Supplementing your diet with added nutrients has become mandatory to not only reach optimum health, but to simply maintain health.
Why?
Ignoring the fact the average American diet is largely processed and loaded with synthetic flavors and colors. Today’s average vegetable found in today’s supermarket has anywhere from 5% to 40% less minerals than those harvested 50 years ago.
“...more than three billion people around the world suffer from malnourishment and yet, ironically, efforts to increase food production have actually produced food that is less nourishing.” - Eating Your Veggies: Not As Good For You? - TIME
Monoculture farming is the practice of growing a single crop over a large area for a number of years. It allows for larger harvests with minimal labor. The issues that arises with monoculture farming are many. The lack of biodiversity depletes the nutrients in the soil and the use of chemical fertilizers can interfere with the plant’s ability to absorb nutrients.
“The growing use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides, today’s crops are being harvested faster than ever before. Quick, early harvests mean the produce has less time to absorb nutrients either from synthesis or the soil, and minerals like potassium (the "K" in N-P-K fertilizers) often interfere with a plant's ability to take up nutrients. Monoculture farming practice have also led to soil-mineral depletion, which, in turn, affects the nutrient content of crops.” - TIME Health & Family Website
Adding to the conundrum…artificial food ripening, which can lead to potential health hazards and may decrease nutrient content as well.
“Ethylene is the major ripening agent produced naturally within the fruits which initiates the process of ripening [15]. There are multifarious uses of many ripening agents to release ethylene in order to speed up the ripening process. Chemicals like ethanol, methanol, ethylene glycol, Ethephon, calcium carbide are used to ripen fruits and vegetables artificially [13, 15, 23]. The use of calcium carbide is much widespread in many regions of south Asia including India, Bangladesh, Nepal and so forth for its cheaper market price despite its ban due to its harmful feats [4, 9, 20, 21, 24].” – A Critical Analysis of Artificial Fruit Ripening
For many of us, commercial multivitamin supplements is the answer to the lack of nutrients in our daily diets. For a very long time, I believed this route to be the best way to health and looked for quality multivitamin supplements. Recently, I’ve become enlightened and renewed by transforming information and research in regards to commercialized multivitamins. I no longer support, encourage or promote multivitamin products that are:
Synthetic – Sourced from toxins, inorganic material and genetically modified organisms.
Isolated – Compounds existing alone without co-enzymes, and factors needed to for completeness and effectiveness.
“Sourced from” – Natural vitamins/minerals “sourced from” organic, natural-occurring vegetation (taken out of it’s native environment) and “plant-based” in an non-native environment
Tableted multivitamins with excipients.
The Dance of Minerals, Vitamins and Co-Enzymes
You’ve heard the debates…studies for and against multivitamins. Many have taken a position on either side. As mentioned earlier, I was solely pro-multivitamins, after all, there is an obvious, serious lack in nutrients in our diets. With so many of us overweight, yet malnourished, the answer seems obvious…supplement with multivitamins and refrain from consuming artificial & processed foods.
I did not understand important concepts that would soon change my entire outlook on the multivitamin industry. One…how vitamins and minerals behaved. Two…how and where they are sourced, and three…high quality nutrition will never come from lab, but from by the provision of nature herself.
Understanding how vitamins and minerals exist naturally was the catalyst that changed perception of multivitamins and nutrition.
Vitamins do not exist as a single component or molecule that act on their own.
Allow me to repeat, there is no such thing as a single component or molecule that makes up most vitamins. True food vitamins exist in groups or clusters that are chemically related. These vitamins are made up of trace minerals, enzymes, co-enzymes, factors, co-factors and anti-oxidants that work together to produce an intended biological function.
Let’s take a popular vitamin found in many commercial multivitamin supplements as an example…the very lovely and essential vitamin C. Often, you will see “vitamin C” listed on your multivitamin label as Ascorbic Acid or Ascorbate. Ascorbic Acid is in fact, not the Vitamin C complex as a whole, but rather the hull that contains the group of chemically related components that make up the entire vitamin c complex. In other words, Ascorbic Acid is much like the egg shell that holds the yolk and whites.
