Chemistry, Nutritional Supplements Or Whole Foods - To Maintain the Health Tripod, Body-Mind-Spirit

Increasingly, as if there is a "new" discovery parade for the latest cure-all, probiotics have come again to the forefront. As I read the varying articles and studies, I am struck by how far afield we have come from normal, common sense.

In order to maintain a healthy body, there is a tripod of health: body, mind, and spirit. Knock out one leg of that stool, and the stool topples over. Probiotics, diet, dietary supplements address only the "body" leg of the health tripod. So let's start there.

Anything taken externally, whether it is natural or medical (chemical or surgical) in support of the physical, has only ever been intended as temporary support until we have regained or achieved the necessary consciousness to support complete and perfect health; much as you might use a crutch to recover from a broken leg. When the leg is healed, we throw the crutch away as we should throw the supplements and medications away.

The body knows how to be well and healthy, as this is its natural and inherent state. Think of all the times you've had a cold, or the flu or a cut or bruise. They always go away. The body, created by Infinite Intelligence, does not need to know how to be well, but rather is always striving to return to health, its normal set-point. Our job, as a conscious human being, is to make the choices - all of our choices - that support Life. That is to say choices that are probiotic.

These choices, if we are living naturally and following our internal prompts, always feel good, fun, joyful, and delicious. The body, itself, tells us what it needs with respect to nutrition; and we, if we are listening and aware, then eat those foods. The body tells us when it is tired and needs rest; if we are listening and living naturally, we fall asleep and awaken refreshed. The body tells us when it is cold; and if we are listening, we go inside, don a coat or sit by the fire. The body tells us when we are full; if we are listening, we stop eating, pleasantly satiated. The body because of its Innate Intelligence - the Life Force that enlivens it, is constantly directing us if we are listening.

This same Innate Intelligence or Life Force is present in all living things: animal, vegetable and mineral. It quite simply is the "spirit" leg of the heath tripod. So it is essential that we pay attention to the still small voice within guiding us in all things, including health, always towards our good.

The "mental" component of the tripod is where all the trouble begins and ends. The human mind with its hubris and arrogance believes that it is the infinite intelligence rather than our spirit Infinite Intelligence (knowing). The human mind is what confounds and complicates everything, over-shouting the still small voice every chance it gets. The human mind will argue with the information of Innate Intelligence that we don't have time to eat, or we can't afford to eat healthy food, or that we don't have time to be home resting. The human mind will argue that a vitamin supplement is a quick fix, that a "professional" knows more than I do; that in a decision between ethics and money, money wins. The human mind will tell you to stay in the job your hate, because the money is good; and it will tell you to take the "safe" road, because it is afraid and lives in the land of Lack. These are the decisions that we make every day that lead us into life styles and relationships that are as toxic to the body and chemicals are.

For example, as science attempts to unravel the secrets of good nutrition and health, they omit or ignore or discount the concept of Infinite Intelligence or Life Force, because they don't understand It and cannot quantify It. Therefore, they believe that by isolating certain nutrients, that the benefits of that nutrient are complete in relationship to the biological body and cells. For example, scientists study, let's say, Vitamin C. They isolate it out from its original state that it is found in, let's say, an orange. They identify it by its chemical composition and name it Vitamin C of a certain type. Then a nutritional company or a drug company will duplicate that chemical complex and manufacture it synthetically and patent it. Why? Because you cannot patent the Vitamin C in an orange, but if you create your own synthetic clone of it, you can patent that and then sell it as "a vitamin supplement". It's about money; and the marketing is about making you believe - contrary to your own knowing and Innate Intelligence (common sense), that it's better to buy the pill rather than simply eat the whole food, the orange. This whole process is the human mind process; not common sense, not Innate Intelligence, and not your Knowing.

This brings us back to the "body" portion of the health tripod. All the things we do to and for the physical body to maintain or to regain physical health. These things include medicine, alternative therapies, nutrition, supplements, and the food we eat.

So let's go back to the clone of Vitamin C which is not Real Vitamin C. First of all, it has been separated out of its natural habitat of the orange and no longer has the synergistic benefits of all the other nutrients found within that Infinite Intelligence-created orange. The other nutrients within the orange were gathered together by Infinite Intelligence in the orange with the Vitamin C to work together one with the other - like a symphony shall we say. All together they release their blessings of nutrition to the consumer in a concert. One triggers the other, one enhances the other, and within the human body, they trigger certain enzymes or other mechanism to break it down and with nutritional perfection and elegant harmony are absorbed into the body where they nourish and sustains the cells, the fundamental building block of the body. This is the symphony of naturally occurring whole foods in the act of nourishing the living body. The clone has no idea of the music.

While it is not quite the stuff of Frankenstein for science to understand food and nutrition in relationship to the human body, it is when these elements are separated out from the Whole Picture and peddled to convey the same efficacy as the Real thing, which they cannot do. Recall for a minute the actual Frankenstein creation: he was patchwork parody of the Real human, not elegantly Real.

When these synthetically created nutritional clones are ingested into the Real body, the body in fact does not recognize them and either sloughs them off (every wondered why your urine is so bright yellow when you're taking vitamin supplements ) or they are treated as toxins. If the body identifies them as toxins (foreign substance), it will attempt to eliminate it from the body or surround it with fat cells much like putting the bad guy into solitary confinement. [Did you ever wonder why we are so fat in such large numbers?] Seems to me, via common sense, my own Innate Intelligence just like yours, that the more toxins - synthetically/chemically produced foods (neo-nutrition) we consume, the more toxins the body is attempting to cope with and so produces the fat to surround and contain them to protect the vital organs of the body. The living body's single imperative, after all, is to live. This is basic biology 101.

The rube is that most of the food available for consumption grown here in the United States is synthetically altered in some fashion. First the seed, itself, is genetically modified from its original Infinite Intelligent state. Monsanto has done a grave and potentially catastrophic disservice to the world by altering seed - again for the reason of patent - so that now farmers have to buy seed every year.

Haven't you noticed that you can't grow a new corn crop from the old corn seed or that this year's tomato seed will not grow a next generation of tomato? My own Innate knowing noticed this phenomenon years ago and thought then that this was very strange. Especially when the natural process of pollination would have eventually - by evolution - evolved a new seed that was adapted to a particular climate or locality or pest. Once again, it is the mandate of all living things - Life Force, Innate Intelligence - to Live. And in so doing, living naturally and organically, every living thing will change and become naturally stronger and more resilient to its environmental challenges or perish. In the human body, this job is particularly handled by the immune system.

All you have to do is look to the cock roach to see the amazing ability of Infinite Intelligence to adapt for Life (probiotic). It is this very process of adapting and changing to environmental challenges - evolution they called it in high school - that creates the very nutrition - antioxidants for example - that we ingest through eating a whole food, that helps our bodies meet their own environmental challenges.

However, as a result of these genetically modified seeds that require chemicals in the form or herbicides, pesticides and fertilizers to grow, the essential nutrition that we require to be healthy is now absent from these food; and in addition, these foods contain more toxins (synthetic chemicals) that we ingest into our bodies. These are not whole foods; they are corrupted foods.

As a result of these corruptive foods, the front line digestive and immune systems are seriously compromised. When the digestive system is compromised, we cannot be nourished. When the immune system is compromised, we fight disease.

This is where the recent surge in demand for organically grown, non-genetically modified foods has arisen. Simply put, organic, whole, Real foods contain more potent and available nutrition for our bodies to use; and they come complete with Innate Life Force as well as without toxins. Studies prove that these foods are as much as 60% higher in available nutrition than industrially grown foods.

The long term effects of synthetically grown foods are now evident by the number of Americans who are sick. Diabetes has become a "life style" complete with its own magazines for diabetic living. Immune diseases are epidemic: multiple sclerosis, fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome to name but a few and not to mention cancer and heart-related disease. Every one of these dis-eases can be directly traced back to our food supply and the resulting epidemic of malnutrition in Americans and the toxin load.

Better living cannot be found through chemistry when it comes to health, food, nutrition and the environment. Synthetic chemistry and its manipulation for profit makes corporations rich, farmers poor, and kills people.

By about 40 years of age, the body begins to show the effects of this deadly combination of slow poisoning with the accumulation of toxins compounded by years of malnourishment. The drip, drip, drip effect reaches critical mass and the body cannot manage any more, cannot cope, and begins to break down showing myriad symptoms of dis-ease. Nutrition is what the body uses to repair and rejuvenate itself, but without the proper nutrition derived from whole foods, the cells themselves cannot restore, renew or replenish to their natural state of health. Toss on the load of accumulated toxins, and it is, "Houston, we have a problem."

This brings us to rebalancing the Health Tripod.

The medical world has evolved into a lucrative business of treating symptoms of disease with more synthetic drugs with no intention of addressing the cause. It is a mindset of sickness, not wellness. At its core medicine believes neither in the fundamental Infinite Intelligence of the body nor its ability to heal itself. But rather as its centerpiece are sickness, disease and decay.

Alternative health methodologies are more inclined to honor the Infinite Intelligence of the body and treat symptoms of dies-ease with probiotic methods: moving energy (Life Force) in the body, support with herbs and nutrition in addressing the physical complaint. In addition most of these modalities will, to greater or lesser degrees, address the other two legs of the Tripod: mind and spirit as well. All these methods are good for you, as long as the mind leg of the tripod believes and knows this as well. If you do not believe in the Infinite Intelligence of your body, you should opt for medical treatment.

As a result of the medical model heavily influencing our Western thought, even alternative therapies have adopted "medicine-like" models for treatment of dies-ease, such as prescribing supplements and herbal remedies for regular use. But these should not be taken as "medicine" on a long term basis, but rather used intermittently to support the body until body/mind/spirit regains balance.

