Organic Vitamins
May 20, 2008 – 3:52 pmWe think of vitamins and minerals as being the natural, healthy substances essential to make us healthy, and so it may come as a surprise to know that many of the vitamins available today are artificially developed and produced.
Vitamins and minerals are found naturally in a range of foods, alongside enzymes (which helps the body transfer energy sources to the muscles etc), minerals and anti-oxidants. They tend to be found in relatively small amounts and specific to a certain food group, which is why it is important to eat a balanced diet in order to ensure you are getting all those needed.
Synthetic (artificially produced) vitamins are chemically constructed to mimic the vitamin found organically but often in a much higher concentration. They will also often contain other chemicals such as preservatives, coal tars and additives in order to make them palatable and able to be sold in tablet form.
Because synthetic vitamins do not contain the enzymes and other natural chemicals, they are not digested nearly as easily as organic vitamins. Our body also has a way of making us seek out the foods that we need to ensure we get the vitamin and minerals – the most stark example is the cravings that pregnant women feel for strange food or even minerals like coal.
Organic vitamins are mostly either fat or water soluble – meaning that they are carried in the blood and either used in the digestive system when water is present, or stored in the liver or fatty tissue to be utilised as needed.
Organic vitamins and minerals are quite fragile and, as such, are easily destroyed by cooking, not eating food when it is fresh or by the processing that occurs too much of our food sources now. In order to avoid this, food should be eaten as freshly as possible. Vegetables should ideally be eaten raw, but otherwise steamed. The use of pesticides on food can deplete them of vitamins and minerals.
Stress, ill health and the effects of alcohol, recreational or prescribed drugs can also adversely affect our bodies ability to absorb vitamins. Many people who are worried that they are not getting enough vitamins turn to multi-vitamins or vitamin supplements to try to solve the problem.
However, there should be a word of warning with this. Non –organic vitamins can be harmful, particularly if the users do not adhere to the recommended daily amounts that we need. There are many studies that show that an unhealthy diet coupled with an over-reliance on non-organic vitamins can lead to illness.
Over absorption of certain vitamins can cause the opposite effect to that of the organic vitamin at recommended levels. Vitamin C, for example, if obtained naturally and in the right amount, is known to protect against some cancers and heart disease. Absorption at very high amounts however drastically reduces this protection and has even been seen to aggravate some cancers.
You can buy a range of organic vitamins that are taken from food sources, which are better than the synthetic ones. However, the best solution will always be to eat a healthy diet of fresh food - therefore getting all the vitamins and minerals you need as nature intended and get all the organic vitamins you need.
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