Welcome to the first edition of our monthly rant/venting process. We’ll take some time monthly and write our opinions on something happening right now in the health and wellness arena, normally something that gets our blood pressure up or induces flushing when we think about it. This is therapeutic for us, but not court-ordered or anything like that :).
My head is really starting to hurt. The constant banging of it against the wall is starting to take its toll. We just moved into West Hartford and the landlord will be upset with the sheetrock damage…
On an almost daily basis, information comes out showing isolated and synthetic vitamins are bad for you. Article after article, study after study. All confirming what we have been shouting from the rooftops: Vitamins, the way people currently think about them, won’t help you be healthier.
Yet, people keep shoveling them in their mouths without a second thought. It’s a billion-dollar industry. All based on false information and faulty premises.
Things I hear on a daily basis: “My vitamins are natural… They’re not like the drugs ‘Big Pharma’ pushes on me…. The FDA and ‘Big Pharma’ are just trying to take away my vitamins….”
First, let’s talk about the idea of government and business conspiracy. I have news for everyone – ‘Big Pharma” has no interest in taking away your supplements. In fact ‘Big Pharma’ manufactures and sells more vitamins and the raw materials that go into making them than anyone else. So why would they want you to stop taking them?
The FDA’s hands are tied. Because of the DSHEA Act, the FDA is prevented from properly regulating your vitamins. Thanks, Orrin Hatch!
Secondly, vitamin isolates (A, C, E, etc) are not “natural” 90% of the time. They are made synthetically in a lab. Vitamin C from corn syrup, Vitamin D from irradiated lanolin, folic acid differs dramatically from food folate (the healthy form). The list goes on and on.
You have been bamboozled. We’re sorry we’re the one telling you this, but it is true. The natural products industry’s marketing machine created these arguments to get you to consume more.
The wiser consumer says, “Oh, but I get raw/whole food vitamins.” Sorry, no you don’t.
Most of the “whole food” vitamins are more ‘food’ than food. Get it? “Whole Food” vitamin companies take their isolated chemical vitamins and add them to a yeast mix. They call this food. Really.
Don’t believe me, go to the factories and see for yourself. I have; it’s just big tanks where they feed the yeast. No food comes in or out.
We haven’t even talked about “effective” yet. People take this stuff because they want to be healthier. Even at their best, how beneficial can isolated vitamins be at making you a healthier person? Most research says real food done right will make you healthier. We agree.
Save yourself some money. Throw out your vitamins. If you want, come to see us. We can help you save money by getting rid of this junk, tweaking your diet a bit, and making a wellness plan using real whole food vitamins.
Just make sure it’s soon because I can’t take much more of this. My head really hurts.
Our 100% Whole Food Vitamins are Vitality Approved, so you can be sure that you’re getting quality products: pure, potent, and consistent batch to batch.
Just trying to keep it real…
Neal Smoller, PharmD
Owner, Pharmacist, Big Mouth
neal@drnealsmoller.com