This brings us to the current phase in American healthcare, which is the onslaught of "natural supplements". But once again, the consumer must be educated and cautious, as some of these are the products of the chemical laboratory too, and not the products of whole grown food. As previously discussed, these "nutritions" when isolated from their synergistic fellows in the whole food form do not supply the same healthful effects to the body. They are often more chemistry and always without the support of the rest of the nutritional army found in a whole food. This is largely what you see on the shelves at the drug store, the vitamin store and online. They are a poor relation to natural whole food nutrition. And remember, the body may identify these as toxins as well, sloughing them off or storing them in fat, but certainly not imparting any Real nutrition to the body for use.

Here is where the consumer must take responsibility for his/her own health and come to understand the options clearly: synthetic chemistry, synthetic supplements, or whole organic food and whole food superfood supplements.

No longer can we afford to be ignorant of what is being offered to us out there for "health" benefits. You must be intelligent and use your own good common sense for regaining and maintaining optimum health.

Two things are required, fundamental and essential, for complete and perfect health: 1. complete pure untainted available nutrition; 2. the body's ability to process and absorb the nutrients.

1. Complete, pure and untainted nutrition comes from organically grown whole foods, period.

a. Buy organically grown/raised foods whenever and wherever possible in the widest variety possible. Try growing some of your own. There's a reason that foods are available with seasonality. Infinite Intelligence has provided us the vast and complete range of nutrients our bodies need for cellular health with a veritable buffet of foods: animal, vegetable, and fruits in balance and moderation, and more importantly, as your body uniquely informs you.

b. When buying a supplement, you must determine that it is, in fact, a whole food supplement. Often times these are called superfoods. A working definition of superfood might be any food that is high in enzymes, phytochemicals, vitamins, minerals, Chlorophyll, and antioxidants. In a perfect world the goal would be to be free of anything manufactured and obtain complete nutrition from your wide spectrum variety of whole food selections. A word of warning: be certain that the whole food supplement, the superfood, is organic.

2. Probiotics are essential to the absorption and assimilation of whole food nutrition.

1. First of all, the "new" probiotic supplements are not some new invention or creation of modern science. They are natural, living organisms that are found in the intestinal tract. In fact, they are found in the intestinal tract of every creature that digests food and makes waste. Probiotics (good bacteria) are provided to us naturally by Infinite Intelligence in whole plant foods (vegetables, fruits and grains).

2. It is most important to understand, is that probiotics are living organisms with a life, a function and a mission. Their function is perhaps to say they are the front line troops of your body's immune system. In the digestive tract it is their job to keep any "bad" bacteria in check. When "bad" bacteria are out of balance and in control, the body cannot absorb nor assimilate the nutrition required for Innate Intelligence to restore the body to complete and perfect health

3. Probiotics aid in the digestion and elimination of waste materials from the body. If the body is not eliminating its own waste and toxins, they are stored, via fat; and in the colon, if not eliminated completely, set up an environment of decay: the perfect culture for dis-ease.

4. Warning: probiotic is word being used on labels now to get you to buy.

First, the product itself must be organic (yogurt, kefir, kambucha). Second the cultures must be LIVE.

5. If you are purchasing a superfood enriched with probiotics as a dietary supplement (addition); then once again, be certain that the superfood is organic and that the probiotics have been cultured in the sun (not killed by heat); and that they haven't been cultured from fecal matter.

Just like with vitamin supplements, manufactured probiotics are present in the market place as well. When a manufacturer can identify a probiotic in nature (in food), it isolates it by its chemical composition and manufactures it synthetically, patents it and gives it a patented name. As with synthetically created vitamins, patented probiotics will be treated by the body as yet another foreign substance. The body then has to either discharge and eliminate it, or store it in fat. The supposed "cure" has just added to the problem.

Since the digestive system is the most critical place where nutrition is either absorbed and assimilated and made available for cellular health or not, this is a particularly sinister place to introduce synthetics, because neither will the nutrition be made available to the body nor should the body have to cope with yet another chemical impostor of the Real.

It is appalling to me that we find ourselves in this place in the year 2008. What's more I cannot understand how we could be so morally bankrupt as to arrive at methodically poisoning our people for the sake of money. But the truth of the matter is that each of us has to take charge of our own health and wellness and no longer entrust it to "others."

The formula to regain and maintain health until you die is simple: body, mind, spirit. And the rule is that when any one of the three becomes out of balance, the stool falls.

You most probably will address your health only when you notice a physical symptom, but that is your opportunity to address the mind and spirit aspects of your life, as well; for one or both of those aspects are out of sync if your body is ill.

We are an integrated being. Just as the knee bone is connected to the shin bone, the body is connected to the mind is connected to the spirit. The body is merely the casing that contains mind and spirit for a physical adventure here on earth; and I think you will agree that without health, the physical experience is less than optimal, to be sure.

If you are trying to regain (or maintain) your God-given state of complete and perfect health, by all means use what methods and practices that you feel are correct and appropriate to support your physicality whilst you do the necessary explorations in mindset and spirit, bringing you back to your perfectly balanced Health Tripod.

What we think, what we believe is what we experience. With the experience of something that is unpleasant and not fulfilling comes the opportunity to release the beliefs and mindsets that got us here, and to choose new thoughts and new ideas that are probiotic - pro Life - and support us in complete and perfect health. The Whole Tripod.

One final note: we are dynamic beings, therefore constantly changing. The requirement to pay attention (be aware) and make conscious choices moment to moment is the essential job of spirituality and self-mastery, which a life long process. You never get it done.

Applying your spirit, listening to the Innate Intelligence within, will always lead you to your good. Always.

Kathy Kirk grew up gardening in Ohio and Pennsylvania. She has a BS Degree from Cornell University in business. Currently she lives in the back country of San Diego County where she grows organic herbs and garlic. In the past she has formulated her own skin care and nutrition from her own garden. Now Kathy is an Independent Representative for One Group and the Miessence, Mivitality and MiEnviron products, including the Superfood Probiotic InLiven, Fast Track Liquid Probiotic, and Berry Radical Antioxidant - all whole food superfoods and certified organic. Miessence and MiVitality comprise the first extensive range of 100% Natural Certified Organic Personal Care Products in the world that are certified organic by both the Australian Government and the USDA. And they are formulated to food grade standards. Kathy is committed to being a voice of common sense in the "green" world and supporting others in trusting their own good common sense. You can read her other articles at her blog http://www.honestskincare.blogspot.com Her website is http://www.honestskincare.mionegroup.com where you can shop the Miessence products. Kathy can be reached at honestskincare@gmail.com and she welcomes you, your questions and comments.

Whole Food Supplements

Alternative To Typical Synthetic Supplements Is Needed, Say Experts

Whole food supplements is currently a topic of worldwide interest. A profusion of evidence has recently come to light suggesting that ordinary synthetic multivitamin supplements may be hazardous to your health. Goran Bjelakovic, a respected scientist from the University of Copenhagen, headed up a massive meta-study that looked at the results of 67 placebo-controlled trials previously undertaken to determine the effects of vitamin and anti-oxidant supplements on longevity. In the end, the study combined observations of 232 000 test subjects. By using such a large population sample, a study can become much more powerful with regards to spotting large-scale trends and overcoming human bias.

The results of the analysis, published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, were nothing less than shocking. Looking at patients with diabetes, heart disease and lung cancer, as well as healthy, normal individuals, there was no apparent benefit to taking popular fractionated supplements like Vitamin A, Vitamin E, Vitamin C, Selenium, or beta-Carotene. In fact, the results went in the opposite direction - there was an increased chance of death (16 percent) amongst Vitamin A users, a 7 percent higher death rate amongst beta-Carotene users, and a 4 percent mortality increase in Vitamin E users. Beta-Carotene and Retinol, promoted as anti-carcinogenic agents, may promote lung cancer. That's right - pills marketed as helping you towards a longer, healthier life are in fact correlated with a speedier demise. This study used typical supplements on the market made from synthetic vitamins.

To add insult to injury, a recent study published in the British Journal of Nutrition under the unimaginative title of "Ascorbic Acid Supplementation Does Not Attenuate Post-Exercise Muscle Soreness Following Muscle-Damaging Exercise But May Delay The Recovery Process" indicated that supplementation with anti-oxidants from synthetic sources may reverse many of the beneficial effects of physical training.

Now, this is not to say that anti-oxidants or vitamins are bad for you. Far from it - these supplements were created on the basis of solid science. Anti-oxidants are still believed to protect cells from the ravages of free radicals. The problem, rather, is the idea that you can get those benefits from synthetic isolated compounds. Disease and the aging process are usually far more complicated than test-tube studies can account for. Furthermore, the issue of bioavailability is an ever-present concern. Many typical synthetic supplements include huge amounts of the advertised vitamin, but lack the additional compounds needed to ensure that their key ingredients are actually absorbed by the body. Passing straight through the digestive tract, these 'miracle health cures' often wind up doing little beyond giving people expensive urine. To the rescue...Whole Food Supplements.

What the layperson should take from all this is not a sense that we've made no progress in the last century regarding uncovering adequate means of personal health maintenance. There's one thing that nobody is disputing, and that's the importance of a healthy, well-rounded diet replete in fruit, orange, yellow and dark green leafy vegetables, whole grains, legumes, seeds, nuts, high quality carbohydrates and lean proteins and supplementation from whole food supplements. . When you avoid taking in harmful chemicals such as those in food preservatives, flavorings, flavor enhancers and 'synthetic vitamin additives', you'll not only reduce your intake of toxins. You'll also be forced to tap into the most nutritionally reliable source available, namely natural nutrition. Human beings have evolved to consume unprocessed plant and animal food sources. Recent research suggests that the superiority of natural ratios and formulations has been massively undervalued.

