Five cancer myths exposed

Antioxidants

The myth: Taking antioxidant supplements lowers your cancer risk

If popping a pill to prevent cancer sounds too good to be true - it is. A decade-long study found that women who took antioxidant supplements with beta-carotene, vitamin C or vitamin E developed cancer at the same rate as women who didn't use supplements. A US Mayo Clinic review also found that antioxidant supplements did not lower cancer risk - and beta-carotene supplements actually increased the risk of smoking-related cancers. Other studies have shown increased lung cancer rates among smokers who took vitamin A supplements and a slightly higher incidence of skin cancer among women who popped low-dose antioxidant pills.

The problem isn't the antioxidants, it's antioxidant supplements. Many researchers suspect that any beneficial properties may get lost when they're extracted from whole foods and used in tablet form. The truth is, the best way to get the antioxidants you need is from your diet. Eat at least five servings of fruit and vegetables a day to reap the benefits of antioxidants - and a myriad other nutrients.

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