Getting your nutrition through a healthful, diverse diet may help lower your risk of cardiovascular disease, cancer, and other chronic conditions better than getting it through supplements, evidence suggests. Don't toss your supplements, however. They are a good way to fill in nutrition gaps when your diet falls short.

Nutrients are essential compounds in food your body needs to function properly; however, researchers continue to study and revise the optimal amounts of nutrients we need for peak health. An emerging body of evidence suggests eating nutritious food promotes health and reduces your risk of chronic conditions such as cardiovascular disease, cancer, and osteoporosis better than relying on supplements. Nutrients and beneficial compounds in food may augment each other and work synergistically to prevent disease. Eat a healthy, varied diet full of colorful produce, low-fat dairy, lean protein, and whole grains to get your daily fill of health-promoting nutrients.