Why Food Vitamins and Minerals are Better?
Most multi-vitamin formulas are primarily synthetic (e.g. petroleum-derived) vitamins plus crushed industrial rocks, yet even peer reviewed medical research has concluded that food vitamins are superior to synthetics. Numerous scientific papers have concluded that Food vitamins and minerals are better than isolated 'nutrients' because they contain important enzymes, peptides and phytonutrients which are critical to the utilization of vitamins and minerals and are lacking in isolated nutrients.
| Vegetarian Food Nutrient | Compared to Synthetic Vitamins/Mineral Salt |
| Vitamin A | More complete, as scientists teach that vitamin A is not an isolate |
| Vitamin B Complex | More effective in maintaining good health and liver function |
| Vitamin B-9 | More utilizable above 266mcg (Recommended Daily Intake is 400mcg) |
| Vitamin C | Over 15.6 times antioxidant effect |
| Vitamin D | Over 10 times the antirachitic effect |
| Vitamin E | Up to 4.0 times the free radical scavenging strength |
| Vitamin H | Up to 100 times more biotin effect |
| Vitamin K | Safer for children |
| Calcium | 7 times as effective in raising serum ionic calcium levels |
| Chromium | Up to 25 times more bioavailable |
| Copper | Contains substances that reduce potential toxicity |
| Iron | Non-constipating, better absorbed |
| Magnesium | Better absorbed and retained |
| Manganese | Not as likely to contribute to toxicity as mined forms |
| Phosphorus | Less likely to cause diarrhea or electrolyte disorders |
| Selenium | Nearly 2 times better retained |
| Vanadium | Safer and 50% more effective |
| Zinc | Better absorption, better form |
The Difference is More than Quantitative
Some have felt that if they take, for example, twice as much of a synthetic vitamin or industrial rock (called a mineral salt) than a Food vitamin or mineral, then it will be just as effective in the body. That is not true. An analogy might be appropriate here. Let's say two people want to build a computer. One has 100% of all the parts (like in Food nutrients) and the other has 97% of all the parts, but the parts are a lot bigger (like in USP rocks), which computer will work correctly? The one with all the parts! Shouldn't your body have all the nutritional parts it needs? USP vitamins and minerals are cheap (or not so cheap) industrial imitations of Food vitamins and minerals--they are not Food!
Synthetic vitamins and rocks can have some positive nutritional effects (as well as unnatural residues), yet SYNTHETIC VITAMINS & OTHER ROCKS CANNOT REPLACE ALL THE FUNCTIONS OF FOOD VITAMINS & MINERALS! USP vitamins and minerals are not structurally the same, nor in most cases chemically the same, as Food nutrients. As the aim of supplementation is to provide nutrients which may be missing from the diet (for optimal health), it is logical that Food vitamins and minerals can accomplish this much better than synthetic vitamins or crushed industrial rocks.