Credit: TheWellnessDoc.com
It is NOT vitamin C. Unfortunately, the words ascorbic acid and vitamin C are terms used interchangeably as if the same. You’ll even find the two terms referenced as one in Wikipedia. In comparison, they are not structurally similar, nor is ascorbic acid found isolated in nature. The vitamin C complex, as shown in the graphic above, has P,J & K factors along with Bioflavonoids, Tyrosinase and of course ascorbic acid as an antioxidant…but that is ascorbic acid in natural existence as a part of the team.
Commercial ascorbic acid is produced synthetically in a laboratory in a process that involves refined corn and a fermentation process. The corn used to produced synthetic ascorbic acid is potentially genetically modified, if manufactured in the USA. Over 80 percent of US corn crops are genetically modified. It is a good idea to avoid synthetic ascorbic acid. Why? Ascorbic acid cannot produce vitamin activity outside of it teammates. Our bodies are truly intelligent. They do not recognize synthetic ascorbic acid and may treat it like a toxin. Alternately, they may see that this “egg shell” is missing parts of itself and seek to deplete trace minerals from tissue to complete the package, despite the fact that our bodies cannot manufacture vitamin C complex on it’s own…how intelligent is that?!? That aside, it is a taxing process. If other components cannot be found to complete the package, the “vitamin” goes out the wash and so does the $15.99 you spent on that bottle of chewable vitamin C. Further more, caution needs to be considered if you have allergies associated with corn.
Dr. Tim O’Shea from www.TheDoctorWithin.com sums up Ascorbic Acid/Vitamin C marketing deception very nicely with this paragraph:
“The ascorbic acid you buy at the grocery store every few weeks, thinking you are buying Vitamin C, is just a chemical copy of naturally occurring ascorbic acid, which itself is still only a fraction of the actual Vitamin C. Real vitamin C is part of something living, and as such, can impart life. Your synthetic, fractionated chemical ascorbic acid never grew in the ground, never saw the light of day, never was alive or part of anything alive. It’s a chemical, a cornstarch derivative, a sulfuric acid by-product. In your body it’s just another drug.”
Generally speaking, multivitamins often list synthetic (fractionated) vitamins on the label. However, many of us tend to trust the “explanation” in the brackets, which leads me to a vital label-reading tip…beware of bracketed information on ingredient labels. Here’s an example…
Riboflavin (vitamin B-2) ………………………………5mg………………………….294% (Children’s multivitamin)
Riboflavin is synthetic and considered a week base. Other synthetic vitamins are listed as follows…
Thiamine (Marketed as Vitamin B1)
Niacin (Marketed as Vitamin B3)
Pantothenic Acid (Marketed as Vitamin B5)
Pyridoxine (Marketed as Vitamin B6)
Biotin (Marketed as Vitamin B7)
Folate (Marketed as Vitamin B9)
Cobalamin or Cyanocobalamin (Marketed as Vitamin B12)
Plant-based & Naturally Derived Vitamins Are Not Much Better Than Synthetic Counterparts
Plant-based vitamins are not much better than their chemically-based counterparts. If any of the synthetic vitamins listed above are on a plant-based label, you’re basically taking synthetic vitamins in a more natural base...and even then, “natural” bases should be closely scrutinized for authenticity. They MAY provide some bio-availability, but just like their counterparts they are isolated, fractionated, born-in-a-lab and more importantly, not a true vitamin complex.
It is vital to comprehend that vitamin complexes are just that…complex. Manufacturers cannot disassemble whole food complexes and reassemble them to their previous state. Once it has been disassembled, it is considered nonfunctional. Additionally, natural, wholesome vitamins and minerals work together for the greater good, in other words they are synergistic. Just as vitamin D is needed for the body to absorb calcium, copper is essential for TRUE vitamin C activity. Manufacturers simply cannot mimic the native environment in which vitamins, minerals, enzymes, co-enzymes etc. thrive in and produce a fully functional product that would have the same nutritional benefit as an apple. Understanding this, plant sourced, or naturally sourced vitamins make little sense to me. I’m better off buying an apple from the supermarket for true synergistic nutrition. Naturally, that brings us back to the original issue of depleted nutrition in our vegetation. More on that later.
