Just curious... and my quick web search didn't reveal the exact answer I was looking for...

Is there a breakpoint where vitamins and minerals and such things are concerned?

I have several friends that are extremely... focused... on 'healthy food'. Nothing processed, grinding their own wheat, using only 'natural' sugars (honey, maple syrup, stevia, etc.) and never white sugar... I'm sure you all know the drill.

I'm not out to knock that at all. I just am curious about whether there is a point at which you just really do NOT need more vitamins.

The rationale behind their eating habits is nutrition (not just the removal of chemicals from the diet). That's why they choose the sugars they do - the unprocessed sugars are more nutritious. From my awareness, they are not really all that GOOD for you - they just may have some trace minerals or vitamins remaining.

But is there ENOUGH 'good' to actually do anything significant to help you physiologically?

If you only need XXX mg of something a day, what happens to the additional mg of that substance someone consumes? Don't they just go out as waste?

If so... what's the point?

I understand wanting to avoid processed foods for the bad stuff that is sometimes added to the process... but... like with white flour, yes, I know it's been bleached and 'enriched' with the same thing that came out of it during the bleaching process... but is the net value of the nutrients in the bleached stuff so low that it is *not* enough to be a part of a diet that fits the daily nutritional requirements?

some vitamins and minerals are excreted naturally if your body gets too much (B12 is one, excreted through urine)---others can cause significant issues if your body receives consistently too much (iron is one--especially in younger children).

I've always understood that the more "natural" a food is, the easier it is for the body to break down and absorb the "good". I could be way off.

Funny story: Because of the medications I have to take and my diagnosed disease, my MD recommended I start taking Prenatal vitamins. Over the counter was fine she said. So, I picked some up. Got home and was unloading the grocery bags, left the vitamins sitting on the kitchen counter. My oldest saw them, picked them up, looked at me and said "excuse me! Is there something you need to tell me? Did you and *S* (significant other) ASK us (his brother and him) if we wanted a baby brother/sister.??" After I got done laughing, I explained--but his face was priceless

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Mental that one, I'm telling you. ---Ron Weasley, "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets"

I did that health kick a few years back, when a blood test was taken my Ph level was way high and dangerous. Must've been that banana.

Seems just like everything else, too much is too much, good or bad. It'll get you in the end.

Everything is processed today, unless you grow your own. Even fresh produce is processed on the vine/tree/shrub.

These are friends who do grow their own. The milk is raw, from a cow that has only been grass fed (grass that has not seen any pesticides!)... the eggs are from free range chickens... the produce is from their own garden... the wheat is from an organic source... it's pretty much all 'pure' in that regard.

I just kind of scratch my head at the 'nutrition' part. The people I see who have health issues - as far as I know - don't seem to be deficient in *nutrition* from our Americanized diet. Over-consumption, yes... but vision problems seem hereditary (mom and dad had glasses... I have glasses) as opposed to a lack of organic carrots. Yes, there may BE more vitamin whatever in that coconut flour brownie, but did we *need* more vitamin whatever? Or did we just need to cut out the brownies all together?

I'm really not opposed to the healthy eating thing... I just question whether those 'bonus nutrients' are really making them healthier than someone who eats a 'regular' diet, in good quantities.

As a vegatarian I already eat extremely healthy......I eat tons of fresh fruit, a lot of only fresh veggies nothing frozen or canned in a reallllllllllly long time...I have not drank soda in years . I only drink hot tea now with honey no more sugar. I drink unsweetned icetea however I do add some honey and a lot of lemon or limes or oranges....Love drinking my brita water now with added fresh fruit and ice.....No more butter, only sometimes creme cheese and fruit spreads.....Never salt at all, plenty of fresh herbs and tons of fresh garlic cooked very well. Each day I eat one apple and one banana and I drink one glass of organic vegetable juice. Three times a week I drink one small can of prunes. I also eat a lot of nuts sooooooo healthy . Finally for vitamins I take one a day for women, I also take 2 vitamin C pills, Vitamin D, Vitamin B6 and B12 and Omega 3 . I never ever smoked one cigarette in my life, do not drink any liquor at all.......I exercise everyday......I walk around our high school track 4 times.....I know the older you get, you seriously have to take better care of yourself and make healthy food choices.....Oops almost forgot I use my juicer a lot I put all kinds of veggies and fruits and low fat plain white yogurt to make excellent smoothies.....and wheat germ.........I still enjoy eating eggs only once a week on Saturday morning.......Still love my icecream and cheesecake but all in moderation and love love yogurt all flavors and zone bars.............So here is to more healthy eating and taking care of our bodies...........peace. Catherine

