In a previous post I answered the question, "All Supplements Are The Same, Right?". If you haven't read this post, it goes hand-in-hand with this one. Essentially, I run down the differences between these store bought supplements (yes, even the popular ones you see on TV) and pharmaceutical grade supplements.
But how can you hope to justify the increased cost of pharmaceutical grade supplements. Some store bought multivitamins go for around $6/bottle and will last quite awhile. Whereas, pharmaceutical grade supplements may cost $40, $50, or more for only a 1 or 2 month supply. Common sense would tell you to just go with the cheapest product out there. Afterall, all supplements are the same.
Suffice to say, this is not the case. I cover this subject in great detail in my "All Supplements Are The Same, Right?" post. But to summarize, store bought supplements follow different regulations than pharmaceutical grade supplements. For instance, fillers and additives are often used in these store bought supplements. Meaning, if they advertise 100% of the RDI of, say, Vitamin C you may only be getting 50%. The rest are fillers.
Then there is the problem of using synthetic materials to produce these supplements. Take Vitamin E for example. There are two types used in supplements: d-alpha tocopheryl and dl-alpha tocopheryl. The d-alpha version is natural, will break down, and absorb into your body. The dl-alpha version is synethetic and does NOT absorb into the body nearly as well, if at all. Take a look at this picture:
This picture is an x-ray of some store bought supplements in the colon. That's just one short stop away from the toilet. In fact, many nurses call these well-known supplements, "bed pan pills". Because they come out the same way they go in. Why? Because they do not break down or absorb into your body.
What it boils down to is this. If you are spending $6 for a bottle of supplements at your local store, and they don't break down or absorb into your body, you are literally flushing your money down the toilet. Not to mention the possibility of not even receiving the amounts advertised on the label.
A pharmaceutical grade supplement needs to be over 99% pure. Higher grade materials means they will absorb into your body. In fact, many of these companies will guarantee their bio-availability (absorption). They are also required to contain the amounts advertised on the label in every dose. Store bought supplements are not.
As a result of using higher grade materials to make a pharmaceutical grade supplement, you pay more for that product. But I ask you, isn't the higher cost worth it if you know these supplements are actually absorbing into your body and providing a benefit, rather than getting flushed down the toilet? That's the question you need to ask yourself.
To Your Health.
I think there's a general misconception that an individual can 'get everything they need in a single pill by taking 1 pill per day'. Think about it. Trillions of cells in your body. You're trying to saturate every one. One tablet per day, especially with fillers, just doesn't cut-it. And, to get what you need, a single tablet would be the size of a walnut.
ReplyDeleteTo begin to optimize body functions, if that's the goal, multiple high-quality tables are necessary.