Whole Foods Vitamins Vs. Synthetic Vitamins
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Billions of dollars are being spent annually on supplements, yet typically the purchasers, retailers, and salespeople do not know the difference between a synthetic, a crystalline, and a truly natural vitamin. They know little of how the supplements are grown, made, their characteristics, their attributes, their sources, or their uses. In no other industry has so much been spent by the consumer with little too no knowledge of the product.
What is the Difference between Natural and Synthetic?
Basically it is the difference between something that is living and something that is dead! That is a very big difference. On vitamin labels the word “natural” has no specific definition other than that the substance exists somewhere on the planet. The key is to look for “Whole Food Vitamins”. This means they are found in food sources, unaltered in any way that would change their molecular structure, their biological or biochemical combination, or their actions. Vitamins in their natural state exist as living complexes and never as an isolated single factor such as vitamin C or E. They have specific synergist co-factors, enzymes, phytonutrients and organic mineral activators that they are combined with and should remain as they occur in nature. A vitamin needs all of its synergists in order to function properly and fully. Most of these synergists have not yet been studied but are nevertheless important. Also organic food sources are ideal because they are more nutrient rich and contain no pesticides.
Crystalline vitamins come from a food source but have been treated with chemicals, solvents, heat and distillations to reduce it down to one specific crystalline vitamin. In this process all the synergist cofactors are destroyed and considered impurities. After this process, there is no longer anything natural or living in a crystalline vitamin.
Synthetic comes from a non-food, non- living source, in fact from chemicals. Basically a chemist reconstructs the exact structure of the crystalline molecule by chemically combining molecules from other sources. For example, Vitamin B1 is made from a coal tar derivative and ascorbic acid-vitamin C is made by reacting sugar with sulfuric acid.
The FDA’s regulations encourages this practice. Legally, you cannot call the whole foods Vitamin C Complex Vitamin C; only the fraction ascorbic acid can be called Vitamin C. Another example would be the fraction alpha tocopherol of the Vitamin E Complex. This is the only part that can be legally called Vitamin E. The whole complex is not recognized and therefore thrown out and yet this is not how it is recognized by the body.
Do Synthetic Vitamins Function as well as Natural Whole Foods Vitamins?
NO! Living systems are very complex and very specific in their needs for building and repairing themselves. Your body is always breaking down cells, organs, and tissues. Then rebuilding and repairing them. In order for this process to continue the body needs a continual supply of high-quality building material. We really are what we eat. If you put non quality foods in you will get a non quality body that dysfunctions. Even with all the scientific and medical research done so far we have only scratched the surface of the body’s intricate and complex design. To think we can alter and manipulate this design with-out consequence is foolish and arrogant.
The Fallacy of High Dosages Equals High Potency
A whole food natural supplement never comes in high dosages. It does not occur this way in nature nor does the body respond to high doses. In fact, large dosages of dead chemicals can be very disruptive to your bio-chemistry and deplete your reserves. As consumers we have been misled into believing that more is better. Nothing could be further from the truth. Small amounts of whole food vitamins with all of their naturally occurring synergist are far more potent and effective than high doses of synthetic imitation vitamins. Your body knows the difference.
In summary, you cannot repair and rebuild a living system with dead chemicals, it is simply impossible. A living system requires living vitamins and living foods. Eat whole foods and take whole foods supplements. Seek knowledge and truth. Seek holistic alternatives and doctors that strive to restore function and wellness. True doctors take the time to educate, guide, and inspire their patients.
About The Author
Dr. Joanne Connors
Dr. Joanne Connors is a Duluth, GA Chiropractor serving Johns Creek, Alpharetta, Suwanee and North Atlanta. She received her nutrition degree at Georgia State University, then continued her studies at Life University to become a Doctor of Chiropractic. She is certified in various chiropractic techniques in addition to physiotherapeutics and yoga. She brings a wealth of experience in nutrition and detoxification to round out a total patient care model at Holisticare. Her belief in whole mind and body is supported by a natural approach to health care and well-being. Other specialties involve sports training and injury rehab.
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