Putting It Together
Excipients are found in just about every tableted product. Excipients are inert “inactive” substances such as starch, that provide a vehicle for the “active” ingredients. Excipients are binders, fillers, flowing agents that glue, provide flow (for manufacturing process), flavor (artificially/naturally) and color (artificially/naturally) the products. Excipients can be genetically modified ingredients, synthetic, toxic or just plain inedible.
Magnesium Stearate, stearic acid and calcium stearate are produced from hydrogenating cottonseed oil (generally a GMO crop). The purpose of these “inactive” ingredients is simply for the manufacturing process. They coat the active ingredients to allow production to operate at maximum speed. The problem with stearates are many, one is that they reduce vitamin absorption, by a large percentage (studies show at 65% reduction), making it difficult for those with weak digestive system to break down the product.
Some common excipients found on your multivitamin label…
Binders – Polysaccharides and derivatives (Starches, cellulose, HPC), Synthetic polymers such as PVP & PEG, toxic petroleum-derived substances.
Coatings – Shellac (synthetic polymer), Hydroxyproplyl methylcellulose, gelatin, corn protein zein.
Disintegrants (aids in the dissolution of the product) – Crossed-linked polymers such as polyvinylpyrrolidone (crospovidone) PVPP. PVPP is a highly crossed-linked version of PVP and is insoluble in water, yet it absorbs water rapidly, creating a swelling force.
Fillers – Such as vegetable oils and fats sometimes found in gel capsules. Whether these oils and fats are sourced from genetically modified crops remain a mystery and the fact that they may be hydrogenated is very likely. Synthetic Calcium Carbonate (typically made from inorganic substances like rocks), lactose, glucose and magnesium stearate are other common fillers.
Flavors – Flavors are typically used to mask unpleasant tasting active ingredients. Flavors are listed as artificial or natural. The problem with the “natural flavor” ingredient, is ambiguity. Personally speaking, the lack of transparency is enough for me to avoid using it. Artificial flavors, on the other hand is much like the fragrance ingredient I spoke about in my last blog, a blanket ingredient that may contain a combination of many different chemicals as opposed to a single ingredient as implies. Smell, not taste, is the main determinant of a food’s flavor. Because taste is limited to seven basic tastes (sweet, salty, sour, pungent, bitter, savory and metallic) your food’s flavor can be created by changing its smell. This is where artificial flavors, created by perfumers or flavorists, come into play.
Colors – Artificial colors are another common excipient. They are used to improve the appearance of the product and allows for easy identification of medicine. FD&C colors are regulated and approved for use by the FDA. Certifiable color additives are sourced from petro or coal and, unsurprisingly, created in labs. I have to assume it takes more than one chemical to create a color by artificial means, therefore, I assume artificial colors, like “fragrance & perfume” is a blanket ingredient. Red #40 or Allura Red AC has been the subject of studies and has been found to cause hyperactivity in children. It is banned for use in Denmark, Belgium, France and Switzerland.
{For more information about toxic ingredients see the Free Toxic Test Resource page}
What to Do?
Earlier, I listed the four scenarios I don’t support in supplements. Allow me to share what I DO support.
Synergistic (combined effects greater than individual effects) Nutrition.
Synergistic Nutrition in its native environment.
A variety of synergistic nutrition in its native environment.
A variety of synergistic nutrition in its native environment, that has been sustainably grown without the use of chemicals, and fully delivered without additives or preservatives…
…In essence, organic food, just as nature intended.
Do we need vitamins and minerals for health? Absolutely. How can this be accomplished with our current state of depleted nutrition in our food?
