VITAMIN SUPPLEMENTS FOR HEALTH

Vitamins are organic compounds that are required in trace amounts by humans.  There are 13 vitamins that are needed in the diet to sustain health.  These vitamins are A, the eight B vitamins, C, D, E, and K.  Collectively, these vitamins maintain the health of the cardiovascular and nervous systems, strengthen bones, enhance immunity, maintain health of skin and teeth the list goes on and on.  

Because the diets of most Americans are deficient in at least one vitamin and because of a perception that high doses of vitamins enhance health, the demand for vitamin supplements is great.  

The most common reasons for taking vitamin supplements are either to enhance an already high level of health or to make up for poor lifestyle choices.  A recent study reported that the most common supplement users were current or former smokers, moderate-to-heavy drinkers, prescription medication users, and people with high activity levels (Gardiner 2007).

Vitamin manufacturers often claim right on the label that their product improves some aspect of health.  However, these supplements do not only provide the recommended daily values for vitamins, they more commonly provide mega-doses of the vitamin in a synthetic form.  

For example, the recommended daily intake of Vitamin -C is 60 milligrams.  Many vitamin supplements offer 1,000 milligrams per serving!  The rationale for these dosages is that it was effective in rats; therefore, it must work in humans. Then, the manufacturers produce the vitamin in high concentrations and offer it to the public with no knowledge of the potential health risks.

And the health risks are many!

Synthetic vitamins often contain impurities, fillers, metals, and other compounds that have unknown effects on health.  In fact, one recent study analyzed the content of 41 different dietary supplements.  One particular supplement contained trace amounts of a compound similar in structure to tadalafil otherwise known as Cialis, an erectile dysfunction drug (Hasegawa 2008).  
Keep in mind that the Food and Drug Administration supposedly regulates the dietary supplement manufacturers a system that apparently is not working very well.

The health risks of these fillers and impurities are speculative.  However, there are also real, proven risks of taking mega doses of vitamins.  

In a landmark study of over 77,000 patients, supplementation with beta-carotene, retinol, and lutein was each associated with a greater risk of lung cancer (Satia 2009).  This finding has been confirmed in a separate review of 31 clinical trials (Gallicchio 2008).

Synthetic Vitamin- C supplements have been linked to kidney failure and have been found to have no effect on macular degeneration risk despite claims that vitamin C reduces this risk.  Furthermore, multiple studies that have investigated mortality and cardiovascular mortality in antioxidant users have found no benefit.  

The fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E, and K are stored in the fat tissue.  When consumed in excess and in their synthetic forms, toxicity symptoms can develop.

The American College of Cardiology and the American Heart Association released a joint position statement that stated that there was no scientific data to support the use of vitamin supplements to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease.  

In fact, these groups have suggested that synthetic antioxidant supplements may actually increase not decrease oxidative stress and free radical formation.  

However, they do state that cardiovascular disease risk can be reduced by: a) eating a diet that is consistent with the American Heart Association Dietary Guidelines, b) maintaining a healthy body weight with regular physical activity, and c) maintaining healthy cholesterol and blood pressure values.

Clearly, supplementation with synthetic vitamins is not the answer to any known health problem.  Synthetic vitamins are chemically formed and manufactured in large quantities a process similar to drug manufacturing.  

In addition, the method used to develop the vitamins is concerning.  For example, most vitamin C supplements are produced in China.  Sulfuric and hydrochloric acid are used in the manufacturing of this vitamin.

The human body is not made to process vitamins alone.  Naturally occurring vitamins those found in foods  are really biological complexes that require numerous steps for complete synthesis.  

This process requires the presence of cofactors, enzymes, and phytonutrients to optimal efficiency.  The bioavailability of naturally occurring vitamins is 2- to 3-fold that of synthetic vitamins because of the presence of these cofactors

A diet comprised of whole foods is far superior to relying on vitamin supplements.  Whole foods contain vitamins that are bound to these complexes.  Therefore, although the concentration of vitamins are lower in foods, the absorption rate is higher.  

It is rare to develop toxicity symptoms from eating whole foods although reports are common with synthetic vitamins.  And maybe most importantly, a healthy diet has been shown repeatedly to lower the risk of cancer and cardiovascular disease whereas vitamin supplementation either has no effect or actually increases these risks contrary to what most people believe.

There is an obvious need for public re-education when it comes to nutrition.  The true benefit of a nutritious diet is undervalued whereas the perceived value of synthetic vitamins is exaggerated.  

The research proves synthetic vitamin supplements are ineffective and potentially harmful to your health.  A diet containing a variety of whole foods, on the other hand, offers an opportunity to attain adequate amounts of all 13 vitamins and in a form that offers proven health benefits.

Is There a Solution if I Want to Supplement my Diet?

There most defiantly is! Make sure you choose whole food derived and whole food concentrated supplements. Stay away from synthetic vitamins in any form. Learn to read labels and even call the manufacturers of vitamin and mineral supplements to insure that your products are whole food derived and not chemical derivatives.

Body Balance to the Rescue.

Body Balance is a 100% natural concentrated liquid whole food vitamin supplement. WITH NOTHING SYNTHETIC EVER. A totally natural and proprietary blend of nine sea vegetables and concentrated cold processed certified organic aloe vera juice. Body Balance provides a nutritional punch of naturally occurring vitamins, minerals, whole food enzymes, naturally occurring fatty acids and even dietary fiber.

NATURAL whole food Body Balance can't be beat.

Body Balance is brimming with plant nutrients called phytonutrients. The American Cancer Society, the American Diabetes Association and the American Heart Association all STRONGLY urge the regular consumption of phytonutrients rich food to maintain health and ward off disease.

NO WHERE do they say to take fistfuls of synthetic vitamins to stay healthy.

Body Balance is a product way before its time. Body Balance has been available for over 25 years and is the very FIRST of very few whole food products ever.

In comparison to their synthetic vitamin counterparts, whole food dietary supplements are more expensive to produce. However, you get what you pay for.

Body Balance is safe for the entire family and has been recommended by over 6,000 health care professionals for over 25 years.

We invite you to take the 45-day living whole food Body Balance Challenge.

If you don't feel the Body Balance Difference in 45-Days Your Money Back!

References

Gallicchio L, Boyd K, Matanoski G, Tao XG, Chen L, Lam TK, Shiels M, Hammond E, Robinson KA, Caulfield LE, Herman JG, Guallar E, Alberg AJ.  Carotenoids and the risk of developing lung cancer: a systematic review.  Am J Clin Nutr. 2008 Aug;88(2):372-83.

Gardiner P, Kemper KJ, Legedza A, Phillips RS.  Factors associated with herb and dietary supplement use by young adults in the United States.  BMC Complement Altern Med. 2007 Nov 30;7:39.

Hasegawa T, Saijo M, Ishii T, Nagata T, Haishima Y, Kawahara N, Goda Y.  Structural elucidation of a tadalafil analogue found in a dietary supplement.  Shokuhin Eiseigaku Zasshi. 2008 Aug;49(4):311-5.

Satia JA, Littman A, Slatore CG, Galanko JA, White E.  Long-term use of beta-carotene, retinol, lycopene, and lutein supplements and lung cancer risk: results from the Vitamins and Lifestyle (VITAL) study.  Am J Epidemiol. 2009 Apr 1;169(7):815-28.