The Way of the Shotgunner— If a Little Is Good, More is Better

The "Shotgun Express" is another offshoot of one-size-fits-all nutritional philosophy. This is the phenomenon characterized by the old adage "if a little is good, more is better." Shotgunners simply megadose on foods and supplements that they perceive as good for them. Not satisfied with a little of one thing or another, because somehow they believe that smaller amounts are not adequate for them, shotgunners tend to take the largest individual dosages and the greatest quantity of differing supplements overall.

Shotgunners typically consume nutritional supplements in extreme excess of the recommendations of the RDA, DV, MDR, or other standards-setting organization, in an effort to "absolutely make sure" they are getting enough of what they think they need to achieve whatever health and fitness objectives they have in mind. They assume categorically that even if they do consume too much of a given nutrient or other, the body will simply use what it needs and excrete the rest—with no harm done. in actuality, too much of one nutrient or other can do more damage than good to the body. Excess nutrients can be as bad as deficiencies.

To top it all off, shotgunners demonstrate the same profound imbalances as other subjects in nutrition studies. (More about the risks of shotgunning in later chapters).