For the Last Time, Eat Your Darn Veggies!

Enlarged prostates appear to be less common among men who eat lots of vegetables, a new study shows

The men who consumed the most vegetables were 11% less likely to have BPH surgery or moderate to high BPH symptoms by 2000, the study shows. In addition, certain antioxidants – beta-carotene, lutein, and vitamin C -- were associated with reduced risk of BPH. But those antioxidants had to come from fruits and vegetables, not supplements, according to the study.

There should be little surprise that a diet high in vegetables (and fruits) aids in reducing an enlarged prostate. I can't recall seeing any reports of a disease that was worsened by a diet higher in vegetables. It makes plenty of sense considering the plethora of vitamins and minerals available in these plant foods. A diet focused mainly on meat and vegetables will help you lose fat, gain lean mass, boost your immune system, and avoid many of the so-called "ills of old age". I have to wonder how much of what we attribute to aging is really just a lifetime of inadequate micronutrient intake rearing its ugly head. And you can't just take a supplement to get your vitamins and minerals. First of all, supplements only encompass the micronutrients that science has discovered. Second, the interplay between the nutrients within food is vastly different from those same supplements in isolation or in a multi-vitamin. An apple is better for you nutrient-wise than taking the exact same vitamins and minerals in pill form. I don't know why it works that way, all I know is that it does.

How Vitamins Affect Workout Performance

Vitamins and Workout Performance

This article from Science Daily articulates why a proper diet is essential for athletes to perform at their best.

Active individuals lacking in B-vitamins -- including college athletes and other elite competitors -- may perform worse during high-intensity exercise and have a decreased ability to repair and build muscle than counterparts with nutrient-rich diets, according to recent Oregon State University research published in the International Journal of Sport Nutrition and Exercise Metabolism.

The B-vitamins include thiamin, riboflavin, vitamin B-6, B-12 and folate. These micronutrients are necessary during the body's process for converting proteins and sugars into energy, and are used during the production and repair of cells, including red blood cells.

Here's the kicker...fruits and vegetables are excellent sources of the B-vitamins, while grains deplete B-vitamins. Considering the high carb, high grain diet of most Americans, B-vitamin deficiencies are a very real deal. This evidence (which thinking nutritional folks already knew) reinforces the need for a nutrient-dense diet consisting of meat and vegetables, nuts and seeds, some fruit and starch, and no sugar. Sugar is another "food" that depletes b-vitamins. A Paleo-style diet is the way to go.