Some vitamins are water soluble (vitamin C and all B vitamins), which means they cannot be retained in the body and are flushed out when you have too much. You need to consume foods with those vitamins daily. Other vitamins are fat soluble (vitamins A, D, E, and K), which means they *cling* to fat and your body uses them as needed.

I've always been an advocate of getting your nutrients naturally and eating food as close to the food source as possible. However, I think some people (like OP's friends) are extremists. I can't imagine putting that much time and energy into planning your food....besides the fact that you drive all your friends and family crazy talking about it.

what do you consume daily for protein???

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Mental that one, I'm telling you. ---Ron Weasley, "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets"

I want my donuts!!!

I think everything in moderation is always a good way to go. I know I don't get enough fresh vegetables, but am I willing to make the effort to change? Not at my advanced age. I have taken calcium supplements for years because of a bone density test that was done. I went from a borderline low count to a mid range high count. So that worked. I've taken C for some time on my own, simply because I know I'm not eating as well as I should. Started taking D about a year or so ago after watching Dr. Oz. I'm not an outside person and I don't take a huge dose. Also taking potassium on doctors orders, which was recently doubled because I had started showing a low reading again. Last blood test was good on the potassium.

I don't want to die after having deprived myself of some of fine foods that are available. That's part of the joy in life for me. If I die a little sooner having eaten all those cakes, cookies, rich sauces, donuts, fantastic French fries, creme brulee, fried fish, then so what. I enjoyed myself while I was here. I realize that food is not that important to some people and that's fine. We are all different and we need to do whats best for us. What's best for me is having ice cream. The world would be a sorrier place without ice cream.

To marilynk, Catherine probably gets her protein from the nuts she eats daily. Plus, I would imagine she eats other protein rich foods like tofu, seitan, etc, that she didn't mention.

Also, I want to clarify that even though I think we should consume our nutrients naturally, some of us have to take suppliments for health reasons. I personally need to take vitamin D and folic acid every day.

Thanks Freer yes I get plenty of protein from all the nuts, I eat 3 handfuls a day one at lunch one at snack time around 4:40 and then before bed......I feel sorry for the people who suffer from peanut allergies as nuts and raisins and dried fruits are so healthy for you.......Now tofu I do eat about 3 times a week, I love it with soy sauce and just a bit of hot mustard and some sesame seeds or oil.........Wildwood like I mentioned I enjoy my icecream and homemade whip creme so much. I love Baskin and Robbins Pistachio with Almonds and Butter Pecan and Strawberry just to name a few.......And if I could live on Cheesecake I would, especially Banana Creme Cheesecake a piece of heaven...........

I eat an evolutionary or paleo diet, which I've read is highly nutritious in comparison to other diets. Meeting the RDA for different nutrients is reportedly easy on the diet. Basically what I do is eat a good amount of vegetables, lean meats, some fruits, healthy oils, and nuts. No complaints. I feel much healthier on the diet. Oh, I also take vitamin D3 since little D3 can be found in the diet. It mainly should come from the sun - if you have the time or weather to get outside.

I'm with you on the sugar. Sugar is sugar, pretty much what ever the source. I'm in the camp that wheat and other grains are not all that healthy for the body and should be limited if not avoided also. There are several paleo web sights about the problems grains can cause people. One of the newer is WheatBelly. Rather interesting the information and testimonials given there, I think.

Wheat Belly | Lose the Wheat, Lose the Weight

I would suggest getting blood work done that can tell you what your vitamin levels are. I was very low in D3, and my iron levels have been off for many years. One thing that I am often amazed about is that so many people are on the health kick as far as eating, but get very little daily exercise. Exercise if such an important part of good health.