Types of Vitamins

Question 1

USP Synthetic, chemically isolated nutrients

Answer 1

• large doses of isolate, man-made chemicals
• crystallization: chemicals, solvents and heat used to distill 1 specific isolated chemical structure (“pure” vitamin)
• “purification” = all “impurities” destroyed
• synthetic = chemist reconstructs crystalline molecule from sources other than living foods

Question 2

Food-based nutrients

Answer 2

• supplements formulated with whole foods
• very gentle on stomach
• naturally “buffers” the vitamins and minerals
• enhance digestion/absorption of formula
• provide naturally occurring vitamins, minerals, phytonutrients as close to food as possible
• provide fuel for natural energy

Question 3

Food-grown nutrients

Answer 3

• synthetic nutrients cultured in a probiotic whole-food medium
• transformed into whole-food complex
• body easily recognizes and absorbs

Question 4

Food-based nutrients

Answer 4

• vitamins and minerals derived from whole-food plant sources
• extracted from vegetables, fruits, medicinal plants
• body easily recognizes and absorbs