Many people take vitamins to gain energy, to prevent certain health conditions, and to avoid vitamin deficiency. Taking the wrong types and doses of vitamins can pose great health risks. But there are two types of vitamins. One is synthesized from plants or copied from active plant ingredients or synthetic and the other one is whole food vitamins.
There is a big difference between synthetic and whole food vitamins that most people didn’t know. Synthetic vitamins are manmade while whole vitamins are naturally available or God given. Synthetic vitamins are synthesized from plant active ingredients like Vitamins C while whole Vitamins are already available in most fruits and vegetables. Here is an example how synthetic vitamins are synthesized or manufactured: Sorbitol + Acetone (nail polish remover) + Perchloric Acid (A catalyst found in rocket fuels and explosives) + Benzene (gasoline) + Nickel + Caustic Bleach (NaOh) + Toluene (glues and paints) = Ascorbic Acid or vitamin C.
Here are some facts that you won’t find advertised on most of the vitamin supplements at your local store:
The majority of commercial vitamin supplements are made up of synthetic vitamins. Synthetic vitamins do not perform the same functions in your body as vitamins found naturally in whole food. Many synthetic vitamins deplete your body of other nutrients and tax your kidneys before being excreted through your urine. Anyone who studies biochemistry learns that vitamins do not exist as single components that act on their own. Vitamins are made up to several components – enzymes, co-enzymes, and co-factors - that must work together to produce their intended biological effects. Vitamins that are found naturally in whole foods come with all of their necessary components. The majority of vitamins that are sold in pharmacies, grocery stores, and vitamin shops are synthetic vitamins, which are only isolated portions of the vitamins that occur naturally in food.
A good example is vitamin C. If you take a look at a variety of vitamin C supplements, you will find that the majority of them contain only ascorbic acid or a compound called ascorbate, which is a less acidic form of ascorbic acid. Ascorbic acid IS NOT vitamin C. It represents the outer ring that serves as a protective shell for the entire vitamin C complex, much like an orange peel that serves as a protective shell of an orange. Real vitamin C found in whole foods like fruits and vegetables contain the following components: Rutin, Bioflavonoids (vitamin P), Factor K, Factor J, Factor P, Tyrosinase, Ascorbinogen, and Ascorbic Acid. When you take only ascorbic acid found in your synthetic vitamin C tablet or powder, your body must gather all of the other components of the full vitamin C complex from your body’s tissue in order to make use of it. In the event that your body does not have adequate reserves of the other components, ascorbic acid itself does not provide any of the health benefits that the full vitamin c complex does. After circulating through your system, the unused ascorbic acid is eliminated through your urine.
Just like vitamin C, almost all other vitamins that we know of offer their full health benefits when they are in the presence of a number of enzymes, co-enzymes, co-factors, and even minerals. For example, Vitamin D may have as many as twelve different active components, while vitamin P has at least five different components. The mineral copper is needed for full vitamins C activity, while vitamin E works closely with the mineral selenium to provide its health promoting, anti-oxidative effect. Clearly, it is best to get your vitamins from whole foods. In many cases, whole foods also provide the minerals that are necessary for optimal vitamin activity. For example, sunflower seeds are an excellent whole food source of vitamin E and the mineral selenium, both of which need each other to offer their full health benefits. How do you know if the vitamins on your kitchen counter are from whole foods or if they are synthetic? If the list of ingredients includes an actual vitamin like Vitamin C” rather than an actual food that contains natural vitamin C like “acerola cherry powder” you can bet that it is a synthetic vitamin. If you choose to use nutritional supplements, it is in your best interest to use only those products that list actual foods as their ingredients rather than synthetic and isolated vitamins. While some synthetic and isolated vitamins have been shown to provide minimal health benefits, on the whole, most of them cause more harm than good and you are far better off spending your money on whole foods. It is important to note that the principles in this are just as relevant and applicable to minerals and mineral supplements.
Here are the lists of dangers of using synthetic vitamins:
1. Synthetic Folic Acid Supplements
a. increased colon cancer by 68%
b. Increased the risk of prostate cancer by 167%
2. Vitamin E
a. John Hopkins University Study stated that taking too much vitamin E could possibly increase your risk of death or cause other serious side effects.
3. Vitamin A
a. Too high a dose of vitamin A in a pregnant woman can cause birth defects in her baby.
b. Risk of liver damage
c. Hair loss
d. Weaken bones
4. A study of 232,000 people showed taking vitamins A, E, C, Beta-Carotene and Selenium SHOWED NO IMPROVEMENT.
5. Vitamin C
a. A research conducted by Mount Sinai School of Medicine actually shows too much vitamin C can damage your cells.
Whole vitamins sources:
1. Vitamin E
a. Almonds
b. Peanut butter
c. Avocados
d. Spinach
e. Broccoli
f. Asparagus
2. Vitamin A
a. Raw Carrots
b. Sweet Potatoes
c. Squash
d. Spinach
e. Canteloupes
f. Leafy Vegetables
g. Eggs
Now, it is really fascinating because most people would assume that their vitamins that they are taking are nature base not manmade? Our body wasn’t created in a laboratory our nutritional supplements shouldn’t be either. Nature really given us all we need for good health we just need to look it, harness it and use it.
"Know the labels of what you eat and drink. Have a healthy life."...:>)