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Our bodies are intricately designed systems that constantly strive to maintain balance and promote our overall health. One fundamental dimension of this balance is nutrition sourced from various food items we consume daily. Throughout history, our bodies have become adept at extracting and utilizing key nutrients from whole foods, be it a simple apple or a piece of grilled fish. However, as our lifestyles and food habits changed over the centuries, our dietary needs adopted newer ways to fulfill these necessities in the form of supplements – often made from synthetic materials rather than natural sources.
Synthetics are substances that are not naturally occurring and are artificially manufactured in a lab. Primarily, supplements are fashioned from synthetic sources due to simpler supply chains, longer shelf life, less quantity requirement, and taste characteristics. Of course, cost considerations constitute a major reason. Whole food supplements that provide all the nutritional benefits in their purest, most organic forms are more beneficial, but also more expensive by comparison.
For instance, at SOS Nutrients, they choose to source their zinc from guava leaf extracts, despite it being 45 times pricier compared to any of its synthetic counterparts, such as zinc gluconate. Likewise, their Vitamin C is extracted from a blend of organic freeze-dried berries, which costs about 25 times more than any of the synthetic versions of vitamin C, such as ascorbic acid.
This quest for affordability over efficacy has led to synthetics assuming a significant role in the manufacturing of supplements we consume daily. Synthetic forms of Beta Carotene, one of the main sources of Vitamin A, is overwhelmingly derived from petrochemicals. Vitamin B1 or Thiamine Hydrochloride, essential for our overall health, is commonly obtained from a mix of hydrochloric acid, acetone, ammonia, and coal tar. Manufacturers feed the trend by focusing mainly on the minuscule amount of whole food present in the product, conveniently overlooking the synthetic substances also present.
Research increasingly indicates that our bodies respond differently, and often not as effectively, to synthetics as compared to natural nutrients. A Finnish study revealed an alarming 8% increase in all-cause mortality due to synthetic beta carotene, causing the research to be halted prematurely. Additionally, investigations into Vitamin C have shown the synthetic version to actually be a net negative and at times promote atherosclerosis when compared to dietary natural vitamin C.
The alarming truth is that manufacturers are experts in the art of glossing over their product’s actual synthetic content. Accurate knowledge of reading and interpreting nutritional labels is hence of utmost importance to decipher what one is truly consuming. As the prevalence of synthetics in supplements increases, understanding the differences between synthetic and natural nutrients is pivotal for one’s health and well-being.
However, all hope is not lost. Many health-conscious brands like SOS Nutrients prioritize wholesome nutrition over cost factors. SOS Nutrients firmly believes in delivering comprehensive nutrition to their customers by sourcing ingredients directly from natural, organic foods such as freeze-dried berries, a blend of organic kelps from Iceland known for their iodine content, 7 organic medicinal mushrooms with high beta glucan levels, etc…
In the end, comprehensive nutrition isn’t just about filling your plate with vitamins and minerals; it’s about finding them in their most nutritious, natural, and beneficial forms. Natural nutrients, derived directly from the earth’s bounty, have shown time and again that they are better suited and more effectively absorbed by our bodies than their artificial, synthetic substitutes. Our consumption and nutritional habits need to factor in this significant understanding.
Achieving the right balance in your diet requires making informed choices about what you choose to fuel your body with, especially when navigating the complex world of supplements. Synthetics may be cheaper, but it is essential to question: at what cost to our health in the long run? Ultimately, investing in natural, whole food nutrition isn’t just an investment in our current wellness, but a stronghold for our future health too.
Published By: Aize Perez