Supplement with raw, certified organic, freeze-dried vegetation.
Why Organic?
Studies consistently show that organic farming improves soil health which improves nutritional quality in vegetation. Organic farming, which incorporates crop rotation, promotes biodiversity that benefits vital species such as; earthworms, birds, spiders and soil microbes.
Why Certified Organic?
Because there is no legal definition of the word natural, transparency and truthful labeling should not be taken for granted. The organic industry is a billion dollar industry with many manufacturers making misleading claims about their products. As a matter of fact, green products have increased 73% since 2009 and more than 95% of “green” products are green-washed. (sinsofgreenwashing.org) An organic certification is an independent third-party guarantee of an “organic” claim that must comply with stringent international standards, showing and proving an organic audit trail from seed, growing, harvesting, storage, transporting and processing right through to the finished product.
[Label-Reading Tips: Levels of Organic Certifications, Organic Certifications & GMOs]
Why Freeze-Dry?
Freeze drying is the best technology to deliver and naturally preserve whole food nutrition in its synergistic, natural state. Fruits that have been freeze dried do not require the preservatives that juices do. Fruits are 90% water. When freeze-drying, just the water is removed leaving intact the nutrition and enzymes. Using this technology keeps enzymes in a suspended state of animation, they are brought back to life by adding liquid. Without the liquid, you get 10 times more synergistic nutrition than you would with a fresh fruit, making it possible to meet and even exceed, the recommended serving of 10 fruits and vegetables day.
Recognizing the Truth – Whole Food Will Always Be True Nutrition
I’ve spent a few sleepless nights wondering if my children were getting enough nutrients. I’ve placed meals at the table hoping and praying they were balanced and wholesome enough. I’ve given them multivitamins under the belief and trusted that they did work, not fully understanding the biochemistry of synergistic nutrition. The truth is whole food will always be true nutrition. Food, as it is provided to us by nature, from nature. It exists on this earth for us, for that purpose. I encourage each and every one of you reading this blog to always, always, always question the status quo. Verify information, educate yourself and never let someone make you feel inferior because of their title. I discovered a viable and logical solution to the issue that has bothered me since I began my journey with motherhood. Supplement food with food.
When I discovered Miessence, I was intrigued. Miessence, founded by Narelle Chenery, the Mother of EcoBeauty, was the first to certified skin and body care products to Food Grade standards. Still today, they are unrivalled in manufacturing food grade cosmetics. Just for your knowledge, there are two standards of organic certifications, one for cosmetics, which allows for some synthetic preservatives and another for food. I took the 10 day Vitality Challenge with Miessence Superfoods a year ago and noticed a difference in my skin, scalp and sleeping habits. I fell in love with InLiven Probiotic especially, as it provided stability to my fluctuating hormones which caused irregularity in my cycles, in addition to thinning hair and seborrheic dermatitis. Now, I’m a proud independent representative of Miessence, the owner of TheOliveParent Organics. TheOliveParent Organics offers a wide range of certified organic food grade cosmetics, but their Superfood line is the star show!!
BerryRadical Antioxidant Superfood
You can meet your nutritional intake and the daily recommendation of 8 to 10 fruits and vegetables with BerryRadical Antioxidant with just one teaspoon. BerryRadical is composed of 9 of the most potent superfoods. It is raw, freeze-dried and certified organic.
certified organic raw unrefined cacao powder, dried coffee fruit extract, certified organic freeze dried pomegranate powder, certified organic freeze-dried goji berry powder, certified organic freeze-dried acai berry powder, certified organic freeze-dried blueberry powder, certified organic, freeze-dried raspberry powder, certified organic freeze-dried strawberry powder, certified organic, freeze-dried olive juice extract
BerryRadical contains a wide spectrum of nature’s most powerful antioxidants: hydroxytyrosol,
zeaxanthin, alpha and beta-carotene, lutein, lycopene, anthocyanin, cryptoxanthin,
xanthophyll, epicatechin, quercetin, punicalagins and ellagic, chlorogenic, gallic, ferulic and
caffeic acids from organically grown chococolate, berries and fruits.
