multivitamins

Question
Hi Dan --

I eat a lot of fruit, vegetables and whole grains and overall, my diet is healthy.  I take a daily multivitamin just to be on the safe side.  I don't like those Super-Ultra-Mega vites since you can't absorb all that stuff, and I used to see a natropath who advised a particular (very expensive!) brand of organic mega-multi-vitamin.  Is there any real benefit to the more expensive, organic "whole food vitamins" versus synthetic or your average store brand vitamins?  Thanks!

Answer
Hi Jill,

You are correct, your body can't absorb everything in those pills, tablets, or capsules. There are companies that make pharmaceutical grade supplements that are better absorbed than others however they will cost considerably more.

Your body also can only absorb so much of many nutrients at one time. If you take a high dose B-complex for example, and your urine is bright yellow and smells different than normal it is because the supplement you took was flushed out; you did not absorb it all. If you use a 'mega-dose' brand, make sure it is in divided doses.

Another consideration is the form of the nutrients you are taking and what they are combined with for synergystic reasons. A past study claimed that taking too much vitamin E was actually harmful, a follow-up study showed that the delta-tocopherol form was at fault (cheapest to manufacture) and the gamma form was the most common in food and was not dangerous in supplement form. Now it is recommended that you take a mixed tocopherol E supplement.

Many people use calcium supplements that are simply not effective. Calcium should be accompanied by boron, magnesium, vitamin C, and vitamin D3 for best absorbtion.

Whole food supplements are great because they do not isolate nutrients. If they are of good quality then you will get all of the nutrients available from the food used. Most focus on green plants such as kale, broccoli, sea vegetables, some tomatoes and so on.

I am glad you eat well and use supplements as an added program. Eating right is the best way to get a variety of nutrients needed for good health.

The best supplement form out there is isotonic formulas. They are easily absorbed, very quickly as well (see my site for Isotonix if you are interested). They are more expensive but I recommend them. Also there are liquid varieties such as Eniva that are also readily absorbed. Life Extension brand makes a wide variety of high quality supplements as well. Take a look at them on-line.

There is simply too much to say in this format regarding supplements. If you would like more info contact me through my web-site.

Thank you,
Dan Haley, CNC

www.marketamerica.com/alkalinenutrition

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