Natural
Vitamins or Synthetic?
Natural Vitamins or Synthetic?
People often ask if natural vitamins work better than synthetic
ingredients. The answer is yes and no.
Synthetic vitamins are produced in laboratories.
Natural vitamins are derived from food sources. Under controlled
conditions synthetic vitamins work just like the natural ingredients.
But we don’t live in a perfect world.
For example, studies have shown that synthetic vitamin E
will actually block natural vitamin E activity at the cellular
level. Synthetic beta carotene is adversely affected by synthetic
food dyes, which are common in “one-a day” vitamin
preparations. Yellow dye also decreases vitamin B-6 activity.
Vitamins derived from natural sources contain nutrients that
are not available from synthetics. Dunaliella salina algae
is not only an effective form of Beta Carotene but also includes
the cancer fighters Alpha Carotene, Cryptoxanthin, Zeaxanthin,
Lutein and Lycopene.
Synthetic vitamins replicate only one of perhaps dozens of
beneficial nutrients. It’s somewhat like imitating one
ingredient that is contained in an apple. You miss all of
the related nutrients that work synergistically. Our bodies
need a broad base of natural supplements for optimum health.
Most manufacturers look for the cheapest way to produce their
products. Synthetics and chemicals are less expensive, are
much easier to process and have a longer shelf life than natural
vitamins.
Are Vitamin Supplements really necessary?
You've probably heard the comment, maybe even from your doctor,
“Vitamins will just give you expensive urine."
The latest scientific research proves otherwise. Natural vitamin
formulas, herbs and other natural remedies can cure you as
well as or better than many prescription drugs...without the
negative side effects.
“We now have a substantial body of data showing that
if everyone took a few supplements every day, they could significantly
lower their risk of a multitude of serious diseases,”
said David Heber, M.D., Ph.D., of the Center for Human Nutrition
at the University of California, Los Angeles.
"I get what I need from food."
We have been told for years that we can get all the vitamins
and minerals we need if we eat a balanced diet. Not by a long
shot.
More than 90% of Americans don't eat the recommended daily
servings of fruit and vegetables. And even if we try our best
to eat more vegetables, the ones we purchase in the produce
department don't have the vitamins and minerals that they
had 40 or 50 years ago.
In Department of Agriculture studies of 50,000 persons performed
in the 1980's, not one person was getting the RDA of the 10
essential vitamins. And in many cases the RDA is insufficient
for optimum health.
How do I know what vitamins to take?
Good question. How can we be sure we are making the right
choices when choosing nutrition supplements. Advertisers spend
millions trying to convince us that their vitamins are the
best on the market.
What can we believe and to whom can we go to for advice?
Can we go to our doctor? Most medical schools provide less
than 3 hours education in nutrition.
Let The Buyer Beware
You need a magnifying glass to read the ingredients on the
label. In choosing nutritional supplements it is truly “e
caveat emptor”, let the buyer beware. There is no regulation
in the vitamin industry and there are legions of unscrupulous
vendors try to get your hard earned money.
Some Vitamins Are Hazardous To Your Health
Most people are not aware that many vitamins, including some
of the highly advertised “name brands”, are processed
at high temperatures, contain petroleum derived chemical solvents,
such as ethyl cellulose and are coated with methylene chloride,
a carcinogenic material.
According to Dr. Zoltan P. Rona, M.D., “Although most
healthy people will have no obvious side effects from ingesting
small amounts of toxins found in cheap vitamins, the long
term consequences of continuous, daily intakes are potentially
dangerous. Over 7% of the population displays sensitivity
to these chemicals.” Dr. Rona says that allergic reactions
include fatigue, memory loss, depression and insomnia.
A One A Day Vitamin Doesn't Cut It.
I have done research on some of the national brand vitamins
including Centrum and Centrum Silver. To put it plainly their
formulas are cheap. Not just inexpensive...but cheap. They
have sub-optimal levels of antioxidants, which are so important
for fighting free radicals and building up your immune system
to fight off heart disease and cancer.
But the problem isn’t just the important missing ingredients.
It is the chemicals that shouldn’t be there. Take Centrum
Silver as an example. Centrum’s ingredients are all
synthetic and include seven different chemicals, solvents
or dyes.
What Should I Look For?
Number one is to choose a manufacturer you can trust. Many
companies are more interested in shelf life than human life.
Stick with the natural supplements and avoid the chemicals.
A complete all natural formula which includes all the antioxidants
you need for heart health, and no harmful chemicals, will
run you about $1.30 to 1.50 per day depending on the ingredients.
That's about the price of a cup of coffee.
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