Whole food supplements are foods that haven't been processed or refined, or have undergone as little processing as possible for preservation or human consumption. Much as is the case with organic food, whole food supplements call for the avoidance of chemically assisted agriculture. The concept is one of a minimization of human interference with the processes of nature. This is based on the guiding principle that nature's products make for healthier products than the products of human industry.

While this is a claim met by much resistance from the refined food and pharmaceutical industries, it's being repeatedly borne out by the results of research. A study of women shifted from a diet high in processed foods to one replete with whole foods and whole food supplements resulted in a 61% decrease in saturated fat intake. They also experienced increases in dietary fiber of 60 percent, a 45 percent increase in vitamin E, a 60 percent improvement in vitamin C intake, and a five-fold increase in carotene intake. The net result of this new phytochemical-rich diet was an induced drop in total cholesterol of 13 percent - meaning less risk of heart disease and stroke, statistically still the biggest killers of people in first world countries. In the short term, they also saw vast improvements in bowel function and overall perceived health. Clearly whole food supplements are preferable to typical synthetic supplementation.

So the message, actually, seems to be rather clear. Eat a diet comprised primarily of whole foods and whole food supplements, and you'll be a shoe-in for long life and a vital, healthy old age. It sounds simple, but there is a problem with that approach, at least in our current era of constant industry and nine-to-five workdays. Progressively, people in developed countries are struggling to keep up with the clock. Even as work-induced stress makes the disciplinary challenge of sticking to a diet more daunting, so spending what little free time one has on grocery shopping can seem like its own special kind of waste. Unlike processed foods, whole foods are not very easily stored, meaning that to eat according to such a diet, you'll need to visit a farmer's market and buy your food fresh every few days. This is where well-meaning eaters so often falter in the journey towards health improvement and a trimmer waistline, entering the lifelong trend of yo-yo dieting.

Furthermore, many foods may not even be available in certain countries. Tell someone that lives in South Africa to eat more kale and you might as well be informing them of the beneficial effects of zero gravity.

Bent on finding their way around these obstacles to simple health maintenance, scientists have worked an angle that may sound, at first blush, a little counterintuitive. The goal of pharmaceutical supplementation has always been to preserve or improve upon the nutritional efficacy of whole foods in tablet and powder form. Through a rigorous process of trial and error, it was discovered that, by curing vegetables, herbs and other nutrient sources, grinding them up into powder, and forming that powder into tablets or capsules, it was possible to retain much of their nourishing value .This is only true of whole food supplements that have been processed using little or no heat. And so, it appears, one can finally enjoy the benefits of healthy eating via the simple act of popping a few pills. The benefit over ordinary eating is in the combinations of nutrient sources (and the quantities thereof) chosen, designed to complement each other and aid in the most complete, favorable absorption of the ingredients. Due to the incredible decrease in size that desiccation brings, it's also possible to consume far more of said nutrients, avoiding the sometimes undesirable need to stuff one's face with greens.

The effect of whole food supplements has been very favorably contrasted with artificial supplements such as multivitamins. The reason whole food supplements come out on top is simple: your body recognizes the ratios of nutrients in whole foods and processes them far more easily than supplements consisting of isolated or fractionated nutrients.The body recognizes whole food supplements as nutrition and is able to metabolize and utilize them efficiently.

The best idea, say experts, when it comes to determining your whole food supplements requirements is to decide on the readily available foods that you can and will eat consistently, then fill in the gaps from there. A general list of the most highly recommended vegetables with regards to anti-aging and health benefits would include kale, chard, spinach, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, red and green peppers, garlic, onions, sweet potatoes, tomatoes, green peas, asparagus and carrots. At Rutgers University, New Jersey, nutritional and food science Professor Paul A. Lachance headed up a study, published in the Journal of The American College of Nutrition, to evaluate 29 popular fruit, and ranked them in descending order of value according to the benefits they confer. His top ten list read as follows: kiwi, papaya, cantaloupe, strawberry, mango, lemon, orange, red currant, mandarin orange and avocado. To be effective these foods must be eaten raw.

In terms of supplementing beyond this list, when it comes to picking the right whole food supplements for your purposes, you'll probably want to look for much the same things you might have looked for in artificial supplements in the past - compounds to promote joint health, brain health, immunity and so on, by the use of anti-oxidants like resveratrol, beta-carotene along with other amino acids and vitamins. The difference may not lie in the listed ingredients, but rather in the manner those ingredients were derived - from common (and some not-so-common) plants, vegetables, fruits, herbs and so on. This is how natural whole food supplements companies source their nutrients.

What Supplements Should You Take?

Whether you use vital nutrients as your barometer of what and how much to eat, or the guide in determining what wholefood supplements you need, determining their presence or lack thereof is probably the best way to evaluate a diet. Below are listed some of the vital nutrients most people should consider supplementing in their diets - the ones people are typically deficient in, and those that provide the most benefits. Included are the foods in which those nutrients can be found.

Anti-oxidants

Anti-oxidant supplementation is, obviously, sought after for its promised effects of protection against disease, cellular breakdown, cancer and ultimately aging. In 2004, a study by the USDA revealed the best dietary sources of anti-oxidants. Published in the peer-reviewed publication of the American Chemical Society, the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, the study showed that foods like beans and artichokes take pride of place in the anti-oxidant-rich-food hierarchy. The study also demonstrated powerfully beneficial effects from pecan nuts, cinnamon and russet potatoes.

B-Vitamins

The B-Vitamins play a highly important role in cell metabolism. Once thought to be a single vitamin, these were later discovered to be a group of chemically distinct vitamins that frequently coexist in particular foods. Health supplements that contain the full roster of eight B-Vitamins are called Vitamin B Complex supplements. These vitamins help to maintain good muscle and skin tone, promoting cell growth, particularly of red blood cells, and thereby providing protection from anemia. They support and increase the rate of metabolism, meaning that they can also assist in maintaining a healthy weight. Notably, they decrease the risk of pancreatic cancer, but only when consumed as a whole food, not as a synthetic fractionated tablet. Most B-vitamins must be consumed daily, as any excess is speedily excreted in the urine. Good sources include potatoes, bananas, lentils, chile peppers, brewer's yeast, whole food supplements, molasses, tuna, animal livers and meat. Since the vitamin B12 cannot be produced by vegetable sources, deficiency in this nutrient is of particular concern for vegetarians, who need to get it by consuming supplements or fortified breakfast cereals to avoid possible ill consequences on health. For the more omnivorous amongst us, good sources are fish, meat, poultry and eggs.

Beta-Carotene

A famed member of the antioxidant family, Beta-Carotene is worth mentioning alone, especially for its assistance in the uptake of vitamin A. It's the substance that colors carrots orange, and assists in the buildup of epidermal retinol, responsible for protecting the skin from sun damage. It's abundant in crude palm oil and Vietnamese gac, which have the highest Beta-Carotene content of any vegetable or fruit. These are, unfortunately, often filtered for clarity before sale, a process which removes all carotenoids. Other sources include papayas, mangoes, carrots, yams, spinach, kale and sweet potato leaves and quality whole food supplements.

Calcium

It's the fifth most abundant element in the earth's crust, but that doesn't mean that conscientious calcium consumption shouldn't be a concern of anyone looking to live to a sturdy, healthy old age. Calcium is essential for many essential cellular processes. "Calcium plays an important role in building stronger, denser bones early in life and keeping bones strong and healthy later in life," says the National Osteoporosis Foundation, and it's a recommendation that has been hammered into us through media to the point of filtering into commonsense and popular culture. Prolonged calcium deficiency leads to rickets, poor blood clotting and an increased risk of fractures.

The best known sources of calcium are dairy products. Unfortunately, lactose intolerance is far from a rare disorder, and various other ailments and personal philosophies (such as veganism) keep certain individuals from consuming dairy products. Luckily, there are numerous good vegetable sources of calcium, including nuts, seeds, seaweed, oranges, figs, beans, broccoli and fortified products like soy milk. One poorly recognized sources of calcium is ground eggshell. For information on the calcium content of foods, visit the USDA National Nutrient Database online. The easiest way to consume calcium that the body will recognize as food is to take whole food supplements.

Magnesium

It plays a vital role in regulating neuromuscular activities, most notably those of the heart. It assists in maintaining good blood pressure, healthy muscle tone and good skin pallor. It helps us metabolize calcium and vitamin C, and as such deficiency in magnesium can result in calcium depletion, kidney stones, muscular irritability, nervousness and confusion. Yet the stunning fact is that the majority of people on earth (around 80%) are known to be deficient in Magnesium. Typical rates of intake are between 143 and 266 mg per day - significantly lower than the FDA's recommended daily intake of 350 mg. Deficiency in Magnesium has also been implicated in the development of chronic diseases like asthma, osteoporosis and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Good food sources include nuts, seeds, spices, bran cereals, quinoa, soybeans, coffee, cocoa, tea and green, leafy vegetables. It has been speculated that the reduced intake of dietary magnesium in developed countries can be correlated with the rise of food refinement and the use of modern, magnesium-free fertilizers. Amongst dietary supplements, magnesium citrate has been regularly proven as the most bioavailable, beating the oxide and amino-acid chelate forms for its rate of absorption. Synthetic supplements can not be absorbed: use whole food supplements to maintain proper levels.

L-ascorbic Acid

Better known as vitamin C, L-ascorbic acid is perhaps the most popular of supplements, and has been used to treat disease ever since the French explorer Jacques Cartier boiled the needles of the arbor vitae tree to treat scurvy in 1536. The resultant tea was later shown to contain 50mg of vitamin C per 100 grams. Like Magnesium, without regular uptake vitamin C is quickly eliminated through the urine, so it's easy to become deficient without supplementation. While oranges are famous for their vitamin C content, the more obscure but vastly more potent sources, such as kakadu plums, camu camu, rose hips and Indian gooseberries are slowly gaining popular recognition, as are common sources like blackcurrants, red peppers, parsley and guava. Animal sources of this nutrient include oysters, pork, beef, calf and chicken livers, cod roe and, as unpalatable as it may sound, lamb brain. The easiest way to maintain proper levels is with whole food supplements.

