Whole food source supplement vs. synthetic

[Jax08]

We all seem to fill ourselves and our dogs with vitamins. Carmspack made a comment about whole food source vitamin C vs. synthetic so I've been doing some research trying to find more information.

Here is a decent article. Really makes me think...if we feed a raw diet for it's benefits, why are we giving synthetic vitamins?

Natural Whole Food Vitamins: Ascorbic Acid Is Not Vitamin C | The Doctor Within

("Synthetic Vitamins vs. Whole Food Vitamins") Powered by Google Docs

Any thoughts? Comments? Knowledge to add? More reading recommendations?

[Mac's Mom]

I found this link - quick read
10 ?People? Foods for Dogs | Modern Dog magazine - the best dog magazine ever

[yuricamp]

Originally Posted by Mac's Mom

I found this link - quick read
10 ?People? Foods for Dogs | Modern Dog magazine - the best dog magazine ever

[Mac's Mom]

There are some statements on the link I don't agree with...but there's vitamin C suggestions

[Jax08]

Thanks Carrie. I wasn't really looking for food suggestions. I wanted information regarding how whole food sources are better than synthetic.

[Jax08]

This is interesting...

Jordan Rubin of Garden of Life products about Whole Food Nutritionals

Another issue in the case for whole food supplement nutrition resides in "potency" factors. "Potency"-derived from the Latin potentia, meaning "power" - indicates the strength, ability or capacity to bring about a result. Vitamin potency is usually measured in milligrams or micrograms, based on test results using isolated vitamin fractions. There are deficiencies due to our depleted soils, and refined, processed foods creating an imbalance and a need for nutritional supplements. However, in the supposed "high potency" vitamins -chemically-pure portions of vitamin complexes, their use is worse than the deficiency. Synthetic vitamins, especially in excessive quantities, can have drug-like effects and cause the same symptoms that result from their deficiency. The results are drug effects - not nutritional effects - and often reverse nutritive action.

A nutrition fallacy usually embraced is that natural supplements, because they require less to get more results, are not as potent as synthetic supplements. Nothing could be further from the truth. The bottom line is this: A miniscule amount of a vitamin left in its whole food state is tremendously more functional, powerful, and effective nutritionally (more potent) than a large amount of a chemically - pure, synthetic or isolated vitamin. Whole food nutritional supplements contain organic micronutrients - nutrients needed in minute quantities in order to accomplish large biochemical functions. Furthermore, the body treats synthetic supplements as toxins- rushing the "nonfood" item through the circulatory system to the kidneys, in order to be excreted.

[Jax08]

This seems to be an excellent site as a whole

Use of Multi Vitamin Mineral Supplements

[Jax08]

http://www.vegetarian-nutrition.info.../rose-hips.php

[Jax08]

Here's an interesting article.

Precision Nutrition Coaching | All About Where Vitamin Supplements Come From