DeepGreen Alkalizing Superfood
DeepGreen is wonderful combination of leafy greens and blue green algae. My favorite of the whole is undoubtedly Spirulina. Spirulina by itself can replace a closetful of supplements. Spirulina is rich in protein, valine, leucine, isoleucine, omega-6, omega-3, vitamin B1, zinc, vitamin B2, iron, beta carotene, manganese, copper, and more. Spirulina is a complete protein containing all the essential amino acids. What I truly love about about Spirulina is the abundance of GLA (Gamma Linoleic Acid). GLA is hard to come by in the diet, which is a problem because our bodies can’t make it. It supports healthy hair (which I struggle with), skin and nails. I took supplements of GLA a few years ago (borage oil) but stopped, because it was too expensive to purchase a bottle of just GLA when I needed a combination of nutrition. Spirulina provided the solution to this because of its broad spectrum of nutrition! In addition to certified organic Spirulina DeepGreen has…
Blue-Green Algae: Certified Organic Spirulina, Certified Organic Aphanizomenon
Flos Aquae, Certified Organic Chlorella
Green Grass Juices: Certified Organic Freeze-Dried Alfalfa, Certified
Organic Barley, Certified Organic Kamut, Certified Organic Oat,
and Certified Organic Wheat Grass Juice Powders.
Leafy Green Vegetables: Certified Organic, Freeze-Dried Pure Vegetable Powders:
Certified Organic Kale, Parsley, Certified Organic Collard, and
Certified Organic Nettle.
We use grass juice powders instead of pulverized grass power, because grass cannot by digested by the human stomach. 
Additionally, DeepGreen has detoxing capabilities. So vital in this day and age of industrial chemicals in our land, water, air and food.
Other benefits include:
Extremely concentrated and dense - 1 teaspoon of powder is equivalent to over 60ml (2
fl.oz) of fresh green juices.
100% RAW, VEGAN and CERTIFIED ORGANIC.
A natural source of alkalizing minerals.
Formulated without fillers – no rice bran, no flax seed, no beans or legumes… just pure
greens.
InLiven Probiotic Superfood
The bacteria kingdom is the base of life. The root word biotic originates from the Greek word, bios meaning life. Pro means “for” essentially probiotics mean FOR LIFE. Out of the three nutritional keys suggested here, it is my honest belief that probiotics takes a high priority for wellness maintenance. Probiotics are responsible for making nutrients available to our bodies. They create beneficial compounds and essential nutrients such as lactic acid, B vitamins, digestive enzymes and more. Maintaining a balance of good and bad bacteria is essential. The ratio of good to bad should be 85% to 15%. When this ratio is out of order, Dysbiosis (putrefactive bacteria take control of the bowels) occurs and toxic material is released in the body’s environment. Our highly acidic, processed and artificial hormone-laden diet is lacking in naturally-occurring probiotics and it is essential to supplement DAILY to maintain a healthy ratio. Read more about Probiotics here. [The Raw Deal on Probiotics]
Beware of Misleading Information and Ineffective Probiotics or Bacteria Posing as Probiotics
Our cells are outnumbered by the bacteria in our gut by ten trillion, because of this, we are 90% microbial. The simple fact that we are 90% microbial is valuable to ponder upon because it questions the potential myth that probiotics are bio-individual. I completely reject this notion. Bacteria has been in existence, very possibly before humankind, considering it is the base of life. Many probiotics on the market cater to a specific condition. A condition-specific probiotic strain or product is a clue that it may be a proprietary strain because patent law requires that a (1)strain cannot exist in nature prior and (2) must solve a common problem in order to patent, own and sell that strain. I believe that proprietary and engineered strains are the reason why there is a mixed consensus on whether probiotic supplements are effective. It should also be understood…currently, there is no legal definition of what a probiotic is…any manufacturer can engineer a bacteria and call it a probiotic.