Coenzyme Q10

An oil-soluble, vitamin-like substance found in most plants and animals, CoQ10 is responsible for supporting the process of ATP generation, responsible for ninety five percent of the human body's energy. The organs with the highest energy requirements - such as the liver and heart - thus require the most Co-Q10. Known for this strengthening effect on the heart muscle, CoQ10 has been used to treat many forms of cardiac condition, although the extent of its role in energy production is still not fully understood. It has been shown to have beneficial effects on sufferers of migraine headaches, to lower blood pressure, reverse gum disease, and aid in weight loss. It is known for its ability to slow the shrinkage of the thymus gland, thus preventing the weakening of the immune system that typically accompanies old age. It is also being investigated for its potential to mitigate the effects of cancer.

The best dietary sources of CoQ10 are sardines, mackerel, the livers of beef, pork and lamb, eggs, spinach, broccoli, peanuts, wheat germ and whole grains. The easiest way to maintain levels is with whole food supplements for rapid absorption.

Dietary Fiber

While it might be a bit of stretch to call it a nutrient, dietary fiber or 'roughage' is vital to the health of the digestive system, and thus to the efficacy with which all other nutrients get absorbed. Roughage is comprised of the indigestible parts of plant foods that easy the progress of food through the digestive system, easing defecation.

Good plant sources of fiber include psyllium seed husk, bran flakes, legumes, oats, rye, barley, prune juice, plums, lentils, beans, quinoa, berries, bananas, broccoli, carrots, artichokes, potatoes, sweet potatoes, onions, whole grain foods, wheat, corn bran, flax seed, green beans and tomatoes.

Soluble fiber or probiotic supplements can also be beneficial to easing the symptoms of diarrhea, constipation, and irritable bowel syndrome. The FDA reports that studies have found that "diets low in saturated fat and cholesterol and high in fiber are associated with a reduced risk of certain cancers, diabetes, digestive disorders, and heart disease."

Omega 3 Fatty Acids

The nutritionally important Omega 3 fatty acids - Alpha Linoleic Acid (ALA), Eicosapentanoic Acid (EPA) and Docosahexanoic Acid (DHA) - have been credited with supporting cardiovascular health, circulation and healthy vision, as well as promoting better function of the brain and immune system. DHA and EPA are made by microalgae which, living in seawater, are consumed by fish and plankton, accumulating to high levels in their internal organs.

Use of omega 3's in the form of fish oil has been shown to reduce risk of heart attack, lower blood pressure, and offset the effects of arthritis. It also causes a decrease in LDL, the 'bad' form of cholesterol. Additionally, there is some evidence that it helps in ameliorating depression and anxiety. Amongst cancer patients, fish oil clearly reduced tumor growth, increased survival times, and help patients retain muscle mass during treatment. It has also demonstrably reduced the symptoms of sufferers of mental disorders, including chronic aggression and ADHD.

The best dietary source of omega 3's is probably fish. However, a much publicized risk of regular fish ingestion lies in the potential for heavy metal poisoning by the accumulation of toxic elements in the gut - notably mercury, lead, nickel and arsenic. However, a 2004 study by the FDA has indicated that, of the 44 popular commercial fish oils tested, all passed contaminant safety standards. Thus it is recommended that health conscious individuals get their omega 3's this way - by mixing fish oil into their foods, or taking gel supplement capsules. Omega 3 supplementation has turned into a food marketing trend, with many companies selling everything from fortified yoghurts and juices to milk, eggs and pasta. Flax seeds, which produce linseed oil, also have a very high omega 3 content, and are probably the most widely available botanical source of omega 3. Other sources include chia, kiwifruit, perilla , lingonberry, butternut, black raspberry, broccoli and strawberries. The best and easiest way to obtain this is by taking exceptionally pure, cold processed oils in whole food supplements.

Flavonoids

These plant secondary metabolites are best known for their antioxidant activity. This impression may be a little inaccurate. The massive increase in the antioxidant capacity of the blood after the consumption of flavonoid-rich foods is most probably due to increased levels of uric acid. In essence, the body sees flavonoids as foreign, invading compounds, and does its best to eliminate them. This induces the activity of Phase II enzymes, which help to eliminate carcinogens. Cancer researchers at UCLA found that people who eat foods containing certain flavonoids appear to be virtually immune to lung cancer. The best among these appear to be strawberries, green and black teas, Brussels sprouts, apples, beans and onions, parsley, pulses, red wine, and gingko biloba. Evidently, only small quantities of such flavonoids is required to see the desired effects, an overindulgence can reverse them into negative territory. Other applications of flavonoids includes the treatment of easy bruising, hemorrhoids and varicose veins.

Interferon

Discovered by Japanese virologists at Tokyo University in the 1950's, interferons are cell-signaling proteins produced by the immune systems of vertebrates in responds to viruses, parasites and other threats. They assist the response of the immune system by dampening viral replication, thus increasing the resistance of host cells to infection. This is an effect that can be used protectively by the administration of interferon drugs. Interferon therapy is commonly used as a treatment for cancer, as well as in the treatment and control of autoimmune disorder and multiple sclerosis.

Throughout Eastern Europe and Russia, interferon is taken intranasally as a means of preventing and treating respiratory diseases of viral origin, like flu and cold. Good food sources of this substance include quark cheese and flax oil, but the best method of ingestion is probably by supplementation. The only natural compound formula created by the discoverers of interferon is a Shaklee exclusive Nutriferon recommended dose is 2 tablets daily. For more information visit http://www.thenutritionnurse.com

Iron

Crucial to the functioning of all known organisms, Iron is a vital component of hemoglobin, the compound in blood responsible for delivering oxygen from the lungs to other parts of the body. It also plays an important role in enzyme reactions in various tissues. Iron deficiency is the most common known form of nutritional deficiency, and is most prevalent in children and pre-menopausal women - an estimated 90% of women fail to get the recommended daily amount. The outcome is iron deficiency anaemia, which results in fatigue, impaired concentration, impaired immune function and a sallow, yellow pallor, among other unpleasant maladies. Infants and pregnant women typically require iron supplementation for optimum health.

Good whole food supplements sources of iron include red meat, fish, poultry, tofu, beans, lentils, leafy green vegetables, peas, and fortified products like bread and breakfast cereals. In supplementary terms, the most bioavailable form of iron is that which has been chelated into amino acids. This is often referred to as iron glycinate.

Phosphatidyl Choline/Lecithin

This is one of those dietary components that most people haven't heard of. It's got a difficult name, and there are no major illnesses associated with deficiency in it. However, the potential benefits to consuming it are tremendous. Think improved liver, brain, reproductive and cardiovascular health. In fact, it's sometimes marketed as a nootropic drug for the improvements to neurotransmitter efficacy that it can bring. Research indicates that phosphatidyl choline is intimately involved in the mediation of mood, memory and cognitive function.

The most widely available source of this nutrient is lecithin, which can be derived from soy or egg yolks - in fact, the phosphatidyl choline component of this substance is so great that the two terms are sometimes used interchangeably. Other foods rich in phosphatidyl choline are beef, veal, chicken and turkey livers, brewer's yeast, fish, peanuts and cauliflower.

Vitamin E

As with a lot of the vitamins, Vitamin E is the collective name for a set of related tocopherols and their corresponding tocotrienols, which have been tied to colon, heart, prostate and immune system health.

Food sources highest in Vitamin E include avocado, asparagus, egg, seeds, nuts, palm oil, spinach, milk, vegetable oils, wholegrain foods, wheat germ, rice and olive oil.

Resveratrol

This phytoalexin, which is produced naturally by several plants when under attack by pathogens, has been correlated with a decreased risk of cancer, increased life expectancy, and lowered blood sugar levels in diabetics. It has also been seen to impact on the four major signs of aging. It is found in the skin of red grapes (and the seeds of muscadines), and as such can be had easily enough by drinking a glass of red wine, which accounts for the cardioprotective effects of the popular beverage. However, it turns out that rather high doses are required for strongly positive effects on humans - levels typically only reached by means of supplementation. The fruit of the mulberry has also been shown to contain notable levels of resveratrol. The most potent and bioavailable form is VIVIX. This is a Shaklee exculsive anti aging tonic and is 10 times more effective than taking resveratrol alone. Only available from an independent Shaklee distributor. See the above link to the Nutrition Nurse.

Zinc

Over two hundred enzymes in the human body depend on zinc for their function. An essential mineral responsible for promoting normal growth, development and immune function, zinc is nonetheless not present in sufficient quantities in the diets of most people in the developing world, two billion of whom are estimated to be zinc deficient. Zinc deficiency is associated with many diseases, including, amongst children, delayed sexual maturation, growth retardation, diarrhea and susceptibility to infection. In fact, zinc deficiency has been linked to the death of over eight hundred thousand children every year.

Zinc levels in food vary according to the levels of essential nutrients in soil, a level which must be maintained by soil conservation. Assuming that levels of zinc in soil are equal, the most zinc-rich plants are wheat germ and bran, seeds, beans, nuts, and blackcurrants. Many cereals are also fortified with zinc sulfate and oxide. Nonetheless, many people supplement this element in their diets as an insurance policy against poor eating habits.

The Bottom Line

Planning and developing a diet so as not to be deficient in any of the vital nutrients can be a challenging, some might say virtually impossible task. Indeed, it's probably only by the combination of right eating and a strong base of supplements that an ordinary person can ensure that they're getting everything they need to live a long, healthy, happy existence. Remain aware of the limitations of both whole foods and synthetic pills, and you'll have gone a long way towards making that future yours. Clearly the prudent course of action is to initiate a regimen including quality whole food supplements.

