Many laboratory created substances (though molecularly similar to their natural counterpart) react in our body in a way that’s well, not all that natural.
One of my own personal heroes, Dr. Brian Clement, released a book recently called Supplements Exposed. It shines a spotlight on the mass marketing scam that is imposed on us by the supplement industry and it simultaneously provides shocking information about how synthetically sourced vitamins are toxic, disease causing, and anything but helpful. You see, like our food industry, packaged products are often laced with toxic chemicals and dyes.
“Although scientists can make seawater with exactly the same chemical structure as natural seawater, when you put a salt-water fish in this synthetic environment, the fish dies. What is it in natural seawater that sustains life? This is one of life's great mysteries, and the foundation upon which this book is inspired.” Brian Clement.
The word “natural,” as I’m sure you’ve noticed, is plastered everywhere. But did you know that there are laws which state that only 10% or the product must be naturally derived in order for it to be called “natural”. That leaves 90% up to your imagination? This is an example of smart marketing with little if any, morale.
Instead, what we best be on the look out for (when purchasing a vitamin supplement), are words like, "naturally occurring," or vitamins that are “whole-food” based. This “means that a vitamin or nutrient is completely derived of compounds from naturally-occurring sources - the plants themselves - rather than merely containing a naturally-occurring ingredient mixed with synthetic ingredients.” BC. But be very careful, the wording can be very sneaky here! Sometimes for example only one part of the supplement will be from a naturally derived food source. Consumer beware! Do your research before you pop that pill!
“Naturally derived” substances (the good ones) are packaged for stability in a chemical free vacuum process and they retain both their inherent nutrient value and their full spectrum of trace minerals. On the other hand, Synthetic vitamins (in addition to carrying a toxic load) actually deplete the body’s own mineral reserve (this occurs during the bodies attempt to utilize the foreign matter). With essential cofactors missing, our bodies cannot convert the incomplete synthetic vitamins into anything that is actually usable, so our elimination organs in turn have to step up (thank god for Bikram yoga and all that sweating!) and work extra hard to excrete the perceived “toxins.” The tragic thing here, is that we are spending all kinds of money thinking we all doing a good thing for our health, when really, we are being incredibly mislead. As a result, we could end up paying in more ways than one.
Save money AND spare your body extra work and unnessesary toxic load?! Sounds like a good plan right? Get your nutrients from a nutrient dense diet, limit processed / refined foods (which deplete you further of vitamins / minerals causing you to need supplements in the first place), and perhaps talk to someone at your favorite health food store about the whole food based supplements that are available.
Take control of your health, there are no short cuts! There is only one way.
My dream is to be a truth teller, so you’ll hear from me again next week.