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For years, this approach has been criticized by a growing and increas- ingly vocal number of respected medical researchers and doctors. They argue that the intake levels dictated by the RDAs are just enough to help you survive, not thrive. Instead, vitamins and minerals should be taken in amounts that prevent chronic diseases and promote optimal health, a state in which your body functions at its best. It's taken some time, but the government nutrition experts, the folks who set the official nutritional standards, are catching up. Slowly but surely, RDAs are being reset to recommend higher amounts of specific vi- tamins and minerals. In 1997, the board announced that the RDAs were now just one part of an expanded set of nutritional guidelines called Dietary Reference Intakes (DRIs). The DRIs reflect the latest scientific consensus on the role vita- mins and minerals play in optimum health. For example, the first DRI re- port, on calcium, revised intake levels upward to prevent bone loss caused by osteoporosis instead of just preventing calcium deficiency. New DRIs for folate and other В vitamins were published in 1998. As funding becomes available, new DRIs-which will include updated and expanded RDAs-will be set for other nutrient groups, including antioxi- dants, macronutrients, trace minerals, and fiber. For a comprehensive listing of the content of vitamins, minerals, phy- tonutrients, macronutrients (protein, fat, carbohydrates), fiber, and calo- ries in various food sources (fruits, vegetables, grains, high-protein foods, dairy foods, sweeteners, beverages, fats, and oils) for all age groups refer to the USDA's nutrient Data Laboratory home page. As nutritional research becomes more influential in mainstream medi- cine, it's becoming routine for M.D.s to prescribe high doses of vitamins and minerals to address specific conditions or diseases. For example, high doses of calcium are often prescribed for women to prevent osteoporosis, high doses of folic acid are often prescribed for women as part of good pre- and postnatal care, and people who suffer from anemia are usually given iron supplements. The Total Health Approach to Vitarnins and Minerals 1. Eat a protein-rich, favorable-carbohydrate diet. The best way to make sure your body is supplied with a continuing source of essential mi- cronutrients is to eat a wide variety of foods. It bears repeating that no vita- min or mineral supplement can compensate for the lack of eating a properly balanced, protein-rich, favorable-carbohydrate diet. That's why they're called vitamin and mineral supplements-not replacements. 2. Do no harm! Do not take megadoses of vitamins or minerals unless they are prescribed by your doctor to treat a specific deficiency. Some vita- min advocates go so far as to recommend massive doses of certain vitamins to ward off ailments ranging from cancer to impotence. The FDA and mainstream medicine regard these vitamin fads as quackery-and often dangerous.