Ruth Kava

Ruth Kava is the director of nutrition for the American Council on Science and Health (ACSH), a New York-based organization that conducts health and science research and provides consumer information. In the following viewpoint, Kava asserts that the health benefits from vitamins and minerals are still uncertain and that vitamins may actually pose health risks for two reasons: They are completely unregulated, so they may be overpriced, ineffective, or improperly labeled; and consumers, hoping to exponentially increase vitamins' beneficial effects, may take megadoses of vitamins that may be toxic at high levels. Kava contends that a much safer alternative is to increase the amount of fruits and vegetables consumed.

As you read, consider the following questions:

1. What toxic effects of vitamins does Kava cite in the viewpoint?
2. Why does the author...