* These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

jama.ama-assn.org/cgi/content/abstract/297/8/842)

journals.cambridge.org/action/displayFulltext?type=6&fid=923224&jid=&volumeId=&issueId=&aid=923220

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10682877b

By Anthony Antolics RN,BSN The Nutrition Nurse

Tony Antolics, RN, BA, BSN

* Bachelor of Science Nursing...Excelsior College, Magna Cum Laude
* Bachelor of Arts Psychology Mental Health...Southern Connecticut State University, Summa Cum Laude
* Sigma Theta Tau, The National Honor Society of Nursing
* Psi Chi, The National Honor Society in Psychology
* Zeta Delta Epsilon, Honors Service Society by invitation, Southern Connecticut State University
* Tau Kappa, Excelsior College Nursing Honors Society

At 62 years, with a lifelong interest in nutrition and a consistent practitioner of nutritional supplementation, I suffered a heart attack. After extensive research I realized that my program of supplementation had actually caused further nutritional deficiencies. Many of the supplements I had been taking were synthetic compounds and bio-identical hormones. This lead to comprehensive research in whole food supplementation, where the vitamins, minerals and herbals came from and the methods used to process them.

It became quite evident that the best supplements must be derived from whole foods, organically grown herbals and botanicals and all must be processed using little or no heat to preserve the efficacy of all the various enzymes, flavenoids and phytonutrients only present in raw whole foods. Processed this way, whole food supplements are recognized by the body as nutrition and readily metabolized and utilized to improve health and function, strengthen the immune system and increase one's sense of well-being.

This eventually led me to Shaklee Corporation, a fortune 500 company and the number one natural nutrition company in the US. They have been making people healthier for over 50 years. Shaklee is also the first company in the world to obtain Client Neutral ? certification and totally offset their CO2 emissions, resulting in a net zero impact on the environment.

I am now proud to be a Shaklee Gold Ambassador Independent Distributor.
http://www.thenutritionnurse.com

Whole Food Vitamins and Supplements For Maximum Health

Just as the name suggests, micronutrients are nutrients the body needs in minuscule amounts.  Just because our bodies need them in such tiny amounts does not mean we can do without them altogether, however. Supplements made from whole foods, such as Garden of Life and New Chapter Vitamins, provide micronutrients for optimum health and well-being.

When food is not enough

While scientists, doctors, and nutritionists may disagree on the exact components of a maximally healthy diet, most agree that fruits and vegetables are very important. Fruits and vegetables are rich in antioxidants and micronutrients. The best way to gain the health benefits of fruits and vegetables is simple-include ample amounts and variety in your diet.

Sometimes our diets do not provide all the micronutrients we need. This could be because of the quality of our diets, our stage of life, dietary restrictions, or illness or stress. For example, adults over 50 years old may need more vitamin C than younger people. Also, the possible disease-fighting benefits of vitamin E require more vitamin E than can be obtained from our food.

In situations where we do not get adequate vitamins and minerals from the food we eat, we can add micronutrients to our diets in the form of supplements. When you body requires more nutrients than you can obtain from the food you eat, appropriate whole food supplements can deliver the vitamins and minerals your body needs for optimum health. New Chapter, Garden of Life, and Mt. Capra offer high-quality whole food supplements that deliver all the benefits of whole foods.

Whole food supplements

With our digestive tracts under assault these days, it's a comfort to know nutritional supplements can help restore and optimize digestive health. Primal Defense powder by Garden of Life does just that. Primal Defense contains probiotics, which are living organisms that support the body's absorption of nutrients. Probiotics can help restore balance within the gastrointestinal system.

Sometimes it's just not possible to eat all the fruits and vegetables we need to be healthy. CapraGreens by Mt. Capra is a convenient way to   provide your body with the nutritional benefits of some of the most powerful foods. Among other ingredients, CapraGreens has vitamin C-rich broccoli; acerola cherries for antioxidants, phytonutrients, and flavonoids; folic acid, vitamin A, and iron from spinach, and the strong antioxidant cinnamon.

Garden of Life's Vitamin Code provides raw vitamin supplements. Made with raw food-created nutrients, the whole-food antioxidants are available as multi-vitamins or in formulations for individual vitamins such as C, E, and B-12.

New Chapter has been creating whole-food nutritional products for over 24 years. Their products use only real food and herbs. Berry Green Vcaps combine 20 organic fruits and green vegetables with health-giving herbs. For bone health, New Chapters offers a balanced combination of seven probiotic minerals and nine free-radical scavenging herbs.

When you can't get everything your body needs from the foods you eat, rely on whole-food vitamins and nutritional supplements from New Chapter, Garden of Life and other reputable companies devoted to natural health and nutrition.

Chris Robertson is an author of Majon International, one of the worlds MOST popular internet marketing companies on the web.
Learn more about Vitamins.

A Case For Whole Food Supplements

The Standard American Diet (SAD) is lacking in many vital nutritional components. Being largely composed of prepackaged, convenience foods with few naturally grown food products; this diet has contributed to an epidemic of not only obesity but also extreme nutritional deficiency. While many commercially available vitamin and mineral supplements exist, they are manufactured in an artificial way that reduces bioavailability and promotes chemical contamination. As Americans are not likely to return to eating home grown food directly from their garden, the solution to the nutritional deficiency of America can be found in Whole Food Supplements which are vitamin, mineral and phytonutrient rich products made from actual food concentrates.

The Problem with the Standard American Diet

In the first part of the 1900's most Americans ate a healthy, whole food diet because they had no choice. All food was grown either by the family or obtained from immediately local sources. America in the 1900's was a largely agrarian society with most people living in rural areas and able to grow their own food. During the last century, a massive migration to urban areas has occurred. This has meant that even if one has the desire, most people no longer have the ability to produce self grown food. Either because there is no land or because many do not know how, very few people have a garden and even fewer produce protein in the form of dairy products and animal husbandry.

In spite of this developing migration, during World War II, families were encouraged to have a "victory garden". This was not to ensure that Americans had a great diet but actually to ensure that American families could feed themselves at all, while allowing most of commercial food production to be sent to the troops overseas. That was the last period in history that America got most of their nutrition from locally grown food.

Beginning around the 1950's, Americans did begin to recognize the value of vitamins and minerals within their diet. This was discovered because more and more pre-prepared, highly processed food products became available and nutritional deficiencies began to emerge.

After the end of World War II, many families became two-income families. In addition, many more single parents are now raising children by themselves. This means that in most homes, all of the adults present in any one household are likely employed outside of the home full-time leaving little time for food preparation alone much less any time for food production. America has become a convenience food nation consuming much of the diet from unnatural food sources.

Prepackaged and easy to prepare food products are just that, food "products". Though they may contain carbohydrates, proteins, fats and some "essential" nutrients, they are not real food. The entire food supply chain is rife with contamination and chemical processing and many Americans are unaware of how little nutritional value the food that they consume every day contains. So much publicity and education has focused on the so called food pyramid. The governmental and educational agencies that have devised the perfect American diet have never truly addressed the lack of nutrients, other than the Recommended Daily Allowance (RDA) of basic vitamins and minerals such as Vitamin A, Vitamin D and Calcium.

While these RDA levels of vitamin and mineral consumption may be an absolute bottom line essential to avoid obvious diseases of deficiency such as scurvy or rickets, they are hardly adequate and do not reflect but a small portion of the nutrients contained in whole food, necessary for promotion of health and prevention of disease.

A Crisis in America: Obesity and Other Diseases in the Face of Malnutrition

The main focus of the American diet in recent years has become reducing fat and increasing carbohydrates in the diet. This stream of thought was intended to reduce the growing epidemic of obesity but over the past 20 years, obesity has risen into numbers that appear to be a crisis for Americans. In fact, over the past 20 years the number of adult Americans who are obese has risen by 60% to an unprecedented level of almost 35% of American adults being considered obese. A much worse situation is that a similar number of approximately 32% of American children qualify as overweight or obese. For the first time in American history, the life expectancy of these children may be lower than that of their parents or grandparents.

This has led to an epidemic of heart disease, diabetes and other weight related problems occurring in record numbers not only in adults but seen in children as young as 18 months of age. Additional diseases that may be related to a lack of appropriate nutrients other than simple vitamins in American diets may include a wide variety of conditions ranging from immune disorders implicated in conditions such as Rheumatoid Arthritis, Lupus and Cancer to psychiatric and neurological conditions such as ADHD, Autism and Depression.

Most people believe that obesity occurs simply because people eat too much. While that is true in part, obesity also results from continuously consuming the wrong types of food. In the 1900s when Americans were consuming a largely natural, whole food diet directly from farm to table, obesity was an extremely rare occurrence.

As our diet has changed from an agrarian society's nutrient rich food supply to the urbanized highly processed, artificial foods, our total food consumption has risen. This is in part because, though the body gets more calories from more food, it is still starved of nutrition causing one to eat even more. In addition, in our sedentary lifestyle our bodies actually need less food than when we lived and worked each day on the farm, yet we still eat more because of lack of proper nutrients, abundance of easily obtained processed food and other psychological conditions such as stress eating. In the end, America has become a nation of people who are obese but still malnourished and disease ridden.

An Attempt to Fix the Problem

The ideal diet truly would be that of returning to whole food "farm to table" eating where families either grow their own food and prepare it within minutes of harvesting or at a minimum obtain locally grown food from the market and prepare it within a day or so of harvesting. In today's society this is no longer possible. Even when fresh vegetables and fruits are consumed as a large portion of the diet, our nation's food supply is contaminated by the use of pesticides, herbicides and hormones and much of the nutrient value is lost by transportation of the food crop from thousands of miles away. Food is harvested before it is truly ripe, irradiated, stored cold and transported across states, nations and even oceans before it arrives in our grocery stores as tasteless, substandard, nutrient poor produce.