Dr. Mary Ellen Sanders, Ph. D of USProbiotics.org states…
“As there is no legal definition for the term probiotic, products labeled “probiotic” on the market may not have been adequately characterized for content, stability, or health effects”
She suggests the term “pharmabiotic” be utilized instead of probiotics and explains that the key to the definition of a probiotic is that it must confer a health benefit. Also interesting to note is that Dr. Sanders’ PDF (link found at the end of post) states that “live cultures” should not considered a probiotic.
InLiven is unique. It is the world’s first certified organic probiotic. Meaning the strains are naturally-occurring and found in nature. It is not engineered, patented or altered. We do not “own” the strains. Further more it contains the ENTIRE Lactobacillus family, a total of 13 strains. Many products that do have probiotic strains in them have a few, some I’ve seen with two at the most, but InLiven keeps the family together for synergy. InLiven’s strains comes with its own food, twenty-six whole foods to be exact, to provide nutrients easily assimilated for weak digestive systems. It has…
LACTOBACILLUS FAMILY
1. Lactobacillus acidophilus
2. Lactobacillus brevis
3. Lactobacillus bulgaricus
4. Lactobacillus casei
5. Lactobacillus caucasicus
6. Lactobacillus delbreukii
7. Lactobacillus fermenti
8. Lactobacillus helveticus
9. Lactobacillus lactis
10. Lactobacillus leichmannii
11. Lactobacillus plantarum
12. Bifidobacterium bifidum
13. Bacillus coagulans
Spores are activated in the acidic environment of the stomach
and begin germinating and proliferating in the intestine.
YEAST STRAINS
14. Saccharomyces boulardii
15. Saccharomyces cerevisiae
Other benefits…
The first certified organic probiotic. ALL 13 strains are certified organic. Non-GMO bacteria.
Batch-tested to ensure live bacteria counts
InLiven contains the complete Lactobacillus family of 13 strains combined with 26, 100% RAW, organic, whole foods for three weeks prior to bottling. During the preparatory phase the formula is predigested (fermented) by the Lactobacilli making the nutrients instantly available for assimilation upon consumption.
The Lactobacilli bacteria used in InLiven is the result of over 20 years of hand-cultured research by Czerral, the formulator of InLiven. Czerral Wheeler is well known for introducing Spirulina to the world market in 1979. He also, coined the term “Super Foods” in the early ‘80s, a reference to organic foods with a broad spectrum of nutrients.
The Lactobacilli bacteria used in InLiven have been subjected to a large number of stressors (heat, cold, chlorine etc.) resulting in a “Super Family” of very strong Lactobacilli, unlike any others found in the world today.
The bacteria in InLiven is hand-cultured from fruits, vegetables or grains; not fast tracked from fecal matter.
With Czerral as a formulator, InLiven naturally contains organic Spirulina, one of the most single richest, complete sources of organic nutrition in the world. Along with Spirulina, organic Alfalfa Grass, Rolled Oats, Brown Rice, Wheat Grain, Pearl Barley, Linseed, Kidney Beans, Mung Beans, Adzuki Beans, Red Lentils, Chick Peas, Beetroot, Sweet Potato, String Beans, Zucchini, Cabbage, Silverbeet, Spinach, Chinese Cabbage, Asparagus, Broccoli, Malt Liquid, Molasses and yeast strains; Saccharomyces boulardii and Saccharomyces cerevisiae
Read Four Clues to Pinpoint A Genetically Altered Probiotic Strain
You can improve the quality of your nutritional intake with the Miessence Superfood line with one teaspoon of each, BerryRadical, DeepGreen & InLiven daily. All products offered by Miessence are made FRESH, every 30 days and shipped directly to consumers. They are manufactured in a wind-powered manufacturing facility, with carbon negative shipping…raw, no heat processing.
