With this change in policy, the AMA is now in agreement with what leading nutritionists and nutritional research scientists have been saying for years.

This reversal of policy is in agreement with what nutritional scientists have been stressing for years; our diets are so lacking in nutrients that they are the major cause of disease.

A certain fact of life is rarely considered by the average person.

Our bodies are "closed systems"; that is, every element needed for growth, health, wellness, and even survival must come from the food we eat.

From our food, and only from our food, do we obtain the nutrients we need for overall health, especially our long term health.

As early as 1936 the Government reported on the impact of depleted soils. One excerpt from this report states:

"The alarming fact is that foods (fruits, vegetables and grains) now being raised on millions of acres of land that no longer contain enough of certain minerals are starving us - no matter how much of them we eat. No man of today can eat enough fruits and vegetables to supply his system with the minerals he requires for perfect health because his stomach isn't big enough to hold them."

Diseases that we know today to be the leading cause of death; heart disease, cancer, stroke, Alzheimer's disease, arthritis, etc., were virtually unknown 70 years ago when that report was researched and prepared.

Little for the good has changed since that report was released.

Leading research scientists have demonstrated a direct link between these diseases and the food we eat. Almost every week, it seems, some new research demonstrates more links.

Their virtually unanimous conclusion is that we simply do not get sufficient nutrients today necessary for a healthy long life.

Their conclusion is now supported by the AMA. To overcome the deficiencies their recommendation is to add nutritional supplements to everyone's daily diet.

While the most commonly recognized nutritional supplements are vitamins, many more nutrients are classified as nutritional supplements. They include:

1) Minerals,

2) Amino acids,

3) Enzymes,

4) Essential fatty acids,

5) Fiber

The basic problem is that the only source of these nutrients that are absolutely essential for our health and wellbeing is the food we eat.

The primary source of vitamins, minerals and amino acids that our bodies need for good health come from our farm soils. Today these are so depleted of nutrients that we simply don't get what we need.

On top of that, the way we cook our food destroys any enzymes that might be available. Any cooking above 119 degrees F destroys enzymes.

The bottom line is that our food no longer is capable of providing the essential elements our bodies need.

Americans are aware of the need for dietary nutritional supplements, at least on the surface. Over 43% of Americans now take some form of nutritional supplements.

This indicates that we are concerned enough to take some action. The question is whether it is enough.

If we believe that our diet is deficient in one or two vitamins, is it realistic to assume that we are getting all the other nutrients that we get from the same source?

We have become "victims" of advertisement. We sometimes respond to the advertisers because we want to believe their pitch. This is especially true when it comes to our health.

Companies that market food make large sums of money by capitalizing on our desire to be healthy. Two of the biggest "buzz-words" in food advertising today are "Free Radicals" and "Anti-Oxidants".

Anti-oxidants are vitally important to our health because they destroy free radicals that have been proven to cause aging and disease, make changes in DNA structures, suppress the immune system and cause many other health related problems.

There is no question or dispute that fruit juices provide anti-oxidants. It should be no surprise that anti-oxidants are provided by vitamin C which is contained in the fruit juice.

Where this line of advertising is misleading, and possibly dangerous, is that the public is led to believe that simply drinking a glass of juice a day will significantly improve one's health. The glass of juice is certainly beneficial but it certainly is not the cure all to our nutritional deficiencies.

Vitamin C and anti-oxidants are absolutely vital for health, but so are the myriad of other vitamins, minerals, enzymes, amino acids, and essential fatty acids that our bodies need.

Furthermore, anti-oxidants are produced by many other elements of our diet, not just vitamin C.

If one is truly concerned about their health and that of their family, they need a complete dietary nutritional supplement.