What you need to know about all natural supplements
Lots of people realize they don’t consume all the vitamins, minerals, and nutrients they should be taking. So, in an attempt to make up for their deficiencies, they pop supplements in hopes of keeping their bodies healthy. But do you really know all that you should about using dietary supplements?
Why we need to supplement
The main reason most people need to use dietary supplements is because they eat a nutritionally deficient diet. Refined grains, high fructose corn syrup, sugars and unhealthy fats make up the majority of the average person’s diet. These foods fall very short of supplying the necessary vitamins, minerals, phytochemicals, and antioxidants needed for optimum health. Eating these unhealthy foods on a regular basis can lead to high cholesterol, high blood pressure and many other undesired health problems and diseases.
Most people do not eat a sufficient amount of fruits, vegetables and fiber needed to maintain good health. These foods are nutritional powerhouses and should be consumed daily. Organic fruits and vegetables are the “cleanest” foods and should be selected whenever possible.
A poor diet isn’t the only reason people should supplement. Did you know that the nutrient values of the food we eat is declining? The soil of commercial farms is nutritionally deficient. Because large numbers of crops are grown on the same plots year in and year out, the soil doesn’t have time to replenish all the nutrients that the crops use. Since nutrient values in the soil are falling, so are the nutrient values in the food we eat.
So even if someone is eating healthy most or all of the time, there is still a good chance they are not meeting all of their nutrient needs.
Then, of course, there are age and gender specific reasons to supplement. Men’s health issues are different than women’s health issues, and both genders require different nutrients in different amounts. Children’s nutrient requirements are different still from adult requirements. Seniors also have their own requirements.
We would also like to mention condition specific nutritional requirements such as for example, joint health, heart health, bone health and so on.
The reasons to use dietary supplement could go on indefinitely. There is more to supplementing than just choosing a supplement that addresses specific health conditions and deficiencies. You should know the difference between synthetic and all natural vitamins, minerals and supplements.
The problem with synthetic vitamins
The sad truth is, many nutritional supplements are almost useless, with little or no benefit. That is because they are made from synthetic chemical compounds in a laboratory. Your body doesn’t absorb synthetically made vitamins and minerals nearly as well as the nutrients found in food. Some experts estimate that only 50% of synthetic supplements are usable by the body at best. Usability is likely lower than that.
Even worse, many synthetic vitamins are made from compounds similar to coal tar and acetylene gas. Sound yummy?
Absorption rate is an issue with synthetic vitamins. Some estimates show that as little as 10% of the synthetically made supplements are absorbed as they travel through the digestive system. In other words, 90% of the supplement gets flushed down the toilet when you use the bathroom. Combine that with the less than 50% usability rate, synthetic supplements are not looking so good and are a waste of money.
But that’s not all. Synthetic vitamins are made in “isolation”. In nature, vitamins are combined with nutrients that make it so your body can absorb a specific nutrient or mineral. Take vitamin C for example. Vitamin C, when taken by itself in isolation, isn’t absorbed by the body very well at all, even in its natural form. But when it is consumed with certain bioflavanoids and calcium, your body soaks vitamin C up. Oranges, for example, are high in vitamin C and also contain bioflavanoids and calcium.
Unfortunately, most synthetic supplement manufacturers forget that nutrients can only be absorbed when combined with specific nutrients.
When you combine all of these factors together, synthetically made supplements really start to look pretty dismal. And, unfortunately, a vast majority of the vitamins and minerals you find on the store shelves are indeed synthetic supplements. But, the good news is that you don’t have to settle for low nutritional supplements that are not absorbed well.
The all natural and organic advantage
Enter the wonderful world of natural vitamins, minerals, supplements and organic food. Just when synthetically made supplements tried to ruin your day, all natural supplements are here for the rescue.
Why, exactly, are natural supplements better than synthetic vitamins?
- All natural supplements are made from food, not compounds formulated in a lab
- All natural supplements are more easily absorbed by the body
- The vitamin and mineral quality of all natural supplements is far superior compared to synthetic supplements
- All natural supplements are free from harmful chemicals that may exist in a synthetically made supplement
Of course, the most important benefit of all natural vitamins and minerals is the fact that they are absorbed so much better than their synthetically made counterpart. Why, exactly are they absorbed better?
All natural supplements are made from plant and food sources, even better if the sources are organic. Considering the fact that plants, in the form of food or herbs, provide the body with natural forming nutrients that can be readily absorbed and utilized by the body in the best way possible.
So now it should be clear that supplements made with all natural plant and food sources are a much better way to supplement you nutritional needs as opposed to taking laboratory made chemical pills that do little to improve your health. Give your body the exceptional nourishment it needs to live a happy and healthy life.
Do your body a favor and invest in superior health
Eat nutritiously. Do your best to avoid foods high in saturated fat, high in fructose corn syrup and other artificial sweeteners and sugars, and refined grains. Eat organic food as much as possible in place of commercially farmed food. Exercise, drink clean water and just be happy.
More importantly, get the nutrients and antioxidants your body needs from all natural vitamins, minerals and organic foods instead of synthetically made supplements. By ensuring you get all your nourishment from both a healthy diet and nutritionally superior all natural supplements, you are likely to enjoy better health for years to come.
