How to Get the Most Benefit for Your Money from Organic Vitamins and Omega 3 Fish Oil
Jaime A. Heidel
Feb 26, 2011
These days, every dollar counts, even when it comes to essential nutrition. If you’re like most on-the-go families, you get your meals from a vending machine or drive-through window and turn to dietary supplements to fill in the gaps. It’s important to learn why all vitamins are not the same and how to get the most benefit for your money!
Are All Vitamins the Same?
Commercial Vitamins
Many commercial vitamins are synthetic versions of natural compounds found in food. Health-conscious families often take these vitamins mistakenly believing they are doing what’s best for their health. The truth is, man-made vitamins can cause health problems because they are not able to properly be absorbed by the body. Daily, weekly and monthly use of these synthetic supplements cause these undigested compounds to build up in the body causing chronic inflammation, which can lead to serious health problems. Also, added fillers and preservatives may lead to allergic reaction in sensitive individuals and can promote illness.
Though these vitamins are often referred to as “natural”, some contain only 10% natural ingredients. Though they are relatively inexpensive because they are cheaper to produce, they are actually a waste of money since the body absorbs little to no nutrients from these man-made compounds.
Whole Food Supplements
Unlike the vitamins you often find at your local supermarket or pharmacy, whole food supplements are derived from a live food source, instead of created in a laboratory. These supplements are natural and can have a positive impact on the health of your family. A whole food supplement clearly states, on the label, that the ingredients are all natural with no additives, preservatives or allergens. Whole food supplements contain only bioavailable micronutrients found in nature, which means they are able to be absorbed and utilized by the body.
Though whole food supplements may be a bit more costly, they are usable and beneficial to your family’s health and can improve quality of life. This may prevent the need for costly doctor visits and medications in the future. Whole food supplements, unlike synthetic vitamins, are a true investment in your family’s good health and can be found at or below cost at select online retailers.
One of the companies I’d recommend looking into is Rainbow Light. They offer a wide variety of certified organic vitamins and supplements that are backed by thirty years of expertise. Rainbow Light offers prenatal vitamins, supplements for teens, formulas specific to men and women’s needs, weight management and more. Most formulas are free of common allergens such as gluten, yeast, milk, eggs, soy, nuts, fish/shellfish and wheat. If you’re looking for a balanced multivitamin, they offer Rainbow Light – Just Once. This whole food vitamin meets most all your daily supplemental needs in just one dose!
The Truth about Omega 3 Fish Oil
The health benefits of fish oil and omega 3 fatty acids have been receiving quite a lot of attention in recent months. Many people are jumping on the fish oil bandwagon to alleviate arthritis pain, combat mental illness and lower blood pressure. While this is a smart and health-conscious move, it is important that omega 3 enthusiasts learn the truth about omega 3 fish oil.
Omega 3 is an essential fatty acid. This means, the body cannot produce it on its own. In an idea world, we would get the omega 3 we needed from fish. Unfortunately, the vast majority of our oceans are heavily contaminated with mercury. Farm-raised fish is not a healthier alternative either. These fish are often pumped full of hormones and have been found to contain carcinogens such as dioxin and PCBs (polychlorinated biphenyls).
The biggest problem with fish oil supplementation is that most people buy it in bulk, 90-180 pills at a time. Though buying more may save a bit of money, if it takes three months to consume the supplements, they will have turned rancid long before you run out of them. Rancid fish oil oxidizes in the body and leads to formation of the free radicals responsible for cellular aging and premature death.
Leading health experts recommend organic krill oil as an excellent alternative to fish oil. Krill are tiny, shrimp-like creatures that thrive in cold ocean waters. Unlike fish oil, whose omega 3 fats are in triglyceride form, the fats in krill oil is in phospholipid form, which is better absorbed by the body since human cell walls are also in this form. According to Mercola.com, krill oil is 48 times more rich in antioxidants than fish oil! Krill oil also has a much longer shelf life and will not turn rancid in your body like fish oil. For best results, choose organic krill oil with a count of no more than 60 at a time.
Though krill oil is a bit more inexpensive than ordinary fish oil, you will save money by optimizing your health and well-being.
The least expensive brand I have found is put out by Now Foods. A one-month supply is priced at approximately $15-20, depending on retailer.
Processed food temptation is around us every day. The best way to ensure your health and that of your family is to eat balanced meals whenever possible and arm yourself with information on the best supplemental nutrition to get the most health benefit for your money!
(Jaime is a professional ghostwriter and freelance writer with a passion for holistic and natural healing. Her website, http://www.itoldyouiwassick.com aims to validate those suffering from mystery symptoms, get to the root cause of disease and illness and help people heal naturally. Neither Jaime nor Healthonabudget.com is affiliated with Rainbow Light or Now Foods, and the opinions expressed are based on the user’s independent review.)
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