Vitamins-Minerals

Question
Hi Karen,
I've learned where our soils have been depleted of minerals from wind, leaching, poor farming practices, etc., resulting in the unavailability of these minerals to be incorporated into the foods grown upon such soils. I can see where we are not getting the minerals we need from our diet, thus creating a need for some type of supplementation.
My question is: What form of vitamin and mineral supplements are best to take? I hear liquid supplements are more absorbable and bioavailable than caplets or capsules. Then a guy at GNC tells me that liquid supplements are absorbed more readily, but absorption is too quick and that a time release capsule or caplet form is best to take. I've read different things searching the "net" and cannot seem to get a clear picture on this subject. What would be your suggestion concerning the best form of vitamin/mineral supplementation which might offer the best benefit?
Thank you very much.
Mike Eidson, LAc.


Answer
Hi Mike,

Although you may have heard that food does not contain adequate amounts of nutrients due to depleted soils, it's a myth that we can't get adequate amounts of nutrients through food (although organic foods have been shown to have slighly higher levels of nutrients than conventionally farmed foods). There is one nutrient, selenium, which varies quite widely in food depending on where it was grown (some areas have selenium-rich soil, some areas have low-selenium soil, but this has to do with naturally occuring deposits, not depletion).

A balanced diet containing lots of fruits, vegetables, legumes, and whole grains, and smaller amounts of dairy products (or other high-calcium foods) and lean meats (or other high protein foods if you're vegetarian) should give you adequate amounts of all the nutrients your body needs. Food also contains other health-promoting substances, such as phytochemicals (e.g. lycopene, lutein, anthocyanins, and sulphur compounds)and fibre, most of which are not found in supplements.

If you do wish to take a vitamin/mineral supplement, there's no need to spend a lot of money. Many of the most expensive supplements contain very high amounts of vitamins/minerals, which is not beneficial and can actually be detrimental. I would suggest a "complete" multivitamin/mineral supplement, such as Centrum Forte, available at drugstores.

Hope that helps!

Karen

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