Originally published August 15 2014
Are your multivitamins a waste of money?
by Shelley M. White
(NaturalNews) Multivitamins have recently been attacked in the media, with the debate centered around the notion that the common, generic all-in-one multivitamins are of poor quality and simply do not seem to work. This controversy has left many puzzled, as society has conditioned people to believe that taking a daily multivitamin is essential to improving their health and living a higher quality of life - and rightfully so.
In the polluted world mankind currently lives in, making sure to consume the suggested amount of daily vitamins and minerals is in many ways imperative to just about any and every aspect of a person's life. While this statement is true, the one claiming that there is a fix-all solution in the all-in-one multivitamin is proving to be slightly, if not entirely, false.
Why many multivitamins are inefficient
"There are three reasons why all-in-one multivitamins do not work," says Vital Formulas' Founder, Natalia Lukina. "The first is that some vitamins and minerals inhibit absorption of each other many fold when taken together. The second is that fat-soluble vitamins and micro-nutrients need the presence of fat to be absorbed well. And finally, some vitamins and minerals have an energizing effect on the body and others have a relaxing effect. Conventional formulations of multivitamins do not take these facts into account."
Simply put, the amount of vitamins and minerals we actually absorb from the vast majority of multivitamin pills is relatively low. There must be a sufficient presence of fat for fat-soluble vitamins including vitamins A, E, D, and K, along with other micro-nutrients such as carotenoids and Co-enzyme COQ10 to be absorbed properly. Lacking fat, the fat soluble ingredients in the all-in-one multivitamins will hardly be absorbed at all unless taken religiously with fat-containing food. Furthermore, certain vitamins and minerals work to energize the body while others work to soothe and relax the body.
That being said, throwing all components into a single pill to take all at once causes much confusion in the body, both mentally and physically. For example, vitamin B-12 has a stimulating effect on the body and mind, while magnesium has a relaxing effect. So, taking both at the same time prohibits an individual from fully receiving the benefits of either as they merely work to
cancel each other out.
Finding effective sources for vitamins and minerals
Many feel that so-called "food-grade" supplements are the best option, but whether these are of quality or not is still up for debate. Other options include the new trend on the rise, revolving around a balanced trio complex. Basically, this model of supplementation includes three different daily pills designed to work in a synergistic manner by targeting the needs at different times of the day.
They are taken in morning, afternoon, and evening doses with the morning supplement containing energy boosting vitamins such as B12 and the evening supplement containing relaxing minerals such as magnesium. This allows individuals to reap the full benefits of their daily supplements throughout the day, without one vitamin or mineral canceling out another. They receive energy in the morning, continued nutrition throughout the day, and peaceful relaxation in the evening.
Sources for this article include:
Influence of dietary fat on beta-carotene absorption and bioconversion into vitamin A. Ribaya-Mercado JD. Nutr Rev. 2002 Apr;60(4):104-10.
http://ods.od.nih.gov
http://www.nutraingredients-usa.com
http://www.prnewswire.com
About the author:
Shelley White is the owner and Publisher of the "Public Health Alert Newspaper," a publication dedicated to providing the public with the unexposed truths about chronic illness. While battling Lyme disease, she became a trained Master Herbalist. She also writes for or has written for Natural News, Evolve and Ascend, Mind Body Green, Tiny Devotions, The GOODS Magazine and the Examiner.
Twitter: Shelley_M_W
Personal Email: [email protected]
Shelley White is the owner and Publisher of the "Public Health Alert Newspaper," a publication dedicated to providing the public with the unexposed truths about chronic illness. While battling Lyme disease, she became a trained Master Herbalist. She also writes for or has written for Natural News, Evolve and Ascend, Mind Body Green, Tiny Devotions, The GOODS Magazine and the Examiner.
Twitter: Shelley_M_W
Personal Email: [email protected]
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