Many people are attempting to eat only organic, locally grown produce for this reason. While this may be an improvement over the nutritional value of the standard American diet, it is nearly always much more expensive and therefore unaffordable for many and unavailable for others as most markets do not focus on obtaining such products. So this effort, while valiant is still not enough.

The good news about the American nutritional situation is that it is quite easy to fix. Given appropriate nutrition, the human body has an amazing ability to heal itself. Many diseases and conditions caused by overconsumption and malnourishment can be easily corrected by supplementation with whole food nutritional products.

As Americans cannot rely on the food supply to provide adequate nutrition and also cannot count on the source, quality and purity of most commercially available nutritional supplements, the only answer appears to lie in whole food supplementation.

What is a Whole Food Supplement?

Whole food supplements are defined as nutritional supplements derived entirely from food. This is a much more natural and beneficial method of obtaining nutrition from food and herbal supplements alike.

Unfortunately, most commercially available nutritional supplements including vitamins, minerals and herbal products are made completely of single ingredient extracts or worse, artificially synthesized in a lab using chemical processes. While synthesized supplements may in fact provide basic vitamins and minerals known to be vital, artificially prepared products are missing many of the alkaloids, antioxidants and phytochemicals that are thought to play a major role in complete nutrition and disease prevention.

The same is true for herbal supplements and treatments as most commercially available herbal products do provide an extract or synthesized form of the primarily active chemical within the herb, they are still missing many of the synergistic ingredients thought to provide additional benefits of herbal and nutraceutical treatment.

Simply Taking Vitamins isn't Enough

Vitamins and Minerals are absolutely necessary for life but the RDA is generally both inadequate in its estimate and unattainable through the average American diet.

While many commercially available nutritional supplements are available at every corner, through necessity, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does little to regulate the manufacturing of food supplements such as vitamins, minerals and herbal products. The FDA cannot apparently manage even its' main tasks of regulation of the pharmaceutical industry and assurance of the safety of the American food supply.

In the last several years, many counterfeit pharmaceutical products have been discovered such as flu medication being sold online, manufactured outside of the United States was found to be gelatin capsules filled with sheetrock particles. In addition Americans have seen case after case of E. Coli and Salmonella contamination of both American and foreign farm crops such as lettuce, tomatoes, onions and peppers enter our grocery stores. Some of these products were even the so called "organic" products, purported to be safer than traditional crops.

Why a Whole Food Supplement

As there is inadequate supervision of the pharmaceutical and food production industries, there is even less of the nutritional supplement market. The average vitamin or nutritional supplement is manufactured using chemical synthesis and heat processing which destroys the nutritional value of the product within. In addition, many commercially available products are manufactured with fillers, additives, preservatives and other dubious chemicals. Whole food supplements are not.

Within the last several years, significant shortcomings have come to light in terms of foreign made food and health products. Many products have proven to be contaminated with not only the known chemicals that are present in the American food supply but also with much more dangerous unknown chemicals that should never enter the manufacturing process. The only way to ensure that this does not happen is to purchase high quality products from a company with a well established reputation for maintaining high standards of manufacturing and purity. As whole food supplements are natural products, it would be optimal if the manufacturer employed practices of sustainability and green policy.

The ideal food supplement manufacturer recognizes that vitamins do not exist in isolation. The nutritional value of whole food is due to the interweaving of the entire spectrum of nutrients with vitamins and minerals acting in a synergistic fashion with hundreds of other plant alkaloids, phytochemicals and enzymes. The cofactors and bioflavonoids such as terpenes and isoflavones present in whole foods and whole food supplements are integral in the process to restore biochemical balance to the body.

This is quite easy to identify when examining the label of a nutritional supplement, vitamin or herbal product. Though the FDA doesn't do an adequate job of monitoring the food supply or pharmaceutical industry, they have established standards of labeling which include appropriate identification of all ingredients contained in a supplement. Close examination of most regular supplements when compared to whole food supplements will show that most products contain synthetic vitamins, chemicals and filler products while whole food supplements contain natural vitamins and minerals obtained from concentrated food sources such as fruits and vegetables.

Supplements manufactured from whole food sources will contain not only the natural form of vitamins and minerals but also all of the important phytochemicals and phytonutrients important to restoration of nutritional health and prevention of disease derived from whole food concentrates.

Choosing a Quality Supplement

Whole food supplements are nutritional products which have been manufactured directly from food. Food grown in natural conditions is concentrated using carefully designed and conducted cold processing techniques. These methods allow the concentration of the entire spectrum of nutritional value without removing the phytochemicals, alkaloids and other valuable natural substances that ensure adequate nutritional support and help to prevent disease.

When choosing a whole food supplement one should ensure that the product is from a manufacturing company known to have a long standing reputation for quality and experience in whole food processing. The products should be constituted entirely of whole food products which have been refined using cold processing without the nutrient reducing effects of extreme heat, pasteurization and irradiation. They should also be free of artificial filler products and preservative chemicals. The manufacturer should have a process of testing for purity and guarantee of quality and ideally should offer a money back guarantee if one is not satisfied with the product. For the American consumer, optimally an American product will be purchased an in an effort to aid the environment, a company with "green" policies should be chosen to promote sustainability of the food supply.

Specific Nutrient Needs

Vitamin A

Vitamin A and the carotenoids are highly present in many vibrantly colored fruits and vegetables along with fish and animal livers and are essential for:

o proper functioning of the eye and skin including the gastrointestinal tract

o acts as an antioxidant, protecting against cancer and diseases of aging

o important in support of the immune system for protection against viruses and infections of the organ linings of bladder, kidneys, lungs and mucous membranes

o essential for protein utilization

Vitamin A deficiency causes dry hair, skin, eye disorders, fatigue, reproductive difficulties, frequent colds and infections, and skin disorders.

Traditional vitamin supplements will typically contain synthetic Vitamin A Palmitate and/or beta carotene isolate. Whole Food Supplements will contain Vitamin A1, Vitamin A2, retinal, retinoic acid and a number of more the 500 carotenes all of which are precursors to Vitamin A along with essential fatty acid, natural sugars, minerals and other phytonutrients found only in whole food.

Vitamin B Complex

Vitamin B is actually a number of similarly related compounds found in yellow and green fruits and vegetables particularly leafy green and cruciferous vegetables along with nuts, grains, eggs, dairy products and meats and are known to be essential for:

o maintenance of skin, eyes, hair, liver and mouth

o healthy gastrointestinal tract and brain functioning

o coenzymes involved in energy production

o proper functioning of nervous system particularly in the elderly

Specific Vitamin B Deficiencies:

B-1 Thiamine deficiency - Beriberi, canker sores, mental disorders such as dementia, depression and dizziness, fatigue, indigestion, diarrhea, numbness and muscle atropy

B-2 Riboflavin deficiency -mouth sores, cataracts, dermatitis, hair loss, neurological symptoms on skin, light sensitivity, seizures

B-3 Niacin deficiency - pellagra, bad breath, skin and mouth disorders, memory impairment, confusion, depression, muscle weakness

B-5 Pantothenic Acid deficiency - abdominal pains, skin disorders, hair loss, muscle spasms and poor coordination, immune impairment, low blood pressure

B-6 Pyridoxine deficiency - eye, skin and mouth inflammation, mucous membrane disorders, lack of wound healing

B-12 Cyanocobalamin deficiency - pernicious anemia, unsteady gate, dizziness, drowsiness, depression, hallucination headaches, memory loss, tinnitus, spinal cord degeneration

Folic Acid deficiency - certain types of anemia, fatigue, mental disorders, insomnia, diarrhea, spina bifida in developing infant

Traditional Vitamin B supplements will generally contain only the synthetic form of one or more of the B vitamin group, while whole food supplements will contain all of the Vitamin B family along with the added benefits of phytonutrients such as inositols, PABA, biotin and choline derived from concentration of whole foods.

Vitamin C

Vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid) is found in citrus fruits, berries and green vegetables and is essential for:

o tissue growth and repair

o adrenal gland function

o healthy gums

o production of anti stress hormones and interferon

o absorption of iron in the gastrointestinal system

o metabolism of amino acids and vitamins

o activity as an antioxidant and support of the immune system

Vitamin C deficiency causes Scurvy, poor wound healing, gum disease, edema, weakness, frequent infections, fatigue, and joint pains.

Traditional Vitamin C supplements will have only Ascorbic Acid or Ascorbate, while Whole Food Supplement vitamin C will contain phytonutrients such as rutin, bioflavonoids, tyrosinase, ascorbinogen, vitamin C factors such as J, K and P along with mineral co-factors necessary for vitamin C activity all derived appropriately from whole food.

Vitamin D

Vitamin D is present largely in dairy food products but also in fish and fish oils, green leafy vegetables, vegetable oils, egg yolks and sweet potatoes and is necessary for:

o bone and teeth growth and development in children

o muscle performance including skeletal and cardiac muscle

o prevention of bone and tooth loss in elderly

o thyroid and immune system functioning

o normal blood clotting

Vitamin D deficiency includes rickets, osteomalacea, loss of appetite, burning of mouth and throat, diarrhea, insomnia, and visual difficulties.

Most commercial Vitamin D products including prescription formulas will contain only Vitamin D2 (ergocalciferol) which is less absorbable and more difficult to use but has a longer shelf life than it's cousin Vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol) while whole food supplements will contain significant amounts of Vitamin D3 along with many other beneficial phytonutrients in the form of whole food concentrates.

Vitamin E

Vitamin E is found in cold pressed vegetable oils, dark green leafy vegetables, beans, nuts and grains and is essential for:

o antioxidant activity important for the prevention of cancer and cardiovascular disease

o circulation and tissue repair

o blood clotting and healing

o skin and hair health

Vitamin E deficiency may result in damage to red blood cells, nerve destruction, infertility, menstrual problems, and neuromuscular disorders.

