Question

The best way to get the proper balance of vitamins and minerals is to:

eat a variety of foods
take supplements
eat only vegetables
eat only meat

Answer 1

A would be the best answer.

It is a common misconception that dietary supplements are the best to allow the proper balance of vitamins and minerals, and that 'more the merrier' proverb can be applied here. However, we must understand that some vitamins are water-soluble, and excess would simply be excreted. Also, excess of fat-soluble vitamins can be toxic.

Foods do not necessarily contain vitamins, but they have properties that can act as ligands and force the liver to produce a sufficient amount of vitamins for the body. For instance, several people say that carrots have vitamin A, which is actually incorrect. Carrots contain beta-carotene, which is a ligand that can force liver cells to produce vitamin A in balanced amounts.