[C? I told you so.]
Study: Vitamin C Pills May Damage DNA

Scientists, using highly fancy tools and words, have determined that possibly there may be a chance of potential damage to DNA in people who take vitamin C pills. That's not to say that vitamin C is harmful in general--actually, the article indicates that men need about 90 milligrams per day and women need 75 milligrams per day. Oh, and smokers need an extra 35 mg.

What the study means is that United Statesians need to stop being so American. That is, there is no quick fix; popping vitamin C left and right won't make any human being more likely to evade a cold (though C in the doses listed above might help get over it sooner). Instead, surprisingly, people actually have to eat a healthy diet of grains, fruits and vegetables.

Interestingly, the quote in the article did not include meat in the "particularly" list.

Of course, in all likelihood, this will not bring about the end of the quick-fix pill-popping. Rather, it will switch from vitamin C to some other preposed natural fix. Perhaps we should consider that in a state of nature, man could never have found 1500% of his recommended daily value of vitamin C... or of anything for that matter. 1500% is quite a lot, no matter how you look at it.

It seems as though doctors may find themselves forced to explain health in businesslike terms for United Statesians to fully grasp their meanings:

"Mr. Weston, you really must diversify your diet. Your reliance on vitamin C makes for a risky and unstable environment in which your DNA could lose value--this would prove to be a double threat. You see, not only would you no longer have the option of using the vitamin C as a quick-drying solution, but you'd also be spiraling downward in health without the support of any other major nutrients.

"Mr. W, you'd be physically bankrupt."

If necessary, USians should absolutely take the measures of explaining such situations with similar metaphors. Perhaps that way they would avoid physical, social and intellectual bakruptcy, too.

Perhaps.

Here are some more vitamin C health-related links:
cforyourself.com's message forum
cforyourself.com main
Article: Vitamin C pills linked to artery clogging
Vitamin C: Do High Doses Prevent Colds?
posted by dw at 2:45:19 PM