A different perspective on vitamins

Vitamins are necessary for life – whether or not we should supplement with additional vitamins remains controversial in the health industry.

The literature is conflicted. Some studies say that vitamins do not decrease the risk of cardiovascular disease or cancer ( 1, 2). Several others have proven otherwise.

Homocysteine is a great example. This inflammatory molecule can rise to levels that can damage blood vessels, leading to plaque buildup. Maintaining adequate B vitamin status via supplementation keeps homocysteine levels in check, reducing cardiovascular disease risk ( 3).

Other research shows that vitamin insufficiencies make DNA more susceptible to damage, which can lead to cancer development ( 4, 5, 6).

Supplements or food?

The cure for scurvy in the 15th and 16th centuries was not packets of vitamin C you could add to water. It was citrus fruits ( 7).

The dentist who traveled the world in the 30s studying how diets impacted health, Weston A. Price, was far ahead of his time. He asked a man from an indigenous tribe in Canada how they prevented scurvy since they didn’t have access to citrus fruits. The man explained how a “small piece of yellow meat above the kidneys of elk and moose” gave them the nutrients they needed to prevent it. This piece of meat was the adrenal gland ( 8).

Price was one of the first to document the necessity of ancestral dietary principles for maintaining health. He noted that cultures that consumed raw dairy had ample retinol intake, and people who ate organ meats were some of the most well-built people he’d ever seen ( 9).

Some professionals argue that a balanced diet supplies us with the vitamins we need to prevent these diseases and support health. If this is true, then why are processed foods fortified with vitamins?

●        Processing strips away vitamins and minerals.

●        High heat required for pasteurizing, preserving, and cooking foods destroys vitamins.

●        Modern agriculture produces far less nutrient-dense foods than they were 100 years ago.

Even governmental nutrition guidelines agree that supplementing with vitamins is necessary. After all, adding them back into our food supply after they’ve been damaged or removed is the exact definition of supplementation.

The Problem with Synthetic Vitamins?

  1. There are several issues with synthetic vitamins. Isolated or lab-formed nutrients do not contain the cofactors, enzymes, complexes, and phytonutrients that are found in natural, whole foods, resulting in decreased bioavailability ( 11).
  1. Genetics also impact the bioavailability of vitamins ( 12). Beta-carotene is often included as a vitamin A precursor. But we are much less efficient at converting beta-carotene to retinol than we once thought. Conversion is as low as 28:1 in some people and highly depends on genetics ( 13).
  1. Ratios of other nutrients influence the bioavailability and utilization of vitamins. The vitamin D receptor (VDR) requires sufficient retinol in order for it to be expressed properly. Without the VDR, vitamin D has little effect ( 14). Unfortunately, many people nowadays mega-dose vitamin D without supplementing with retinol, which can cause mineral dysregulation of calcium, iron, and copper ( 15, 16).
  1. The risk of vitamin toxicity is higher with single, isolated vitamins than with whole foods. This is especially true for fat-soluble vitamins like vitamin D, which is often taken in high amounts.

Why This Supplement Company is Against Vitamin Supplements

We believe that people should get their vitamins from whole food sources. 

Our ancestors didn’t have Flinstone vitamins or gummy candies to ensure they reached their RDA of vitamins. Yet they thrived  – despite living in parts of the world where certain vitamins were scarce. Ancient wisdom can teach us a lot if we learn to listen.

Organ meats are the richest sources of vitamins and minerals ( 10). The problem is that we no longer eat or grow foods as we used to. As such, we no longer receive the nutrients of our ancestors that allowed our DNA and bodies to thrive.

Formula IQ is bridging the gap between ancestral wisdom and supplements by offering high-quality, whole-food-based vitamins and minerals in the ratios, sources, and forms your body will recognize.

Whole-food Vitamin Supplements

Liver is nature’s richest source of B vitamins, retinol, and minerals ( 17). Beef Liver IQ is from grass-fed and finished New Zealand cows with no flow agents or fillers added. It is undefatted to preserve fat-soluble vitamins like retinol.

Recuperate IQ also contains this beef liver source and organic Hawaiian spirulina, turmeric, boron, and copper bysglycinate to support healthy iron balance and bioavailability.

Cod Liver IQ is from gently processed livers of wild-caught Icelandic cod. We use a mild heating technique that preserves the natural vitamins A and D and omega-3 fatty acids. We do not fortify it with synthetic vitamins. This maintains its natural purity and healing benefits that many cultures have used for thousands of years ( 18).

Whole C IQ offers whole-food vitamin C from Amla fruit, which is one of nature’s most concentrated sources of vitamin C. It also contains natural Celtic sea salt and potassium bicarbonate to support adrenal health and function as the body’s primary storage site of vitamin C ( 19).

B complex IQ contains B vitamins in their natural forms found in whole foods such as broccoli sprouts, rice protein, and quinoa. This supplement is USDA-certified organic. Many lab-formed B vitamins have issues with absorption and bioavailability. This supplies naturally occurring B vitamins for those seeking a vegan whole-food source.

Wheat Germ IQ contains the natural oil found in the embryonic part of wheat seeds that allows it to grow. The germ is rich in natural vitamin E and sourced from non-GMO, organic wheat. The oil is extracted from the germ, which does not contain gluten. The endosperm is where gluten is found. *Though those with celiac disease should be cautious of possible cross-contamination. 

These supplements allow you to get whole-food-sourced vitamins and minerals without eating nose-to-tail. Along with a balanced diet, our whole-food-based vitamin and mineral supplements will support your body’s optimal nutritional needs to offset what’s been lost to food processing, agriculture, and changing dietary habits.

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