Natural Vitamins or Synthetic?Written by Olga Timbol
Natural Vitamins or Synthetic? People often ask if natural vitamins work better than synthetic ingredients. The answer is yes and no. Synthetic vitamins are produced in laboratories. Natural vitamins are derived from food sources. Under controlled conditions synthetic vitamins work just like natural ingredients. But we don’t live in a perfect world. For example, studies have shown that synthetic vitamin E will actually block natural vitamin E activity at cellular level. Synthetic beta carotene is adversely affected by synthetic food dyes, which are common in “one-a day” vitamin preparations. Yellow dye also decreases vitamin B-6 activity. Vitamins derived from natural sources contain nutrients that are not available from synthetics. Dunaliella salina algae is not only an effective form of Beta Carotene but also includes cancer fighters Alpha Carotene, Cryptoxanthin, Zeaxanthin, Lutein and Lycopene. Synthetic vitamins replicate only one of perhaps dozens of beneficial nutrients. It’s somewhat like imitating one ingredient that is contained in an apple. You miss all of related nutrients that work synergistically. Our bodies need a broad base of natural supplements for optimum health. Most manufacturers look for cheapest way to produce their products. Synthetics and chemicals are less expensive, are much easier to process and have a longer shelf life than natural vitamins. Are Vitamin Supplements really necessary? You've probably heard comment, maybe even from your doctor, “Vitamins will just give you expensive urine." The latest scientific research proves otherwise. Natural vitamin formulas, herbs and other natural remedies can cure you as well as or better than many prescription drugs...without negative side effects. “We now have a substantial body of data showing that if everyone took a few supplements every day, they could significantly lower their risk of a multitude of serious diseases,” said David Heber, M.D., Ph.D., of Center for Human Nutrition at University of California, Los Angeles. "I get what I need from food." We have been told for years that we can get all vitamins and minerals we need if we eat a balanced diet. Not by a long shot. More than 90% of Americans don't eat recommended daily servings of fruit and vegetables. And even if we try our best to eat more vegetables, ones we purchase in produce department don't have vitamins and minerals that they had 40 or 50 years ago. In Department of Agriculture studies of 50,000 persons performed in 1980's, not one person was getting RDA of 10 essential vitamins. And in many cases RDA is insufficient for optimum health.
| | Krukenberg's Spindle and Pigment Dispersion SyndromeWritten by Tracy Armstrong
In 2002 I was diagnosed with Krukenberg's Spindle, which is a fairly early sign of Pigment Dispersion Syndrome. There is information available online, but sites' seem a little cold and impersonal, written by professionals for professionals. I wanted to find a site written by someone that actually had Krukenberg's Spindle, someone who was going through same emotions as I was, rather than just feel that I was a statistic with an unusual eye condition, spoken about, rather than to!
|
