by One of the 1st questions asked by individuals looking to supplement their diet of fruit and vegetables is what exact supplement should they be taking and should the supplement be made from natural ingredients or chemically created (synthetic). There a varying points of views on this subject and after researching studies from a variety of resources. In fact with so many research articles and website discussions and advertising on the subject that it can sometimes become quite confusing on what and what not to believe. I decided to no review so much advertising and instead review as much scientific and no-bios information as I possibly could then try to make sense of it all. This is what I have to share.
What should I be using
A question that cannot be easily be answered as every person has a different metabolism and lifestyle. These include what types of foods a person eats on a regular basis and what age or condition of health they are in. The more important question may be this (What are the most common deficiencies for the average person?)
These deficiencies may include:
- Calcium – not only found in dairy products but leafy green vegetables
- Folic Acid – found in some beans and green leafy vegetables
- Iron – common in seeds, spinach, and some fruits
- Fatty Acids – nuts, soy, pumpkin
- Vitamin B6 – seeds and nuts, bananas, prunes, potatoes
- Amino Acids – beans, nuts, seeds, & soy
There are many other nutrients that may missing from one’s diet. A simple blood analysis with prescribed by a family Doctor may show some things lacking in your diet. Another tell-tale sign is the way you are feeling. Symptoms such as stress, sleepiness or lack of energy, or constantly catching a cold or flu may be a clue that one is deficient of 1 or more of these essential vitamins or minerals. In addition, as we age it can be even more important to suppliments the fruits and vegetables in our diet as the body does not produce some natural enzymes and proteins that we did when we were young.
Common illnesses may occur when lacking some nutrients needed to remain healthy and energetic. These may include:
- heart disease
- liver disease
- osteoporosis
- cancer
- diabetes
- gum disease
- weight gain
- hair loss
- digestive issues
Synthetic supplements
I researched many articles and websites to see the positives and negatives
of taking synthetic or artificial supplements. What I found was varying opinion on the subject. In most cases the feedback was positive in the respect that synthetic supplements provide almost the same ingredients and organic or natural supplements. In fact most articles stated that synthetic supplements provided a good method of boosting a person’s system with what is lacking to begin with. However, in most of my reading I found it common place that most authorities believe that synthetic supplements do not work the same in as the original vitamins and minerals in the fruit and vegetable themselves. In addition, the supplement works differently in each and every person. One of the most common drawbacks of a synthetic suppliments is that they contain chemicals in the ingredients that are ingested naturally in the human body the same as those in natural plants and fruits. Therefore, these may also have a negative effect on the person taking them.
Organic (natural) supplements
Along with researching for synthetic suppliments I investigated a lot of information about organic or natural supplements. What I found was a lot of mixed opinions over whether they were any better for one’s than synthetic. However, what I did find was that in most cases people agreed that organic supplements were much more similar to that of raw fruits and vegetables and therefore in many cases the human body absorbed and digested these similarly to their natural counterparts much better than synthetic. Keep in mind that the fruit and vegetables we eat today evolved over time the same as man and other animals that eat them. With this in mind the purest of organic suppliments in most cases, are much more similar to that of the fruit or vegetables we each in their purest form. Most organic supplements are made with pure fruits and vegetables as one’s can grow in one’s own organic garden or buy in a local market. The fruits and vegetable are dehydrated and ground up into a powdered for then compressed into a pill form or placed into a gel capsule. Sometimes a natural ingredient will be added to the pill to bond the powder together to hold its shape.
Which one is right for me? (mom was right)
If one’s listened to one’s mother and still eat the right amount from all the food groups one’s may not need to use a supplement. If one’s feel good and don’t have any health problems good for one’s. On the other hand one’s may want to consult one’s Doctor about the subject. I found that either organic or synthetic is a matter of choice of the individual. There may also be a cost difference that affects one’s decision. You be the judge!
In conclusion
Whatever one’s decision may be on whether to use a fruit and vegetable supplement or not or whether it is organic or synthetic one thing I did find in my research was that with either is that these are not direct replacements for the real thing. It is impossible to replace a full meal of real fruits and vegetables with a couple of pills. However, if one’s can’t make the time to eat enough of these naturally then it is probably in one’s favor to use a supplement of some kind whatever type it is.
