggest Loser
Get celebrity trainer Jillian Michaels’ help on the Wii with her own “Fitness Ultimatum” program, or grab the “Biggest Loser” Wii game. Both include tons of exercises, multi-player challenges, and more. Perfect if you’re getting a “wee” bit bored with your Wii Fit.

Jack it up
Get your heart pumping faster by purchasing a Wii Fit step aerobics board that will bump up your Wii Fit balance board an additional 3 inches, giving you more burn for the buck. At under $20, it’s an inexpensive way to turn up the heat on your regular exercises.

Kick off a fitness challenge
Sometimes you need a jumpstart to get you going. Join a Wii Fit challenge, or follow along with a fitness plan. Google “Wii fitness plan” or “Wii Fit challenge” for tons of options. You can follow along or create your own!

If you’re not feeling the burn anymore, or you’re simply bored with your Wii Fit routines, kick it up a notch! You want to be challenged and have fun when you exercise. Then you’ll stick with it!

But like any exercise routine, there are little tweaks here and there to make the process more effective. Here are a few tips for getting the most from your Wii Fit Workout:

Well Rounded Workouts
While it’s great to unlock the highest levels on the hula-hooping activity, there’s more to fitness than cardio. Try other activities, like skiing for balance, and yoga for strength and agility. Each area of fitness will enhance the others, making it less likely that you’ll injure yourself. There’s a reason athletes cross-train!

Regular Fitness Check
You may be tempted to skip the fitness check, but it’s a great way to measure your progress on a weekly or monthly basis. If you’re trying to lose weight, track yourself weekly; more often is fine if you’re just maintaining your fitness level. This quick, diagnostic test can give you a good idea of your strengths and weaknesses.

Challenge Yourself
After you’ve stuck with a regular exercise routine for a while, the activities may seem too simple. Continue to challenge yourself; try using light hand weights, or increasing your total minutes of exercise. Or challenge a friend or family member to a competition! There’s nothing like an ongoing tournament to keep you raising the bar on your performance.

Watch Your Form
The drawback of the Wii Fit is that while you’re participating in a guided exercise, it’s all one-way; there’s no one monitoring and correcting your form. Try checking your own form and posture in a mirror while playing, or even video yourself. Be conscious of mimicking the posture and positioning of the on-screen players and guides.

Keep It in Its Place
The Wii Fit is, at its most basic, still a video game. While it can help you get moving, it’s only one part of a healthy lifestyle. Good nutrition, fresh air, and stress reduction will help you live a long and energetic life. Get outside and be in nature with your family in addition to playing inside. A little break will make you enjoy your time on the Wii Fit that much more when you return.

Like any fitness program, the Wii Fit is meant to be only one of the methods you use to stay healthy. Be sure to follow the advice of your health professional whenever you start a new exercise routine. Then have fun and get fit!

The great thing about this interactive video game is that the whole family can get fit together, no matter what your differences in age, size, or skill level. The Wii Fit is a great equalizer! Here are some tips for getting your whole family involved in this fun fitness program at home:

Schedule a routine Wii event
Exercise is only effective when it’s a regular part of your schedule. Set aside one night a week when instead of watching a movie, you get out the Wii Fit and get moving. If it’s a regular event, it won’t be long before it becomes a tradition.

Safety first
While the Wii is in general quite safe, it can be dangerous if participants stand too close together, if they overexert themselves, if they trip on the carpet or furniture, or if they perform exercises using poor or incorrect form. Emphasize safety first! Make sure the wrist strap is always used with the hand remote, and clear the area before starting. Help kids with their posture and form, and ask them to check yours out, too.

Start slow
Some of the activities can be pretty complicated – and therefore frustrating – for smaller kids (or uncoordinated adults!). Start with easy-to-learn activities like skiing and running, and then move on to some of the more advanced options.

Compete!
A little friendly competition is great motivation. Hold your family’s own Wii Olympics. Compete against each other individually, or choose teams. The Wii Fit automatically tracks high scores and personal bests. You might even want to have medals and awards; even an awards banquet!

Keep it fun
No matter how fun the activity starts out being, if it’s mandated, criticized, or pressured, it will soon be a chore. Don’t turn the Wii Fit into drudgery. Keep it fun by not taking the competition too seriously, by letting your kids beat you every once in a while, and by being willing to look like a complete buffoon. The more you get into it, the more fun it will be!

Get outside
While the Wii Fit is better for your body than sitting at the computer playing Solitaire, it still can’t match playing a rousing game of tag on the playground or riding your bike around town. Balance indoor activities with more vigorous outdoor, “real” physical activities to optimize your family’s health.

Everybody gets to be a kid again when you join in a Wii Fit sporting event. Get fit and have fun!

While other fruits and vegetables do contain this necessary health ingredient, but tomato has the highest concentration of Lycopene.

Tomato can be taken raw or cook. Below is a recipe where you can try at home. It makes about 3-4 servings

Ingredients:
3 cups tomato juice
1 onion, finely chopped
3 tomatoes, chopped
1 red bell pepper, diced
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 cucumber, diced
2 tbsp lemon juice
2 tbsp red wine vinegar
1 tsp fresh basil, chopped
¼ tsp cumin
1 tsp tarragon
1/4 tsp cayenne pepper
Hot sauce to taste
2 tbsp olive oil

Instructions:
Mix all ingredients in a large bowl. Place half of the soup mixture in a blender and process until smooth. Combine with the other half of unblended ingredients. Chill in the refrigerator for a few hours.

Serve chilled with crusty French bread. Enjoy.