kam
Honored Contributor (10K+ posts)
Member # 3410
posted
Synthetic vs. Natural Vitamins By Dr. Ben Kim
Created 2004-10-03 05:00
Here are some facts that you won't find advertised on most of the vitamin supplements at your local vitamin store:
� The majority of commercial vitamin supplements are made up of synthetic vitamins
� Synthetic vitamins do not perform the same functions in your body as vitamins found naturally in whole food
� Many synthetic vitamins deplete your body of other nutrients and tax your kidneys before being excreted through your urine
If you want a comprehensive understanding of what vitamins are and what they do in your body, it would be best to take a full course in biochemistry. Do you remember all of those molecular formulas and chemical reactions that you studied in your high school chemistry class? Biochemistry is really just an extension of chemistry, with an emphasis on the thousands of chemical reactions that occur in your body on a moment-to-moment basis.
Anyone who studies biochemistry learns that vitamins do not exist as single components that act on their own. Vitamins are made up of several different components - enzymes, co-enzymes, and co-factors- that must work together to produce their intended biologic effects.
Vitamins that are found naturally in whole foods come with all of their necessary components. The majority of vitamins that are sold in pharmacies, grocery stores, and vitamin shops are synthetic vitamins, which are only isolated portions of the vitamins that occur naturally in food.
A good example is vitamin C. If you take a look at a variety of vitamin C supplements, you will find that the majority of them contain only ascorbic acid or a compound called ascorbate, which is a less acidic form of acorbic acid. Ascorbic acid is NOT vitamin C. It represents the outer ring that serves as a protective shell for the entire vitamin C complex, much like an orange peel that serves as a protective shell for an orange. Real vitamin C [1] found in whole foods like fruits and vegetables contain the following components:
� Rutin
� Bioflavonoids (vitamin P)
� Factor K
� Factor J
� Factor P
� Tyrosinase
� Ascorbinogen
� Ascorbic Acid
When you take only ascorbic acid found in your synthetic vitamin C tablet or powder, your body must gather all of the other components of the full vitamin C complex from your body's tissues in order to make use of it. In the event that your body does not have adequate reserves of the other components, ascorbic acid itself does not provide any of the health benefits that the full vitamin C complex does. After circulating through your system, the unused ascorbic acid is eliminated through your urine.
Just like vitamin C, almost all other vitamins that we know of offer their full health benefits when they are in the presence of a number of enzymes, co-enzymes, co-factors, and even minerals. For example, Vitamin D may have as many as twelve different active components, while vitamin P has at least five different components. The mineral copper is needed for full vitamin C activity, while vitamin E works closely with the mineral selenium to provide its health promoting, anti-oxidative effect.
Clearly, it is best to get your vitamins from whole foods because whole foods provide complete vitamins rather than fractions of them. In many cases, whole foods also provide the minerals that are necessary for optimal vitamin activity. For example, sunflower seeds are an excellent whole food source of vitamin E and the mineral selenium, both of which need each other to offer their full health benefits.
How do you know if the vitamins on your kitchen counter are from whole foods or if they are synthetic?
If the list of ingredients includes an actual vitamin like Vitamin C'' rather than an actual food that contains natural vitamin C like ``acerola cherry powder'', you can bet that it is a synthetic vitamin.
If you choose to use nutritional supplements, it is in your best interest to use only those products that list actual foods as their ingredients rather than synthetic and isolated vitamins. While some synthetic and isolated vitamins have been shown to provide minimal health benefits, on the whole, most of them cause more harm than good and you are far better off spending your money on whole foods.
It is important to note that the principles in this article are just as relevant and applicable to minerals and mineral supplements.
Two whole food supplements that my family uses on a regular basis are a super green food mixture [1] and an acerola cherry powder product [2].
Posts: 15927 | From Became too sick to work or do household chores in 2001. | Registered: Dec 2002
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sparkle7
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 10397
posted
Thanks for the info!
My doctor said that Juice Plus was good (I don't sell it or get any money from them).
It's not a vitamin but it is supposed to help boost immunity as proven by statistics from lots of people using the product.
There are a bunch of other brands that are supposed to be from whole foods.
It's probably best to just eat fruits & veggies but the soil is depleted & there are chemicals sprayed on them.
Posts: 7772 | From Northeast, again... | Registered: Oct 2006
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kam
Honored Contributor (10K+ posts)
Member # 3410
posted
I was trying to recall the name of the Juice Plus when I posted this.
It is not in my budget right now, but I too was told to take it by my LLMD in lieu of vitamins.
Posts: 15927 | From Became too sick to work or do household chores in 2001. | Registered: Dec 2002
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klutzo
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 5701
posted
I use Green's First by Doctor's Nutrition. It has all the fruits in it too, as well as greens. One scoop is equivalent to eating ten servings of veggies and fruits.
Combined with their Dream Protein (whey), it makes a complete meal substitute and is delicious too. It's sweetened with stevia.
I mix it with watered down natural apple juice and have it for breakfast, since I often feel too lousy to eat solid food in the mornings.
I have no financial interest in this company. The products were recommended by my TCM doctor.
Klutzo
Posts: 1269 | From Clearwater, Florida, USA | Registered: May 2004
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luvs2ride
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 8090
posted
When I first started reading this post, I thought to myself, right on and we should be getting most of our nutrients from whole foods. As I read on, I saw that was your point as well.
Changing my diet made the first real leap in recovery for me. There have been so many supplements too, but I have stuck with only the brands my doctor recommended and he sold "zero" supplements.
Still, supplements are expensive and in my opinion they are processed even the best ones. Obviously high quality food is the best source of nutrition.
I buy organic as much as possible and scrub and peel (well, I scrub organic foods too) conventional fruits and veggies.
I keep studying diets trying to find my most optimal diet for my symptoms. So far, fruits and veggies do me the most good. I juice fresh fruits and veggies too. I'm still eating meat but sparingly and I have to avoid dairy, eggs and soy as I am allergic to them.
Luvs
-------------------- When the Power of Love overcomes the Love of Power, there will be Peace. Posts: 3038 | From america | Registered: Oct 2005
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