Is the RDA Enough For You?

Over forty years ago the Food and Nutrition Board of the National Research Council prepared the Recommended Dietary Allowances (RDAs) for specific vitamins and minerals. These guidelines were originally developed to reduce the rates of severe nutritional deficiency diseases such as scurvy, rickets and night blindness. However, today a tremendous amount of scientific research indicates the optimal level for any nutrients may be much higher than the RDAs.

The RDAs do not adequately reflect the impact of environmental and lifestyle factors that destroy vitamins and minerals. What about the effects of alcohol, food additives, heavy metals such as lead and mercury, carbon monoxide and other chemicals known to interfere with nutrients? The hazards of modern living are another reason the RDAs may not be sufficient. The sad truth is that many people who do care enough about themselves to get the RDAs, still go on to develop early heart disease, cancer, arthritis and diabetes; they have frequent viral infections (colds, flu, herpes), they are overweight and lose their teeth to decay and gum disease. In fact, Americans have a lower life expectancy than citizens of some third world countries.

In short, the RDAs do not take into account the amount of nutrients needed to maintain optimum health lather than borderline health. Current scientific studies indicate that larger dosages of key nutrients help our bodies work better.

There are many steps to improve your health and reduce the risk of developing the health problems of the rest of the population. Taking dietary supplements in excess of the RDAs is one of them.