For example synthetic vitamin C (ascorbic acid) when supplied in mega doses of 2 grams or more can lead to our bodies becoming conditioned to getting rid of vitamin C from natural sources too quickly.

This is called ‘systemic’ conditioning and can cause problems with our absorption of the natural vitamin C in our diets after taking supplements (Dr Lester Packer Vitamin C in Health and Disease).

Nutrient synergy and buffering in natural foods

“A vitamin as it appears in nature is never a single chemical, but rather it is a group of interdependent compounds that form a ‘nutrient complex’ so intricate that only a living cell can create it. And just as no single component of a watch keeps time, no single compound in a vitamin complex accounts for the vitamin's nutritive effect in the body. Only through whole, unprocessed foods can the synergistic effect of a true vitamin be delivered.”
Dr Royal Lee (seen by many as the Einstein of nutrition)

Nature does not produce any nutrient in an isolated form and the nutrients from your food are constantly interacting with each other to protect and maintain your health. For example in leafy greens the vitamin K1, folate, lutein, beta carotene and vitamin C, work together to prevent cognitive decline in a synergistic way that scientists are only just beginning to understand.

This synergy is also helped by the buffering that carbs,fats and protein in natural food give which enable the right speed of absorption of vitamins & minerals.

Rather than relying on artificial nutrients to protect yourself and treat problems as and when they occur, if you adopt a healthier diet that provides you with plenty of nutrients, you will benefit from the natural balance in food that nature has provided to be of maximum benefit to your health.

New research from The Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy at Tufts University in April 2019, finds that nutrients from food, not supplements is linked to lower risks of death. 

Researchers have found that adequate intake of certain nutrients from foods -- but not supplements -- is linked to a reduction in all-cause mortality. There was no association between dietary supplement use and a lower risk of death.

When sources of nutrient intake (food vs. supplement) were evaluated, the researchers found:

• The lower risk of death associated with adequate nutrient intakes of vitamin K and magnesium was limited to nutrients from foods, not from supplements;
• The lower risk of death from CVD associated with adequate intakes of vitamin A, vitamin K, and zinc was limited to nutrients from foods, not from supplements; and
• Calcium intake from supplement totals of at least 1,000 mg/day was associated with increased risk of death from cancer but there was no association for calcium intake from foods.

In addition, the researchers found that dietary supplements had no effect on the risk of death in individuals with low nutrient intake.

What if I’m low on some nutrients?

A nutrient deficiency will leave you vulnerable to disease, but a steady supply of nutrients in your food will help keep you in good health by enhancing and enabling your body’s internal processes.

There’s a lot you can do to protect yourself in your daily life, just by making subtle but effective changes to your diet. Indeed, when nutrition is at its most effective, the results can often seem like magic, as tiny changes can deliver huge results on a cellular level!

Using CheckyourFood to discover what ingredients and recipes have the most nutrients and adjusting your diet accordingly is the first step on your journey to better health and ditching those supplements for ever!   Join CheckYourFood for free