All Vitamins are Not Created Equal

To supplement or not to supplement?
Contributed by dear friend Perla Erickson
Certified Holistic Health Coach, ADDP 
LHC Alumni

"Drugs" are chemicals that influence the functioning of the body. In this sense, vitamins, minerals and phytochemicals are in the same category as drugs. There is one big exception, however! Unlike drugs, vitamins and minerals are the building blocks of our cells, and they are needed for repairing and rebuilding of body tissues. So, if we want to stay healthy and have youthful vigor as we age gracefully, we must know that our foods deliver the quality and amount of vitamins, minerals and phytochemicals our body needs.

 According to a Rutgers University Study comparing organics and commercially grown vegetables, the amounts of vitamins and minerals in most fruits and vegetables have decreased over the years-- up to 38% fewer nutrients than just 50 years ago. Throw in the research which estimates that your average veggie travels 1500 miles before it reaches your plate, and the “loss of nutrients accelerates during food shipping, processing, storage and cooking.” The amount of nutrients left, if any, may be enough for short-term survival function, but not enough for long-term functions of repair and rebuilding.  Therefore, there is a clear need to supplement our diet.

Mark Hyman, M.D, asks: Does everyone need supplements? According Dr. Hyman, if people “eat wild, fresh, non-genetically modified food grown in virgin mineral- and nutrient-rich soils that has not been transported across vast distances and stored outside, breathe only fresh unpolluted air, drink only pure, clean water, sleep nine hours a night, move their bodies every day, and are free from chronic stressors and exposure to environmental toxins, ..then, perhaps they might not need supplements.” 

Um, that's not what my life looks like!

(By the way, did you know that between 60%and 90% of cancers, heart disease, and diabetes are preventable? 
Here's a 2 minutes video that explains why!)

This brings us to another question: Which type of supplement do we need, and how to choose? Our cells know the difference in vitamins that are synthesized in a laboratory and "the vitamins that occur naturally in fruits and vegetables.” Let’s look at the three types of vitamins in the marketplace:
1) Synthetic: Usual drug store variety, made from coal tar.

• No enzymes
• Man-made
• Stimulant
• Side effects

2) Crystallized: Usual health food store variety 

• Weak enzymes
• Uses chemical and/or heat extraction
• Stimulant
• Imbalance
• Harsh binders
• Fillers

3) Lyophilized: Shaklee whole food supplements 

• Strong enzymatic action
• Cool, no chemical/heating extraction/manufacturing process
• Pure, high quality raw materials
• Feeds and improves cell health
• Balanced, whole foods
• Contains essential unrecognized nutrients, phyto-chemicals

Ahhhh, that's more like it!

“At the level of molecules seen under an electron microscope, synthetic and natural vitamins may look similar to some
chemists, but they don’t assimilate the same way in the human body. Studies of both vitamin C and E show that the
naturally occurring forms are more absorbable by the body and more biologically active than synthetics.
” Matter of face, most synthetic vitamins E comes from an Eastman Kodak plant, where it is a by-product of 
an emulsification process used to manufacture film. After purification, it is sold to the supplements industry.”(Gross!)

Eeewww! My "vitamin" comes from what?!

Clearly, all vitamins are not created equal. Let's choose our supplements with the same care and attention with which
we choose our food. In addition, you can earn LHC points (up to 2,000 points!) by switching brands to Shaklee
pharmaceutical grade, whole food nutrition products! Questions? Send us an email at littlehealthycompetition@gmail.com.
Stay tuned for future articles on nutrition and supplementation.