To learn more about the superfoods go to www.miessence.com/TheOliveParent. Receive 20% off of any of the superfoods with promo code: topsummer. This promo code is valid for new customers of TheOliveParent Organics only until August 30th. You automatically receive 20% off of the Vitality Pack (All three superfoods) & are eligible for 20% off of all future orders for life (no promo code necessary). You can test drive the superfoods by taking the Vitality Challenge for ten days. Please note, no discounts apply to the Vitality Challenge. I’m happy to assist with questions and consult with you at any time, please contact me with the contact form at the sidebar.
I close this post with a few “common sense” tips I use to wade through onslaught of labels…I hope you’ll find these helpful.
Tips & Clues Your Multivitamin Supplement may be Synthetic
Overdose warning. – Your body engages in selective absorption of synergistic, whole food nutrition. Your intelligent body knows what it needs. It selects the missing nutrients from the whole food and allows the rest to pass. The metabolism of chemical vitamins can lead to the imbalance of the body’s chemistry because the body doesn’t recognize synthetic vitamins. Therefore, the amounts of synthetic “vitamins” need to be monitored, like iron, to avoid toxic overdoses.
RDAs (Recommended Daily Allowance) & DVs (Daily Value) – As mentioned, our bodies practice selective absorption of whole food nutrition. There is no way to “measure” or “count” vitamins in food. Synthetic vitamins are manmade, therefore easily measured to meet RDA and DV government-established requirements. Furthermore, whole food nutrition provides a broader spectrum of nutrients than those manufactured in a lab. RDAs are educated, and I use the term loosely, guesses that comprises of a one-size-fits-all scenario. It is important to understand that science has not documented every single vitamin & mineral in existence. I truly believe it is impossible for science to do so! As a matter of fact in 1925, there was only one known B vitamin. By 1975, there were ten. Vitamin B4,as an example, cannot be synthetically produced, so many doctors are unaware of its existence! This is very telling. Does marketing have an impact on “education”??? I absolutely believe so. We should also ponder this… if foods, and nutrients that cannot be sold for monetary gain hold no value to companies, what else is out there that we’re unaware of?
Recommendation to “eat with food”. Often manufacturers recommend that you take their multivitamin supplement with food in effort to increase bioavailability. Real food nutrition is based in its natural and native synergistic state, no need to “take with food” in order to promote bioavailability. Bioavailability in whole food is a natural phenomenon.
Sources:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monoculture
http://www.thewellnessdoc.com/resources/vitamins/natural_synthetic.asp
http://drbenkim.com/articles-vitamins.html
http://www.thedoctorwithin.com/vitaminc/ascorbic-acid-is-not-vitamin-c/
http://www.naturalnews.com/040147_vitamin_c_ascorbic_acid_synthetic_vitamins.html#
http://umm.edu/health/medical/altmed/supplement/vitamin-c-ascorbic-acid
http://www.organicconsumers.org/articles/article_15261.cfm
http://www.realvitaminc.com/ascorbic-acid.html
http://energyfanatics.com/2008/10/19/how-to-natural-synthetic-vitamins/#
http://www.webwire.com/ViewPressRel.asp?aId=116125#.U06Y5PldXs4
http://www.drheise.com/bvitamin.htm
http://www.drheise.com/magnesiumstearate.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Excipient
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polyvinylpolypyrrolidone
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flavor
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flavorist
http://www.red40.com/pages/other_dyes.html
http://www.organicconsumers.org/articles/article_17106.cfm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Organic_farming_and_biodiversity
http://www.princeton.edu/greening/organic4.htm
http://drbenkim.com/ph-body-blood-foods-acid-alkaline.htm
http://foodmatters.tv/articles-1/the-truth-about-calcium-and-osteoporosis
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2013-10/uomm-fmf101613.php
http://cdrf.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/sanders-probiotic-FFR-rev-092.pdf
http://www.law.umaryland.edu/programs/health/events/probiotics/documents/Sanders.pdf
http://www.naturalnews.com/041615_spirulina_nutritional_supplements_health_benefits.html#ixzz36QGsS4SM
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spirulina_(dietary_supplement)
http://milk.elehost.com/html/osteoporosis.html