Are vitamins bad and pesticides good?

• Position: Myths about nutrition and pesticides risks - Your Life

When it comes to food and nutrition, people often know more myths than truths. For instance, vitamin supplements not only are unnecessary for most individuals, but, in some cases, could be toxic in large doses. On the other hand, pesticides--often considered the evil of modern-day farming technology--actually have more benefits than generally acknowledged. Without them, food production would be cut dramatically and prices would skyrocket, two Ohio State University faculty members point out. These are just two examples of the many misconceptions that people have about the foods they eat, according to Charlotte Gallagher, clinical assistant professor of family medicine, and John Allred, professor of food science and technology, coauthors of Taking the Fear Out of Eating.

More is not always better when it comes to vitamins. "Almost everyone can get all the vitamins they need just by eating a varied diet--you'd be hard pressed to find someone in this country who is vitamin deficient," Gallagher explains. "In our society, vitamin toxicity is much more of a threat than vitamin deficiency." Yet, many individuals still take vitamin supplements, believing that they can improve their health, pump up their energy levels, and help offset the negative effects of stress, pollution, and life in the fast lane.

In most cases, she says, people who take vitamin or mineral supplements are wasting their money and--at worst--putting their health at risk. "Many vitamins and minerals have toxic effects if you...