In 2002, The Journal of the American Medical Association published a recommendation that all adults should take a multivitamin every day in addition to a healthy diet. But there is evidence to suggest that simply adding one tablet a day may not be the best way to ensure adequate nutrition.
According to the Doctor’s Desk Reference only 15 to 30% of the vitamins and minerals, in any pill form, are absorbed by the body. There are many reasons for this.
Pills, tablets, and capsules are made in molds. No matter what the active ingredient is, the manufacturer must add fillers, binders, and waxes to take up space and hold the pill together. Talcum powder, sugar, whey, and yeast are among the most common fillers, and companies that claim to use none of these are likely using dehydrogenated animal fat.
So don’t just equate vitamins with good health; it would be better to assess what is not in vitamins than what is in them.
Vitamin molds are sprayed with a release agent (ie fat) to allow the pill to easily fall out of the mold. This release agent typically consists of shellac, the same shellac used on hardwood floors and boats! And it is a mixture of shellac and 200 proof alcohol that is used to make the extended release capsules!
US standards require the tablets to dissolve within 15 to 30 minutes once in the stomach. To identify what your vitamins really contain, put white vinegar in a glass and drop your pill. If it doesn’t dissolve in 15 to 30 minutes, you’re paying a high price for fillers.
What is a good multivitamin? It is best to avoid synthetic vitamin preparations altogether and seek out a liquid supplement to ensure absorption. Look for supplements that are drawn from a whole food source.
We are meant to eat food, not chemicals. You wouldn’t put the wrong grade of gas in your car, so don’t put cheaply made supplements in your body to avoid spending the money. The risk to your overall health is simply not worth it.
Not convinced? Here is a disturbing fact cited by Chiropractors Economy in their March/April issue: in Tacoma Washington, 250,000 lbs. of undigested pills are pulled from the sewers every six weeks. And in Salt Lake City, more than 150 gallons of vitamin pills show up in their filters each month.