When you walk down the vitamin aisle in the supermarket, nearly all of the products have one thing in common. They’re made in a laboratory, and they contain a lot of chemicals. These substances are foreign to the body.
Real Food Vitamin Supplements
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In fact, it’s extremely difficult to find a whole food supplement, anywhere. Even some of the offerings labeled “all natural” and “organic” often contain chemical isolates. So you have to search long and hard to find a real whole food supplement, derived from plants, which also doesn’t contain toxic fillers.
According to one estimate, more than 95 percent of all the vitamins sold in the United States are synthetic. Some of the more popular brands are produced by the major pharmaceutical firms. They’re often consumed by people trying to maintain their health, oftentimes as an alternative to drugs.
But these supplements are much more like drugs than we may realize. Our bodies are designed to eat food, and to get our nutrients from what we eat. Fortunately, it seems as if a growing number of natural health experts are now sounding the alarm about synthetic vitamins.
Whole Vitamins vs Synthetic Vitamins
It’s good to hear. About 15 years ago, when I had a terrible experience with synthetic vitamins, there was one lone voice warning me to get rid of them. This was my homeopath, who implored me to throw them away. I had been feeding them to my kids, in hopes of boosting their natural immunity. Instead, I was inadvertently making them sicker. Their health began to improve once I placed these supplements where they belonged, in the trash.
My homeopath explained that my children need to get their vitamins from food. Many other holistic health experts agree. That’s because real food contains complex compounds, some of which work as co-factors, which help activate the main nutrients. There are also micro-nutrients and trace minerals found in foods. Unfortunately, these aren’t present in the laboratory isolates packaged and sold to unsuspecting consumers.
Where Can I Buy Natural Vitamins?
Your local drugstore probably won’t have what you’re looking for. These chains are very much invested in the pharmaceutical model. So the “healthy” products it sells are often made by these chemical giants. For instance, the widely advertised Centrum multivitamin is made by Pfizer. Another household name is One a Day. This is made by Bayer.
Consequently, your search for a good whole food vitamin supplement might have to be conducted online. Although there are a few excellent brands, you still have to be careful. Some of the products designed to look like healthy choices may also contain some of the chemicals and laboratory isolates you’re trying to avoid.
Some of the inactive ingredients can include aspartame, a potent toxin that holistic health experts tell you to avoid. Or they may contain other questionable sweeteners and dyes.
Whole Natural Vitamin Supplements
One brand I can recommend is Mega Food, a whole food vitamin formulated by a medical doctor. This is the brand I’m taking now myself. I can’t say enough good things about it, including the fact that it makes me feel calm and centered. I attribute this to the natural B-complex vitamins it contains.
Another good choice is Vitamin Code for Women made by Garden of Life. It contains 22 raw organic fruits and vegetables, instead of chemicals. This supplement is also made without wheat, dairy, soy, fillers or binders. This supplement seen here is for women, but there’s also a Garden of Life real food vitamin line for men.
Garden of Life Whole Food Supplement
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Whole Foods Vitamins for Children
I was able to locate one brand of whole foods vitamins for children, made with organic fruits and vegetables. It was an exciting find, until I realized it also contained a questionable artificial sweetener. So I started searching for something else. Unfortunately, I couldn’t find anything suitable.
Even some of the brands labeled “organic” contained the same synthetic isolates found on drugstore shelves. The only difference was the packaging and the fillers, some of which were derived from organic sources. So, at the moment, there’d brand of children’s vitamins I can recommend. If I do find one, I’ll come back and add it to the list. If you know of any good vitamins for children, please tell me.
Organic Whole Food Prenatal Vitamins
Fortunately, there are some good organic whole food prenatal vitamins. Garden of Life MyKind Organics contains organic fruits and vegetables, as well as iron and folate. The 800 mcg of folate comes from organic lemon peel. The iron is derived from organic curry leaves.
This prenatal blends also contains organic ginger and peppermint, to help combat the nausea that often arises during the first trimester. However, always check with your health provider before taking a prenatal vitamin supplement.
My Kind Whole Prenatal Vitamins
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Disclaimer
These statements have not been approved by the FDA. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Women who are pregnant or nursing should only take prenatal vitamins under the direction of a medical professional.
I’m not a doctor, so all of the above statements are my personal opinion only.
I buy Garden of Life vitamins ever since I was pregnant with my last child and the midwife recommended them. My whole life I never knew there a difference in authentic vs whole food vitamins. I could never switch back now that I know the facts.
Everyone I see taking synethic vitamins I tell them about whole food vitamins instead but MOST of them look at the price and don’t listen to me. I think to myself, wouldn’t you rather ABSORB the actual vitamin? That is the point in taking one right? Once I found out that my body wasn’t even absorbing most of the fake vitamin I felt jipped my whole life. Not to mention synthetic vitamins always gave me stomach issues – it’s no wonder why now! lol Yep, yep. I’m avid believer in whole food natural vitamins. I buy mine on Amazon like you because that’s where I’ve found them the cheapest and I can have auto-ship monthly.
Hi Lesley, thank you so much for visiting and telling me about your experience with whole food vitamins. No wonder those synthetics made you feel so bad, and you don’t absorb them. I’m also a big fan of getting health supplements online as well. 🙂
ugh.. not authentic, darn auto correct!! SYNTHETIC!!
That’s okay. You should see some of the spellings that come up on my phone, when I’m trying to send a text message.
I only take whole food vitamins. Once you find the right brand, you’ll be amazed at how much energy you have.
Hi Clara, thanks so much for reading. I’ve found that eating organic foods and taking various herbal supplements, because I have nerve inflammation, has given my energy level a boost as well.
Moringa is nature’s multivitamin
Some plant-based medicines do pack a powerhouse of nutrients. But I don’t think herbs are meant to be taken indefinitely. That’s why I use a food-based multivitamin.
So basically you are talking about vitamins for woman. Is there any chance for man?
I am looking for bunch of individual vitamin supplements that I need to battle cancer.
Do you have any ideas?
Or “Garden of Life” and “MegaFood” are the only local in US companies who sell natural vitamins?
Leon, I can’t address the cancer because I’m not a medical professional. I hope you’re getting really good medical care. For vitamins I take whole food MegaFood and right now I am taking the men’s formula even though I’m a woman because I was looking for a formula without iron or any herbs.