Can nutrients cure all diseases?

Of course, nutrients cannot cure all diseases. This is the consensus of all regular clinical nutrition practitioners.

I have been in the nutrition department for almost six years, and I have seen too many people with extreme attitudes towards nutrients. They either think it is all about IQ tax and do not believe it at all, or they regard supplements as magic medicine and stop taking regular medicines every day, which has led to many pitfalls.

To be honest, you can’t deny that nutrients are really useful. I just followed up a patient who had half of his stomach removed two months ago. He couldn’t eat after the operation and lost only more than 80 pounds. We customized a personalized supplement plan for him. In addition to regular enteral nutrition powder, we also added zinc and vitamins. After taking vitamin B complex and whey protein isolate, my weight has increased by 12 pounds in just three months, and the wound has healed very well during the review. There is also a girl who suffers from pernicious anemia due to her long-term vegetarian diet. She has taken iron and vitamin B12 supplements for three months. She used to be short of breath when climbing the third floor, but now she can go hiking on weekends without any problem. It’s no wonder that some people think that nutrients can “cure diseases”. These real improvements are right in front of them, and when they are exaggerated by health product sellers, it’s easy to think that all diseases can be solved by supplements.

But do you know how outrageous people are when they go astray? Last week, an old man was transferred to the emergency department. He has a history of high blood pressure for more than ten years. After listening to a health lecture in the community, he said that a certain compound nutrient can open blood vessels, lower blood pressure, and prevent diabetes. He spent more than 20,000 yuan on the spot to buy half a year's supply and went home. I immediately stopped the antihypertensive medication and took supplements on time every day. Only half a month later, I suffered a cerebral infarction and was sent here. Although I was rescued, the left side of my body was still paralyzed. It was really a pity that most of my good old life was ruined by this "cure all diseases" gimmick.

In fact, there is still controversy in the academic circles about the role of many nutrients. For example, whether Omega-3 can help reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease. The conclusions drawn by different experiments are quite different. There are also differences in whether ordinary people should regularly supplement vitamin D. The guideline recommendations in different countries are also different, but one thing is unified: no single nutrient or compound supplement can cover the treatment needs of all diseases.

To put it bluntly, nutrients are more like glass of water in a car. Adding it when the windshield wipers are not clean and the water bottle is empty can help you see the road ahead clearly. However, if there is an engine failure or a tire blowout, adding more glass of water will not solve the problem. We eat to take in various nutrients, and supplements only make up for the gaps in your diet. For example, if you eat takeout every day and lack vegetables, supplementing with vitamin C can indeed relieve gum bleeding. However, if you already have chronic diseases such as diabetes and high blood pressure, and you still want to rely on supplements instead of medicine, then you will be the only one who suffers in the end.

If you really need to take supplements, you should first seek evaluation from a regular doctor or nutritionist. Don’t just buy them based on the propaganda that “cure all diseases”. Our bodies can’t cope with all problems with just a few supplements.