In search for the best solution for myself, I spent countless hours researching this topic.
Basically, I would recommend you to stay away from synthetic / isolated / megadose vitamins. Find a whole-food based supplement. Everyone nowadays is claiming that their product is "natural" but all you have to do is look at the label for:
- vitamin C. Does it say "ascorbic acid"? It was synthesized in a lab and is not the whole thing your body needs. Interesting reading:
ascorbic acid is not vitamin c
- vitamin E.
dl-alpha-tocopherol or
d-alpha-tocopherol? DL- was synthesized in a lab and it's not the same thing you find in food. Even if it is natural D-alpha, vitamin E is really a blend of 4 tocopherols and 4 tocotrienols, consume anything less and you're missing out on a lot of benefits.
- vitamin D. D2 or D3? Plants produce D2 when irradiated with UV lights. Better than nothing, but humans evolved getting their D3 from the sun or cold-water fish.
- Beta-carotene. Carrots and other colorful veggies contain hundreds of carotenoids, which no vitamin pill can ever hope to provide.
I could go on and on about every single ingredient you find in most supplements, but the point is: nature still knows best. I've noticed many people place too much responsibility on their vitamin pills. What you really need to stay healthy is a balanced veggie-fruit-nuts rich diet, avoiding processed junk, healthy gut, positive emotions, a sense of purpose, sun, clean air, clean water and regular, enjoyable exercise
If you insist on taking supplements:
- Garden of Life Living' Multi is the best multi I've found so far.
- For omega-3, there's the excellent Cod Liver Oil by Carlson.
- Super green drink: Green Vibrance
Green Vibrance Super Food
- Use Virgin Coconut oil for cooking. It's the healthiest and the tastiest.
Recommended reading:
Dr. Ben Kim Weston A. Price Foundation
with a caveat: The Maker's Diet by Jordan Rubin and
The Doctor Within