This story talks about how vitamins could shorten lifespan.  Apparently some researchers combined a bunch of studies and it would appear that what we’ve been told ever since our Moms’ gave us those Flintstone’s chewables could be wrong.  Quick, everyone throw out your vitamins and rip up your GNC Gold Card!  Wait.  Calm down.  It would appear there is some disagreement with the findings of the study, albeit from someone who gets their paycheck from the supplement industry.

So, the health sciences folks are in the midst of potentially changing their minds…again.  These people drive me crazy.  Not because I don’t applaud their goal of trying to help people live longer.  Rather, we just go crazy over the latest greatest news.  Remember Atkins?  That diet originally came out in the 70’s.  Then it hit a tipping point and everybody was trying Atkins 5-10 years ago.  Today it’s South Beach. 

Alcohol is bad!  Wait, is it red wine in proper doses?  Then it’s good for you.  Fat is bad! Wait is it Omega 3 fatty acids?  Then it’s good for you.  Carbs are bad for you.  Wait, is it high fiber unprocessed carbs?  Then it’s good for you.  My great uncle used to take arsenic in small doses for medical problems he had, because the doctors of the time thought it would cure his disease.  Freakin’ arsenic!

You know, the more we study and learn, the more I think we keep coming back to the words, “Everything in moderation”. 

BTW – I always thought it was Aristotle who said that, but the first reference to that quote that I can find is Andria (The Lady of Andros) by the Roman playwright Terence.  The closest thing I can find Aristotle saying is “The virtue of justice consists in moderation, as regulated by wisdom”.  But, the whole Greek philospher thing probably ascribed to the idea thanks to Democritus who came before Socrates and said, “Moderation increases enjoyment, and makes pleasure even greater.”