Traditional vitamin E supplements will generally include only one of the 8 active components of the vitamin E family, alpha-tocopherol. Whole food supplements will contain not only alpha-tocopherol but also the 7 other alpha, beta, gamma and delta forms of both tocopherol and tocotrienol derived from concentrated food.

Calcium

Calcium is vital for the formation of bones and teeth and the maintenance of gums. It is essential for the functioning of all muscular tissue, particularly the heart and participates in cellular functioning in virtually every area of the body. Calcium is highly present in dairy products, meaty and oily fish and green leafy vegetables.

Calcium deficiency can lead to brittle bones, teeth and nails, skin disorders, cardiac disorders such as high blood pressure and heart palpitations, cognitive impairment, hyperactivity and seizure disorders.

Calcium contained in most traditional supplements will contain only calcium carbonate or calcium citrate with the possible addition of Vitamin D or may contain D1-calcium-phosphate which is completely insoluble and cannot be absorbed. Whole Food Supplement calcium products will contain additional nutrients such as amino acids and vitamin C which are necessary for calcium absorption and utilization.

Iron

Iron is essential for the production of hemoglobin which is vital to the supply of oxygen throughout the body. Iron is also important for production of many important enzymes within the body. It can be found in meats, fish, eggs, green leafy vegetables, nuts and grains in large amounts as well as a number of herbs such as alfalfa and milk thistle.

Deficiency of Iron includes symptoms of anemia, weakness and fatigue, hair loss, mouth inflammation, fingernail malformation and mental impairment.

Most commercially available iron supplements will contain iron sulfate or iron gluconate as a singular product or in combination with other vitamins and minerals. Iron is best absorbed in the presence of vitamin C and when consumed as a constituent of a food source. Whole food supplement iron will result in better absorption and less stomach upset as it is derived from whole food.

Magnesium

Magnesium is vital as an enzyme catalyst especially with regard to energy production. It also aids in cellular calcium and potassium uptake which makes it essential for the transmission of muscle and nerve impulses. It can be readily found in many foods especially animal products such as dairy, meat and seafood but also in many fruits and vegetables such as apples, apricots, bananas, whole grains and soy products.

Deficiency of magnesium will cause muscular irritability, mental disorders, chronic fatigue, chronic pain syndromes, depression and pulmonary disorders along with being a factor in hypertension and sudden cardiac death.

Traditionally prepared magnesium supplements will contain only magnesium usually in the form of magnesium chloride or magnesium sulfate while whole food supplements will contain other minerals such as calcium and potassium along with vitamin c and other nutrients from whole food concentrates necessary for the proper absorption and utilization of magnesium.

Zinc

Zinc is important in the growth and function of reproductive organs and may help regulate oil gland activity and prevent acne. It is essential for protein and collagen synthesis and vital to the functioning of a healthy immune system and has been shown to have potent antiviral activity. It plays a major role in wound healing and the sensation of taste and smell. It is also a constituent of many physiological chemicals such as insulin and various enzymes. Zinc is highly present in eggs, fish, beans, meats, mushrooms and many seed such as pumpkin and sunflower seeds.

Deficiency of zinc may result in a loss of taste and smell and may cause the fingernails to become weak and thin. Other signs may include delayed sexual maturation, growth impairment, disorders of sexual organs of both males and females, fatigue, hair loss, slow wound healing and recurrent infections.

Many commercially available supplements will contain either zinc gluconate as a singular product or in combination with other minerals without regard as to the appropriate ratios for optimal absorption and utilization within the body. As whole food supplements are derived from actual food, the appropriate ratios necessary for maximum benefit are already present established by nature.

Unique Benefits of Whole Food Supplements

According to the U. S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), over 70% of Americans do not consume enough whole food products to provide even the RDA of vitamins. While vitamins are necessary for life, ordinary vitamin supplements will not entirely fill the gap. Unlike most commercial dietary supplements which are stand alone chemicals, whole food supplements contain any number of several thousand known and unknown phytonutrients such as:

o Carotenoids

o Polyphenols (Flavonoids)

o Phenols

o Indoles

o Lignans (Phytoestrogens)

o Phytates (Inositols)

o Saponins

o Sulfides and Thiols

o Terpenes

Research has proven these nutrients to be protective against many diseases. Some types of phytonutrients are known to provide such benefits as enhanced immunity, cancer prevention, detoxification and DNA repair.

Carotenoids

The phytonutrient category of carotenoids has been shown to protect against certain types of cancer, optical failure from diseases such as macular degeneration and assist in the prevention of cardiac disease. Carotenoids are partially responsible for the vibrant colors of many fruits and vegetables.

Carotenoids can help prevent vitamin A deficiency by acting as precursors to Vitamin A which assists the body in manufacturing Vitamin A. In addition several carotenoids are known to be anti-oxidants and may protect against diseases of aging and exposure to environmental toxins. Carotenoids may also be a factor in the prevention and treatment of other diseases such as:

o Cancer - including cervical, throat, lung, prostate and skin cancers

o Heart disease - including angina pectoris and congestive heart failure

o Infections - including AIDS, Chlamydia, Candidiasis and pneumonia

o Immune system mediated disorders - including rheumatoid arthritis, and photosensitivity

o Other conditions - such as asthma and osteoarthritis

A balanced formula of carotenoids such as found in whole foods and whole food supplements will be better absorbed than individual supplements as too much of any one carotenoids may inhibit the absorption of others. This is one of the many reasons why whole food supplements are more beneficial than simple vitamin supplementation.

Carotenoids known to be present and beneficial can be found in the following fruits or vegetables:

o alpha carotene - carrots

o beta carotene - green cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli, and Brussels sprouts, yellow/orange vegetables such as sweet potatoes, pumpkin and carrots

o beta cryptoxanthin - orange fruits such as mangos, peaches and apricots

o lutein - leafy green vegetables such as turnip greens, collard greens and spinach

o lycopene - red fruits such as watermelon, guava, tomatoes and red grapefruit

o zeaxanthin - green vegetables such as green beans and broccoli, yellow food such as eggs mangos and citrus fruits

Polyphenols

Polyphenols (Flavonoids) are known to be active antioxidants and are thought to be important in preventing diseases caused by oxidative stress such as some cancers and some forms of cardiac disease and some inflammatory processes which cause diseases such as arthritis and other diseases of aging. Some examples of polyphenols found in food products include:

o anthocyanins - red foods such as berries, red cabbage, red grapes

o flavones - celery and parsley

o ellagic acid - berries such as strawberries, blueberries and raspberries

o catechins - tea, wine and chocolate along with other tart foods such as berries and apples

o flavanones - found in citrus fruits

o coumarins - found in grains and grasses such as wheat grass

Phenols

Phenols encompass a number of anti oxidant nutrients such as Resveratrol and are known to be powerful antioxidants. Phenols have proven to be effective in the prevention of age related disorders and many diseases caused in part by oxidative stress such as arthritis, cardiovascular disease and cancer. Phenols are present in purple fruits such as grapes and blueberries along with wine and tea.

Indoles

Indoles are known to aid in hormone production and maintenance of balance. Indoles are also thought to provide cellular protection against cancers such as colon cancer and endometrial cancer along with others. They are largely present in cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli, Brussels sprouts and cabbages.

Lignans

Lignans (Phytoestrogens) have weak estrogen like activity which is important in the prevention and possible treatment of hormone mediated cancers such as breast, testicular and prostate cancer. They also may block inflammatory processes which may aid in the treatment of diseases such as arthritis and platelet aggregation leading to stroke. Lignans highly present in flax seed and soy products but are also found in other grains such as wheat, barley and oats along with beans and vegetables such as garlic and broccoli.

Inositols

Phytates (Inositols) may help lower blood cholesterol and aid in prevention of mental disorders such as bipolar disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder and depression. Inositols and Phytates are present in large amounts in grains, nuts and melon family members such as cantaloupe, squash and cucumbers.

Saponins

Saponins are known to lower cholesterol and may act as an immune booster protecting the body against infections from viruses, bacteria and fungi. They may also provide some protection against heart disease and have proven to be effective in the treatment of cancer. Several anti cancer drugs are based on the saponin molecular structure. Saponins can be found in foods such as asparagus, red onions, alfalfa sprouts, and soybeans.

Thiols

Sulfides and Thiols are vital to the functioning of the cardiovascular system including the smooth muscles of the arteries and arterioles and the linings of both veins and arteries. Thiols have proven instrumental in the development of plaques contributing to atherosclerosis, arteriosclerosis, myocardial infarction and stroke. Sulfides and thiols are highly present in members of the odiferous Lilly family such as garlic, onion, chives and leeks

Terpenes

Terpenes are thought to protect against cancer and free radical damage which may contribute to diseases of aging such as stroke and alzheimers disease. Terpenes are highly present in foods such as green foods, grain and soy products and also in many herbs such as Gingko biloba.

These phytonutrients are just a few examples of natural molecules known to aid in promotion of health and make the case for the use of Whole Food Supplements. There are thousands more, yet to be identified that are present and beneficial and cannot be synthesized in a lab. Supplementation with isolated vitamins and minerals alone will not solve a nutritional deficiency.

As Americans are unlikely to return to the farm, consumption of a whole food supplement appears to be the only way to actually bridge the nutritional canyon that the American diet has created due to a lifestyle of convenient packaged food that is easy to prepare but sorely deficient in nutritional quality.

Anthony Antolics RN, BSN
http://www.TheNutritionNurse.com

* Bachelor of Science Nursing...Excelsior College, Magna Cum Laude
* Bachelor of Arts Psychology Mental Health...Southern Connecticut State University, Summa Cum Laude
* Sigma Theta Tau, The National Honor Society of Nursing
* Psi Chi, The National Honor Society in Psychology
* Zeta Delta Epsilon, Honors Service Society by invitation, Southern Connecticut State University
* Tau Kappa, Excelsior College Nursing Honors Society

At 62 years, with a lifelong interest in nutrition and a consistent practitioner of nutritional supplementation, I suffered a heart attack. After extensive research I realized that my program of supplementation had actually caused further nutritional deficiencies. Many of the supplements I had been taking were synthetic compounds and bio-identical hormones. This lead to comprehensive research in whole food supplementation, where the vitamins, minerals and herbals came from and the methods used to process them.

