Natural vs. Synthetic Vitamins.
A significant number of vitamins are drugs on the shelves these days
are made synthetically through chemical processes, rather than derived
directly from plants or other materials, although some manufacturers
continue to produce natural vitamins. In fact, the producers of natural
vitamins and some of their followers claim to be superior to synthetic
vitamins. There is no substance in these claims?
It 'pretty hard
to make the distinction between "synthetic" and "natural" vitamins. Some
define a natural vitamin concentrate as a nutrient derived from a
natural source of quality. The idea is the maximum retention of natural
materials, no artificial colors, sweeteners or preservatives should be
used.
A natural source contains co-factors that come with the
nutrients in nature. For example, some co-factors that are usually found
with vitamin C are various bioflavonoids. And 'concentrate from its
natural source as carefully as possible. No heat, pressure, or possibly
toxic solvents are used. There is no sugar or chemical tablet coatings.
The nutrients are made with high quality ingredients first. No
artificial chemicals are added. Hard binders and fillers do not prevent
the absorption.
Synthetic vitamins are made in the laboratory
derivatives of coal tar. No co-factors are present. Most nutritional
supplements sold on the market today are synthetic and often cheaper to
produce than natural vitamins.
Any additional way to compare the
natural and synthetic vitamins is to consider the differences in their
molecular structures. It is the molecular structure of natural vitamins
altered by the process of synthesis?
Natural health authorities
claim that synthetic vitamins are useless and ineffective. Orthodox
doctors and even some nutritionists claim that synthetic vitamins have a
molecular structure identical to the chemical nature of vitamin and are
equally effective. Who is right and who is wrong?
And 'reasonable
to expect that the two operate similarly and be bio-available in
quantities equal to your body if there is such an alteration. Moreover,
the same natural vitamin derived from various natural sources or raw
materials will be the same until other substances unique to that
particular source are included.
With Vitamin E, for example, the
d-form of vitamin E derived from vegetable oils and other natural
sources is different from the dl-form (which is often called the
synthetic form). The dl-tocopherols are actually a mixture: d-and
l-shaped form (usually a mixture 1:1).
The human body uses only
the d-form. The L-shape, when present, confers no known health benefit
and is normally excreted from the body. So basically, when you consume
the dl-form of vitamin E, you get an effective dose of about half the
dose of vitamin E on the label.
Vitamin C is found and isolated
from the orange is identical to that of vitamin C derived from other
plant sources, largely because plants synthesize vitamin C containing
the substance in the same way. However, when vitamin C was first
isolated and produced in supplement form, we did not know of
bioflavonoids. Were discovered later. It was found that in nature,
bioflavonoids always accompany vitamin C. In fact, bioflavonoids are
essential for better absorption. They increase the bioavailability of
30%. This suggests that it should take the natural form of vitamin C.
The
counter-argument would be: As with all foods and nutrients, vitamin C
is a chemical. It 'also known as ascorbic acid. You can take a bite of
an orange and get the ascorbic acid or ascorbic acid can be produced
from corn in a laboratory. The molecules are identical and do exactly
the same function in the human body.
Supplements, as the name
clearly states, are intended to supplement a varied diet of whole,
unprocessed foods. You can get your bioflavonoids from citrus, but that
with synthetic vitamins. You may not know exactly how much vitamin C as
citrus fruit is found and you need to take a day to get enough of both
The best way to get all the vitamins you need is a high quality liquid
multivitamin.
Laboratory production of compounds to provide the
biochemist with numerous advantages. An example is the consistency of
the dose. In nature, an orange may contain 50 mg of vitamin C and
another may contain only 10 mg. It depends on where he grew up, when it
was collected and under what conditions has been transported and stored.
In contrast, dietary supplement companies must ensure that their
products offer exactly what is on the label.
Purity is another
advantage. Nutrients produced in the laboratory are "USP grade", meaning
that come from laboratories licensed production and meet the strict
standards of the United States Pharmacopeia. And 'ironic to note that
some of the most highly contaminated in the history of health foods have
been those who have made the most fanfare of "natural" problem, and do
not use USP ingredients.
Also most vitamins and many other
nutrients are synthetically or identical to their natural counterparts
or easily convert to the natural shape of the human body. In addition,
synthetic vitamins and nutrients are more cheaper and purer, with less
potential for contamination.
Quality of vitamins and nutrients is
extremely difficult to quantify. The list of ingredients and their
quantity is the most important aspect when choosing. If this list is
roughly equivalent, then price should be your guide, if you are not
given any clear reason and objective because it would have to buy the
natural form. Vitamin supplements in liquid form are more infectious
because fluids absorb 5 times better than pills do. Natural vs. Synthetic Vitamins
course:
http://www.vitamins-nutrition.org/vitamins/natural-vitamins-synthetic.html
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