Supplements vs. Whole Foods For Health
This morning I wanted to make a smoothie that would have plenty of vitamin C, antioxidants and immune-boosting vitamins and minerals to combat the cold season. Most of us think that taking a multi-vitamin is the answer to staying healthy.
However, fruits and vegetables contain many biologically active ingredients that may help ward off illness and disease in ways that vitamins alone do not. A healthy diet is much more powerful than simply taking a daily multivitamin. When you’re considering the pros and cons of multivitamins, consider what you expect to gain and why you think you need a supplement in the first place. If you need to supplement your diet with additional nutrients then vitamins are not going to be your answer. There’s a reason why they call them supplements. They should only supplement a healthy diet, and cannot replace a healthy diet alone. Supplements can be expensive, and in most cases, aren’t worth the investment. You will gain more with your money spent at the farmer’s market or your local grocery store’s organic produce section than with all of supplements you currently purchase.
Big Pharma Is Also Making Vitamins
According to the Mayo Clinic, nearly 7 in 10 Americans take prescription drugs. So, that means over 70 percent of American’s are on pharmaceutical drugs. The very same companies that are producing pharmaceutical drugs are making our multivitamins. Take the popular multivitamin Centrum for instance. Pfizer, one of the largest pharmaceutical companies in the world, makes Centrum. There are so many negligible ingredients in Centrum, including calcium carbonate, the least absorbable form of calcium, magnesium oxide, which is the cheapest form of magnesium and hard to absorb, and many more. To find out the truth behind Centrum, you can read Meghan Telphner’s bog here.
Counterfiet Supplement World is a Booming Business
If you feel that you must purchase vitamins and supplements, you need to know where they are coming from. I work with my functional medicine doctor, whom I know has done her due diligence when prescribing vitamins, probiotics and other supplements. In the U.S., there are no regulations, and because of this, there are thousands of conterfeit supplment companies that are eager to sensationalize their product, and then take your money and run.
This article, from Gary Collins, who is a former special agent and forensic investigator for the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), explains why it is not safe to purchase supplements from unknown, unreliable sources, including Amazon. In fact, Amazon is loaded with these unscrupulous supplement suppliers. Gary says: “One of the easiest ways to make a dishonest buck in the supplement world is to create a pill that mirrors a name-brand health supplement. Create lookalike packaging and you can sell your worthless pill on the Internet for a “discounted” price.
And a counterfeit operation is born!
It’s Easier to Look To Food For Your Daily Dose of Vitamins and Minerals
When it comes to multivitamins, look at your diet first. When you start looking at food as fuel for your body, you’ll feel empowered to make healthy food choices and you’ll be excited to experiment with recipes to incoroporate more of the colorful rainbow of fruits and vegetables vs. disease-promoting unhealthy foods, followed by your counterfiet multivitamin.
The easiest way to get a heavy load of vitamins and minerals every day is with smoothies. The powerhouse smoothie below is full of vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and immune-boosting fruits and vegetables that will keep you healthy this winter. I’ve broken down each ingredient to help you see how you are fueling your body with vitamins, minerals, and immune-boosting health benefits.
Daily Multi-Vitamin Smoothie
Serves 4
1 cup chopped Kale High in vitamin C, K, and revs up body’s detoxification process
½ cup alfalfa sprouts High in vitamin C and K and antioxidants and omega-3 fatty acids, helps build strong bones, helps prevent iron deficiency, nutritionally dense, very low in calories, loads of fiber.
1 cup chopped bok choy Powerhouse vitamin C, A, K, plus calcium, magnesium, potassium, manganese, and iron, great for cardiovascular health
1 Tbsp chopped cilantro Removes heavy metals, lowers blood sugar, anti-inflammatory
½ zucchini Rich source of B vitamins, boots energy
1 carrot Rich in antioxidants, helps with acne and skin problems
½ avocado Healthy fat, high in potassium, lowers bad “LDL” cholesterol
1 cup pineapple High in vitamin C, antioxidants, immune system, digestion support
1 cup blueberries High in antioxidants, reduce inflammation and oxidative stress
½ cup strawberries High in vitamin C, antioxidants, fiber and potassium
1 banana High in potassium, helps maintain fluid levels in the body
1 lemon – juiced High in vitamin C, digestion and hydration, cleanses the cells
1 tbsp shredded coconut Anti-bacterial, boosts immune function.
3 scoops collagen protein Supports bone health, protein source
2 Tsp Spirulina Superfood: Powerful antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory, can lower bad “LDL” cholesterol and triglyceride levels, contains Vitamin B1, B2, B3, Copper and Iron
2 Tsp Flax-Chia seed blend Fiber and Omega 3’s
1 Tbsp ground cacao powderSuperfood: More antioxidants than blueberries, Cocoa is one of the richest sources of polyphenols. It’s especially abundant in flavanols, which have potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects.
2 cups almond milk
2 cups of water
Ice
Place all in a high-speed blender or Vitamix and blend.
Enjoy!