It became quite evident that the best supplements must be derived from whole foods, organically grown herbals and botanicals and all must be processed using little or no heat to preserve the efficacy of all the various enzymes, flavenoids and phytonutrients only present in raw whole foods. Processed this way, whole food supplements are recognized by the body as nutrition and readily metabolized and utilized to improve health and function, strengthen the immune system and increase one's sense of well-being.

This eventually led me to Shaklee Corporation, a fortune 500 company and the number one natural nutrition company in the US. They have been making people healthier for over 50 years. Shaklee is also the first company in the world to obtain Client Neutral ? certification and totally offset their CO2 emissions, resulting in a net zero impact on the environment.

I am now proud to be a Shaklee Gold Ambassador Independent Distributor.
http://www.thenutritionnurse.com

Whole Food Vitamins - A Comparative Guide to Nutritional Supplements

The theory behind the so-called Paleolithic Diet (Paleo Diet, for short) suggests that whole food vitamins obtained from minimally refined and processed whole foods, like vegetables, fruit, nuts and lean meats, should be optimally suited for human biology, and thus optimal health.

The Paleo Diet (or caveman diet) is based on the kinds of foods that our human ancestors ate for millions of years, long before agriculture and fast food restaurants came to be. For most of the time humans have been on the planet, they had to collect (hunt and gather) their food from whatever was around them in nature. There was no McDonald's conveniently located every two or three miles on the Serengeti.

The result of humans evolving in harmony with the natural foods available is that human biology and genetics are optimized for such a diet. This is why fruits and vegetables are universally considered to be healthy foods by almost everyone, and refined sugar (which was rare during hunter-gatherer times, in the form of seasonal honey) causes obesity, cavities, and even diabetes.

You don't need a PhD in nutrition to come to the common sense conclusion that if humans evolved on a whole food diet of vegetables, fruit, nuts, and lean meat, then such a diet ought to be optimally compatible with our biochemistry and genetics.

After all, humans are still around, so we must have done something right as a species.

It is not easy to eat a whole food diet in this day and age. Refined and processed foods are everywhere and many people have turned to nutritional supplements to get the important vitamins they may not be getting in the diet.

The "paleo diet" concept serves as a comparative guide to nutritional supplements, for those people who take them. Just as foods can be devitalized by refining and processing, so can vitamin supplements.

If you are eating a whole food diet, rich in vegetables, fruit, nuts, and lean meat, and low in calories, you probably don't need to supplement with vitamins at all. But if you feel you would like to supplement your diet, seek out whole food vitamins. Simply use the Paleo Diet as a comparative guide to nutritional supplements.

Look at labels and determine if the nutritional supplements contain whole food vitamins vs. refined or synthetic isolates. Consider that even though whole food vitamins may contain less of any single "active ingredient," they also contain traces of many micronutrients your body needs that would be absent in the purified isolated vitamin concentrate.

For example, even though an apple contains a lot of vitamin C (ascorbic acid), it has been shown that the antioxidant capacity of an apple is far greater than that of the ascorbic acid it contains. In other words, other whole food vitamins in the apple contribute to its antioxidant power.

It has been shown that refined and isolated beta-carotene is not as beneficial as beta-carotene obtained from eating carrots, and may actually be harmful.

Raw fish oil vitamins, such as salmon fish oil or cod liver oil, are good examples of whole food vitamins. Fish oil contains a number of important nutrients besides the essential fatty acids EPA and DHA on which they are marketed. Cod liver oil is one of the only sources of natural vitamin D, an essential nutrient for bone health and many biological functions in the human body.

This isn't to suggest that whole food vitamins can prevent or cure any disease (although there's good evidence they do). Genetic and environmental factors all play a role in health outcomes and disease. But all else held constant, whole food vitamins obtained from a natural whole food diet will provide the optimal nutrition for the human body, as it was designed by nature.

Isn't that a lot easier to live by than all the confusing nutrition science that is out there? Remember, a lot of the nutrition science being conducted is funded by the manufacturers of refined and processed (junk) food. Is it any wonder that the research is so contradictory and confusing?

Lastly, a note on cereal grains. Human biology isn't adapted for eating grains. Hunter-gatherers didn't eat them and it was only with agricultural cultivation that sufficient quantities of cereal grains could be produced by humans. Even so, grains require a lot of processing (grinding and cooking) to be digestible in humans. Just as with whole food vitamins, whole grains are better than refined grains, but grains should always be consumed sparingly and should only make up a small percentage of the human diet.

Joe Leonard is a science writer from the Madison, WI area. He spent eight (8) years in R&D at a nutritional supplement company that manufactured whole food vitamins. He worked closely with health care practitioners and nutrition researchers, collecting available data on clinical nutrition and health outcomes to develop a comparative guide to nutritional supplements. He saw first hand how whole food vitamins in the diet were superior to synthetic, isolated nutrients for promoting human health and preventing disease. He is now a freelance science writer with a passion for whole food vitamins and a proponent of the "paleolithic diet." Joe has a Masters in Population Health from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and a Masters in Science Journalism from Iowa State University. He's a brainy one!

http://wholefoodvitamins.wordpress.com
http://wholefoodvitamins.wordpress.com/2010/08/15/whole-food-vitamins-a-comparative-guide-to-nutritional-supplements

Whole Foods Vs Antioxidant Supplements For Optimal Health

Hundreds of studies done over the last few decades have shown the benefits of eating whole fresh fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes, nuts and seeds. Scientists have studied these foods to determine what is in them that provides these positive results in lower cancer rates, less heart disease, strokes, diabetes and many other chronic diseases. One common factor in all of these are the "antioxidants" vitamins A (in the form of beta-carotene), C and E.

An antioxidant is a molecule which can slow or prevent the oxidation of other molecules. Oxidation is a natural process in the body that can produce free radicals, which start chain reactions that damage cells. This damage is thought to be the root cause many of the chronic diseases common today.

Because of the known benefits of these antioxidants in foods, and the fact that many people--for whatever reason--do not eat enough of these foods; supplement manufacturers have created antioxidant supplements to make it easy for people to add them to their diet.

The question is, do these supplements provide the same health-enhancing benefits as getting these antioxidants naturally in foods? The answer, from recent studies, seems to be "NO."

The most recent study published in the January 7, 2009 issue of the Journal of the National Cancer Institute, followed two other important studies that also did not show that various antioxidant supplements could prevent cancer.

"Although a healthful dietary pattern rich in fruits and vegetables may lower cancer risk, such benefits cannot be mimicked by simply popping a few vitamin supplements," Dr. JoAnn Manson of Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School in Boston said in a statement.

Dr. Manson and colleagues tracked 7,627 women with an average age of 60, who took supplements for about 9-1/2 years.

Some took 500 milligrams of vitamin C daily, 600 IU (international units) of vitamin E every other day or 50 milligrams of beta carotene every other day--or different combinations of the three supplements. Others were given placebos.

Results showed that women who took the supplements had similar rates of cancer and cancer death compared to those who took a placebo. The study suggested that vitamin E supplements might reduce colon cancer risk and that beta carotene supplements might actually modestly raise lung cancer risk.

"Simply taking antioxidant supplements is insufficient to prevent cancer. People should take more natural plant foods which are rich with many nutrients including but not limited to antioxidants," Lin said.

Fruits and vegetables are rich in these vitamins, and it has been shown that people who eat plenty of these foods have a lower risk of heart disease, cancer and other conditions.

In a separate study released in November, 2008 involving about 15,000 male doctors, vitamin E and C supplements did not lower cancer risk. Another study released in October, 2008 found no cancer reduction in 35,000 men taking vitamin E and selenium supplements.

Previous to these, two major studies sponsored by the National Cancer Institute in 1994 and 1996 showed that the incidence of lung cancer was 12-28 percent higher among participants who took beta-carotene supplements than among those who took a placebo. The rate of death from all causes was 8-17 percent higher in those who received the beta-carotene supplements. The two studies involved 29,000 and 18,000 participants respectively over a period of 4-6 years.

Summary

1. There are still some unknown factors in whole foods which provide health-enhancing benefits besides the major vitamin antioxidants that we know of.

2. It is difficult, if not impossible to duplicate the complexity and balance of nutrients in foods created in nature.

3. It can actually be harmful to separate and eat isolated parts of foods and remove the natural balance of nutrients in they contain.

In regard to #1 above, we actually do know what some of these other factors are. They are called "phytonutrients" and have many positive functions in the body including--but not limited to--antioxidation. There are dozens, sometimes hundreds, or even thousands of these in the best foods. They all need to work together in synergy--not each separately.

The bottom line: there are no shortcuts to eating the best foods such as fresh vegetables and fruits, whole grains, legumes (beans, peas, nuts and seeds), low-fat dairy, and lean meats.

So focus on eating the best foods in their most unprocessed whole-food form, rather than counting on supplements to make up the difference in your diet. If you do supplement, make sure it is based on whole-food concentrates as foundational nutrition, rather than isolated vitamins and minerals--so you get the natural balance they provide. If you have a specific need for more of a certain vitamin or mineral due to a deficiency--add those to your diet as prescribed by your health professional. Healthy eating!

Dr. Roy Vartabedian is a specialist in disease prevention/health promotion and holds a Doctor of Public Health degree. His New York Times Best-Seller, Nutripoints, has been used in 13 countries in 10 languages worldwide. Try the free Nutripoints QuickCheck at http://www.Nutripoints.com