Vitamins & Minerals: Do We Need Them?

In my medical practice, whenever I begin to talk about Vitamins & Minerals, most people ask “What are Vitamins and/or Minerals, do I need them and what is the best way to get them?”

I begin by explaining that the human body requires certain essential vitamins and minerals to be introduced, usually through food, into the body on a daily basis.

The only problem with this is that our modern day farming techniques can and often does remove an amount of those essential vitamins and minerals. A government study done over seventy years ago warned us that our soils were depleted of many of the necessary nutrients (vitamins and minerals), which means if the nutrients aren’t in the soil, how do you expect them to be in your fruits & vegetables? Modern farmers use fertilizers that speed the growing process, but these fertilizers lack many of the nutrients that need to be in the soil. Than there is the processing of the produce that can remove even more of the vital nutrients. So what are we to do?

The answer is very simple. You need to supplement your diet with a Whole Food Supplement. I do not mean an off the counter, at your grocery store, vitamin and/or mineral, I mean a True Whole Food Supplement. There is a very big difference between the two.

By definition (From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia), whole food supplements are foods that have been compressed into tablet form, poured into capsules or powdered. The word “whole” indicates that the end product — a supplement — does not contain parts of foods, or synthetic or isolated vitamins. Ideally, the foods comprising these supplements have not been subjected to irradiation, contain no pesticide or herbicide residues, contain no GMO (genetically modified organisms), have not been sterilized, and do not contain animal products that have been subjected to steroids, antibiotics or other drugs. The belief being, the closer to nature, the more benefit foods provide the consumer.

Further, whole food supplements should not contain isolated minerals, amino acids, carotenes or any other substance that is not native to, and still intact within, the original food. Thus, a supplement that contains foods plus a mixture of isolated (also called “fractionated”) vitamins, minerals, amino acids and other substances, does not constitute a whole food supplement. Examples of whole food supplement ingredients may include carrots, broccoli, kale, alfalfa, wheat grass, acerola cherry, cauliflower, kelp, wild pansy, spirulina, bovine liver, bovine kidney, radishes and quinoa.

As for your typical over the counter multi-vitamin/mineral, as Mercola.com puts it, please don’t make the mistake of shopping for supplements at discount stores or large chains like Wal-Mart or Walgreen’s. In my opinion, these are examples of companies that primarily use cheap synthetic ingredients.

Synthetic alternatives to whole foods are known as “isolates”. Your body will absorb only a small percentage of an isolate form of vitamins and minerals and utilize even less. On top of that, there could potentially be side effects, depending on the quality of the isolate.

Many retail outlets and online sellers are primarily interested in your money, not your health. Supplements are not their specialty. Always refer to medical practitioners who specialize in Health & Wellness, for your nutritional questions.

You wouldn’t go to your local Fast Food Restaurant for a nice steak, would you? The same attitude should apply to your health products. You will get what you pay for, so buyers beware.

Consider this when choosing a supplement:

• If the ingredients were all natural, it would say so on their label.

• If the product went through vigorous quality control, you can bet that it would be mentioned.

• If there were no additives or major potential allergens in the product, they would definitely tell you all about it.

Additionally, the ingredients many companies use are not only synthetic, but there is a likelihood they may not have been thoroughly tested for purity and potency.

I am very pleased to tell you that there are products on the market that were designed to meet very high standards. I was asked to help design products, programs and health plans for Health & Wellness. Our core philosophy is that in order to reach True Wellness, you must have proper weight control and proper nutrition. This can only be accomplished by using Whole Food products, exercise and a little determination.

The bottom line is that in order to achieve Your Bodies Optimal Best, you must start with a solid nutritional foundation; we at Ultra International believe we have done just that. Using nothing but the finest ingredients, our Soul Super Food and Mind Super Drink is second to none.

Soul Super Food

• The Natural Visions Soul Super Food is a “Whole Food” Supplement, made from fruits, vegetables, herbs and mushrooms.

• Every Essential Vitamin & Mineral

• Probiotics

• Digestive Enzymes

• Antioxidants

• Glyconutrient Aloe Vera

• Made up of over 100 Essential nutrients that the body requires to perform at its optimal levels.

Mind Super Drink

• The Natural Visions Mind Super Drink is the most complete nutritional drink on the market today.

• The highest antioxidant levels of any drink

• 120 vitamins & minerals

• Glyconutrient enriched Aloe Vera

• 2 oz. serving will deliver about 4500 units based on the ORAC scale

• You will notice a natural increase in energy as well as providing the most packed infusion of antioxidants, minerals and vitamins that your body can utilize for your optimal health.

If you have a True interest in your body and health, which everyone of us should, please take the time to learn more about these revolutionary products and programs at: www.myui.com/lscg. Mind Body & Soul. Think It, Feel It, Live It.

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