Without some critical guidance, it is easy to be led astray by "rational sounding" believable websites. This article critiques some of these websites to give you an idea of the problem. Stop here and Read this website on how to choose a multiple vitamin and then check out the below detailed analysis that shows why it is seriously factually illiterate and will not make you "bullet-proof" against vitamin supplement hype.
"HOW DOES THE SUPPLEMENT DISSOLVE IN THE STOMACH?" For the most part, this is factual about tablets, capsules and liquids. But, there are some tablets that say "quick release" or "rapid release" or "rapid dissolving" tablets that are just as good as capsules, sometimes better. Liquids suffer from a lack of tests to completely show absorption advantages over the other two for all nutrients. article Ben-pan bullets should never be used, especially time-release tablets.
Now about the cement thing in tablets. Tablet manufacturers call this a binding agent. Binding agents also help the tablet to break apart when moisture hits it. Thus this is why most good companies put a anti-moisture pack in bottles. Certain natural and synthetic polymers and sugars are commonly used as binding agents. Since starches are a good binding agent and help tablets break apart faster, the Industry did a great disservice when starch got a bad rap and it was taken out of all supplements so they could mention "no starch" on labels as a positive health mantra. The substitutes was not as healthy or as good at breaking apart the tablets.
Read more: Different Granulating Binding Agents | eHow.com There are better binding agents. this needs more research.
HOW WELL ARE THE VITAMINS AND MINERALS ABSORBED?
Fact is - studies have shown individual vitamin isolates in supplements are about 10% absorbed. REAL FACT: At lower intake amounts, like 2.5mg of vitamin B1, the absorption is at 30%, at 5 mg it goes down to about 20%, and at 20 mg it goes down to less than 10%. Other nutrients like calcium range from 20-35% for both food and supplements, with variations adjusted by needs determined from body levels, plus vitamin D amounts.
Compare this to what is said on this website copied below that vitamins directly from a fresh plant source are 77% to 93% absorbed.
Minerals in a supplement are even worse - 1% to 5%. But, from a plant source like raw broccoli, the minerals are 63% to 78% absorbable." Well, certain foods and supplements can vary from 5-90%.
The reason for this difference is, in nature, each vitamin and mineral molecule is attached to a protein molecule.
Dr. Gunter Blobel, in 1999, received a Nobel Prize for proving this attached protein molecule acted as a "chaperone". It's the chaperone that tells the body that the vitamin or mineral is food, not just another chemical. He discovered this was the KEY to getting the vitamin or mineral into the blood-stream - and, most importantly, into the cells.
Vitamins in supplements are the very basic isolated form of each vitamin - completely stripped of any proteins. Like a Christmas tree with all the limbs cut off.
That's why vitamin supplements MUST be taken with meals - unless stated otherwise on the label.
In the digestion process, only about 10% of the vitamin and mineral molecules, with the aid of enzymes, will attach to protein molecules in your food. This allows them to be absorbed and used by the cells. Without these protein chaperones, the body sees the vitamin isolates as foreign chemicals. The body actually will absorb some of these too, but they're quickly filtered out through the kidneys. TRUE- But that ony 10% attach to a protein chaperone is probably only deducted from test tube research and not from in body studies. What is important to remember here first is that during digestion the vitamin is isolated and then it gets attached to a protein chaperone once it is absorbed into the body.
Have you noticed a bright yellow urine soon after taking a vitamin supplement? Excess riboflavin causes the yellow color and it shows the body is getting rid of what it feels are foreign chemicals. THE TRUTH - The body is only capable of handling a small dosage before it begins spilling the excess into the urine of either isolated or combined vitamins. With true naturally built vitamins, it is impossible under normal conditions to eat that much food to reach the spill over amount. But, since "whole food" combined vitamins will turn urine yellow at a certain dosage, they can correctly be viewed as not all natural.
HERE ARE 5 TIPS FOR CHOOSING A SUPPLEMENT THAT'S RIGHT FOR YOU!