How to Choose a Vitamin

I’ve been asked for advice before on how to choose vitamins and supplements – which brands are better for you, and which ones should you avoid?  That’s a good question, and I’m glad people are asking because it’s an important thing to pay attention to – remember my post about vitamin E?  In its synthetic form, it’s been proven in several studies to cause certain kinds of cancer.  Definitely a vitamin you want to be sure you get from nature, not from a factory…

I know cost is usually something people pay attention to when buying vitamins.  It sure is convenient to be able to go to Wal-Mart and grab a $6 bottle off the shelf rather than spending $12 for the same bottle of a better brand.  But when it comes out in the wash, you may be wasting your money anyway.  The health benefits of the cheaper brands are not nearly as great as those of the better quality brands, and, like in the case of vitamin E, you could be setting yourself up for trouble later on if you load your body up on synthetic, chemical-laden “vitamins”.  I know science has done some pretty incredible things through the years, but messing with our nutrition is not one of their better accomplishments, or wisest ideas.  When it comes to nourishing our bodies, it’s best to let Mother Nature be in charge.  She’s been in charge from day one, after all, and we’ve survived for thousands of years simply relying on the food from her table.  And seeing all the diseases and problems people are facing now, maybe it’s a good idea to turn back to Mother Nature – get back to our roots and undo some of the damage.

Expecting our digestive systems to know how to process stuff that doesn’t occur in nature is maybe asking a bit much…  This is how we pack on extra pounds, why we don’t feel the greatest, or why diseases start to crop up – our digestive systems don’t know how to process what we try to send through it and the whole works gets confused and backed up.  Not good!

So now that you’re a little more educated on vitamins after the series I just posted, and you’ve got an idea of what your body may need a bit more of, let’s focus on how to choose the right brands so you’re not going to do more harm than good to your body.

In my research I found this great article.  Rather than molding it into my own words, I figured I’d just copy and paste it onto here for you to read too.  It’s got some good stuff in it!

Step 1

Search for words listed in the ingredients that begin with “dl.” When a word contains “dl” in the prefix, it is an indication that the vitamin is synthetic. As an example, “dl-alpha tocopherol acetate” and “dl-alpha tocopherol” are synthetic forms of vitamin E.

Step 2

Find words that end with “ate” or “ide” in the list of ingredients. These words indicate that the manufacturer used synthetic materials for increasing the vitamin’s potency and stability. Some words to look for include nitrate, acetate, sodium ascorbate, sodium benzoate, chloride, hydrochloride, silicon dioxide and titanium dioxide.

Step 3

Find the synthetic form of the vitamin listed under the ingredient list. Natural vitamins come from natural food sources. If you see the vitamin listed as the vitamin itself, such as “vitamin D,” then it is sure to be the synthetic version, according to Dr. Ben Kim, a Canadian chiropractor and radio show host. Look for food sources such as “citrus” instead of “vitamin C” or “parsley” instead of “vitamin K.”

Step 4

Identify the words “natural” on the vitamin bottle. If the bottle says, “100 percent natural” the vitamin supplement does not contain synthetics. On the other hand, a label that says, “natural,” might have at least some synthetic components. According to Earl Mindell’s “New Vitamin Bible,” only 10 percent of the product must come from natural food sources in order for a company to claim “natural” on the product’s label. If the product label does not say “100 percent animal-based” or “100 percent plant-based,” the supplement is synthetic.

Step 5

Look for the vitamin potency listed on the product’s label. According to the Organic Consumers Association, if the vitamin supplement has a high or otherwise unnatural potency, the product is synthetic. For example, a product that provides 1,000 percent of vitamin C is unusually high. This is ten times the amount you need daily, and an amount that even a healthy diet — consisting of natural, whole-food sources — cannot provide.

From what I’ve found, the following are safe brands to choose from:

• JuicePlus
• Young Living Essential Oils
• The Synergy Company
• MetaOrganics
• Raw Source Organics
• Frontier Herbs
• Host Defense by Fungi Perfecti
• Mountain Rose Herbs

Also, my naturopathic doctor informed me that Nordic Naturals, Solgar, Mega Foods, New Chapter, and Garden of Life are all reputable brands for all-natural, whole-food-based vitamins and nutrients.  From my personal experience, I LOVE JuicePlus and Young Living, and I and my family have had great benefits from using Nordic Naturals and Solgar.

What to avoid?

Centrum

Rite Aid

21st Century

Kroger

Equate

And please do not give your kids Flintstones (they contain not only synthetic ingredients but also artificial colors and sweeteners, trace amounts of lead, and gluten.  Not the best items for the healthiest start to your child’s life…)

Normally if the product is super cheap in price, it’ll be super cheap in health benefits.  Definitely purchase natural, whole-food-based fat soluble vitamins.  Those are the ones that can collect in your cells and if they’re synthetic they can cause some significant damage.  Water soluble vitamins do get flushed out of your system easier, but getting those in their whole-food-based form is obviously best regardless.

Vitamins were meant to be consumed through our diet.  Just by eating healthier and including more fruits and vegetables in your diet can normally give your body the nutrients it needs, especially if they’re not genetically modified (GMOs are usually lacking in nutrients).  But if you need to get them in supplement form, now you have a better idea of how to find them!

http://www.naturalnews.com/036650_synthetic_vitamins_disease_side_effects.html#ixzz2PoeKLKDM

http://www.organicconsumers.org/nutricon.cfm

http://www.healthsachoice.com/childrens-health/what-is-wrong-with-giving-my-kids-flintstones-vitamins/