Vitamins, whether we get them from our daily diet, from sun, or from store bought capsules, they are vital to our health and to the proper functioning of our bodies. Vitamin deficiencies lead to a wide range of concerns and health issues.
Healthy, organic diet should provide a good amount of nutrients that the body needs, but supplements can help ensure that we are getting a healthy serving of specific vitamins. The concern is that many vitamins and mineral supplements are manufactured synthetically with chemicals and do not come straight from their natural sources. They are made to mimic the way natural vitamins act in our bodies. Natural vitamins are derived directly from plant material containing the vitamin, not produced in a lab.
A significant number of the vitamins you will find on the pharmacy shelves these days are made synthetically through chemical processes, rather than derived directly from plants or other materials, although some manufacturers still produce natural vitamins.
A natural source contains co-factors that come with the nutrient in nature. For instance, some co-factors that are usually found with Vitamin C are various bioflavonoids. It is concentrated from its natural source as carefully as possible. No extreme heat, pressure, or possibly toxic solvents are used. There are no sugar or chemical tablet coatings. The nutrients are prepared from high quality raw ingredients. No artificial chemicals are added. Harsh binders and fillers do not hinder absorption.
Synthetic vitamins are made in a laboratory setting from coal tar derivatives. No co-factors are present. Most of the food supplements sold on the market today are synthetic and often cheaper to produce than natural vitamins.
With Vitamin E, for example, the d- form of vitamin E derived from vegetable oils and other natural sources is different from the dl- form (which is often called the synthetic form). The dl- tocopherols are actually a mixture: the d-form and the l-form (usually a 1:1 mixture). The human body uses only the d- form. The l- form, when present, does not confer any known health benefit and is normally excreted by the body. So, in essence, when consuming the dl- form of vitamin E, you obtain an effective dose of about half the vitamin E dosage reported on the label.
In contrast, Supplements, as the word clearly states, are meant to supplement a highly varied diet of whole, unprocessed foods. You can get the bioflavonoids from citrus fruits, but you may not know exactly how much vitamin C you are getting and how much citrus you will need to take per day to get enough of both whereas you will with synthetic vitamins. The best way to get all the vitamins you need is in a high-quality liquid multivitamin.
Below are the steps to identify the ingredients on Vitamin Label:
- Look for the words “100 percent natural” on the product’s label.Some product labels may contain the words “natural,” but manufacturers can claim “natural” on their nutritional products if at least 10 percent of the product comes from natural food sources. The Organic Consumers Organization recommends looking for products that contain “100 percent plant-based” or “100 percent animal-based” on the product’s label.
- Find the “food source” list on the products label.If the product’s label does not contain a list of natural food sources, then the product is synthetic. Look for food sources such as yeast, fish, vegetable and citrus.
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Common Synthetic Vitamins to Avoid – Look for clues on your vitamin’s label that offer insight into the origin of the vitamin.
- Vitamin A:Retinyl Palmitate
- Vitamin B1 (Thiamine):Thiamine Mononitrate, Thiamine Hydrochloride
- Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin):Riboflavin
- Pantothenic Acid:Calcium D-Pantothenate
- Vitamin B6 (Pyridoxine):Pyridoxine Hydrochloride
- Vitamin B12:Cyanocobalamin
- PABA (Para-aminobenzoic Acid):Aminobenzoic Acid
- Folic Acid:Pteroylglutamic Acid
- Choline:Choline Chloride, Choline Bitartrate
- Vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid):Ascorbic Acid
- Vitamin D:Irradiated Ergosteral, Calciferol
- Vitamin E:dl-alpha tocopherol, dl-alpha tocopherol acetate or succinate
NOTE: The “dl” form of any vitamin is synthetic.
Other Toxic Ingredients to Avoid in Supplements
- Magnesium stearate (or stearic acid)
- Monosodium Glutamate(MSG) disguised as “natural flavors”
- Carnauba wax is used in car wax and shoe polish
- Titanium dioxide is a carcinogen.
Tips and Warnings
Talk to the pharmacist before purchasing a vitamin or mineral supplement. A pharmacist can identify a natural or synthetic vitamin supplement, and help you learn to identify them yourself. Let your pharmacist know if you are allergic to any foods or medications.
Never take a new vitamin supplement without talking to your doctor first.
PRODUCTS:
NATURAL NON-SYNTHETIC VITAMINS
Note: Information and statements made are for education purposes and are not intended to replace the advice of your doctor. If you have a severe medical condition or health concern, see your physician.
Source Links: This article was created based on information from the below links.
https://vitamins-nutrition.org/vitamins/natural-vitamins-synthetic.html
http://www.globalhealingcenter.com/natural-health/synthetic-vs-natural-vitamins/