The dietary supplement industry has grown greatly over the last few decades. As more consumers choose natural substances to make up dietary deficiencies and foster health, even medical doctors are recommending vitamin therapy to their clients. However, the interest in vitamins has attracted many mainstream manufacturers, as well as some fly-by-night companies, and the quality of products is uneven. Consumers who choose organic non GMO vitamins have two assurances that weed out inferior products.
An organic certification tells the consumer that the ingredients come from pure foods. In other words, none will be made in a laboratory or from foods grown by conventional means, which may include herbicides, pesticides, or other chemicals. Vitamin C, for example, can be derived from citrus fruits or other plants, or it can be made in a laboratory as ascorbic acid, which some feel is not as effective. No ingredient in an organic formula can be synthetic or artificial. Although synthetic vitamins may look the same under a microscope, they have not performed as well as natural substances in clinical trials.
The organic label precludes the use of genetically modified foods in the formula. However, most manufacturers also proudly display the information that their formula is GMO-free. Look for the industry symbol or a written statement on the label that assures none of these artificial ingredients are in the product.
Unfortunately, the 'natural' or 'all-natural' designation does not give this assurance, in spite of consumer efforts to keep this once-reassuring term unchanged. Large food companies have spent millions of dollars making sure regulations allow them to include questionable ingredients in supposedly wholesome food products.
Many sources say that the safety of genetically-modified foods has not been proved, and for that reason consumers should avoid them. Although animals and people who ingest them don't die, no one knows what problems long-term use may cause. Early research seems to show that future generations have more tumors, birth certificates, and other negative results of this change in food.
This happened with systemic pesticides and bees. Although bees can take nectar from treated plants with no apparent ill effects, their grand-children - the third generation - dies out in what is called the 'empty hive' catastrophe. Places like France that had seen a drastic decline in the bee population have banned the use of this sort of pesticide and seen a resurgence of these beneficial insects.
It's important for consumers to invest their dollars wisely, both for their own benefit and for the health of the industry. As long as manufacturers of low-quality products can make money by fraudulent claims and baseless advertising, they will continue to market inferior products. Buying organic and GMO-free supplements means that reputable manufacturers are rewarded and can stay in business.
Supplementing with high quality vitamins has been shown, by research and consumer experience, to have great benefits. Especially for those who cannot eat only fresh, organic, locally-grown foods, supplementation can make a significant difference. However, choosing certified products is the best way to ensure getting purity and the desired results.
An organic certification tells the consumer that the ingredients come from pure foods. In other words, none will be made in a laboratory or from foods grown by conventional means, which may include herbicides, pesticides, or other chemicals. Vitamin C, for example, can be derived from citrus fruits or other plants, or it can be made in a laboratory as ascorbic acid, which some feel is not as effective. No ingredient in an organic formula can be synthetic or artificial. Although synthetic vitamins may look the same under a microscope, they have not performed as well as natural substances in clinical trials.
The organic label precludes the use of genetically modified foods in the formula. However, most manufacturers also proudly display the information that their formula is GMO-free. Look for the industry symbol or a written statement on the label that assures none of these artificial ingredients are in the product.
Unfortunately, the 'natural' or 'all-natural' designation does not give this assurance, in spite of consumer efforts to keep this once-reassuring term unchanged. Large food companies have spent millions of dollars making sure regulations allow them to include questionable ingredients in supposedly wholesome food products.
Many sources say that the safety of genetically-modified foods has not been proved, and for that reason consumers should avoid them. Although animals and people who ingest them don't die, no one knows what problems long-term use may cause. Early research seems to show that future generations have more tumors, birth certificates, and other negative results of this change in food.
This happened with systemic pesticides and bees. Although bees can take nectar from treated plants with no apparent ill effects, their grand-children - the third generation - dies out in what is called the 'empty hive' catastrophe. Places like France that had seen a drastic decline in the bee population have banned the use of this sort of pesticide and seen a resurgence of these beneficial insects.
It's important for consumers to invest their dollars wisely, both for their own benefit and for the health of the industry. As long as manufacturers of low-quality products can make money by fraudulent claims and baseless advertising, they will continue to market inferior products. Buying organic and GMO-free supplements means that reputable manufacturers are rewarded and can stay in business.
Supplementing with high quality vitamins has been shown, by research and consumer experience, to have great benefits. Especially for those who cannot eat only fresh, organic, locally-grown foods, supplementation can make a significant difference. However, choosing certified products is the best way to ensure getting purity and the desired results.
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