Natural vs. Synthetic Nutrients: A Comparison
More and more people reach for food supplements to round off their intake of vitamins and minerals. What many don't realise: a large share of the products on offer contain synthetically produced nutrients. Does it make a difference to your body whether a vitamin comes from a natural source or was made in a lab? In this article we take a closer look at the comparison.
Bioavailability: how well can the body use the nutrient?
A key term in this debate is bioavailability – the proportion of a nutrient your body can actually absorb and use. Natural nutrients often have the edge here, because they don't occur in isolation but as part of a natural complex.
Vitamin C is a good example: synthetic products usually contain only isolated ascorbic acid. Natural vitamin C, on the other hand, contains more – alongside ascorbic acid there are also bioflavonoids and other secondary plant compounds. This natural complex can help the body make better use of the vitamin.
Tolerability: why the natural complex matters
Humans are part of nature, and our bodies have evolved over millennia to process nutrients from natural foods. With isolated single substances, the natural companion compounds – so-called cofactors – that the body uses for processing are often missing. In a natural complex, just as nature provides it, these companion compounds are there from the start.
What does this mean for your choice?
When you reach for a supplement, it's worth looking at the source: does the nutrient come from a natural source or from purely synthetic production? At Surpresa Natural we deliberately rely on natural raw materials – because we're convinced the body copes best with them. That said, one thing is clear: the best foundation is always a varied, balanced diet. Supplements are a sensible addition – not a replacement.
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Prices incl. VAT. Food supplements are not a substitute for a varied, balanced diet and a healthy lifestyle.
Frequently asked questions
What does bioavailability mean?
Are natural vitamins better than synthetic ones?
Does a multivitamin replace a healthy diet?
More on healthy eating in the Surpresa Natural blog
For more on vitamins, nutrients and nutrition, take a look at our Surpresa Natural blog. There you'll find out, for example, what role omega 3 plays in the body, how to spot a vitamin B12 deficiency and why collagen matters for skin and joints.