Introduction
As a naturopathic doctor, I have long advocated using natural supplements as essential to my patient’s health care. Over the years, however, I’ve noticed that some people are confused about what makes something “natural” or “synthetic.” In this article, we’ll explain the difference between synthetic and natural supplements and discuss why you should choose all-natural products whenever possible.
Natural Supplements Compared to Synthetic Supplements.
Supplements are a great way to improve your health and well-being. But what’s the difference between natural supplements and synthetic supplements?
Natural supplements are made from plants, herbs, and other natural ingredients used for thousands of years. These can be found in most grocery stores or health food stores today. The benefits of these types of products include:
- They don’t contain any chemicals or artificial additives, which means they are better for you
- They’re also better for the environment as they don’t pollute it like synthetic ones do (more on that later)
Synthetic products are created in labs using chemical processes rather than plants or herbs, etc., so they tend to contain more chemicals than their natural counterparts do – plus, there’s no way of knowing what else has gone into making them either! This may sound scary, but it isn’t too bad compared with other things (cough, cough). Still, if you want something safe, stick with nature’s bounty!
A Difference in Quality.
- Natural supplements are made from whole foods, not chemicals.
- Natural supplements contain more nutrients than synthetic supplements.
- Natural supplements are more bioavailable and thus better absorbed, meaning they work better in your body than synthetic ones (and they’re safer, too).
- Natural substances like vitamins and minerals are extracted from their natural sources and processed into concentrated forms that can be taken orally or applied topically–but they retain their original chemical makeup as much as possible because it’s what nature intended for them to be like! For example, vitamin C is naturally found in oranges and other citrus fruits; when you take a vitamin C supplement made from an orange peel extract, it will have precisely the same effects on your health (and taste) as if you were eating an actual orange peel–except without all of the sugar calories!
A difference in Purity.
Synthetic supplements are always pure. They’re created in a lab, free of bacteria and other contaminants that can cause side effects.
Natural supplements are not always pure. They may contain fillers, additives, and other things that might not be safe for your body to consume.
Natural Supplements Contain More Potent Dosages.
Natural supplements are more potent than synthetic supplements.
To make a supplement, you need to extract an ingredient from the plant or animal it came from. For example, to make vitamin C powder, you must collect and press lemons or oranges (or other citrus fruits). The resulting juice is then dried into a fine powder that can be mixed into smoothies or added as an ingredient in other foods–and it’s much more affordable than buying pre-made vitamin C capsules at the store!
This process of extracting ingredients by hand allows natural products like these to contain more active ingredients than their synthetic counterparts do because there is less waste involved with harvesting them naturally rather than chemically synthesizing them in a lab setting where many substances may be lost along the way due to improper extraction methods etc…
Natural Supplements are Not as Likely to Cause Side Effects.
One of the main reasons that natural supplements are less likely to cause side effects is that they’re usually whole foods, not isolated compounds. A portion of whole food is simply food in its natural state- not processed or refined. When you eat an orange, for example, it’s a whole fruit with all of its nutrients intact; when you take vitamin C as an isolated compound, however (in other words without eating oranges), there can be some side effects because your body isn’t used to processing this type of nutrient on its own yet.
Whole foods are also more easily digested than synthetic ones because they contain many different compounds working together synergistically rather than just one: when we eat real foods, our bodies can process them much better than when we consume synthetic versions, which don’t have any sort of complex interactions going on inside us.*
Natural supplements can be an effective way to support your health but don’t mistake them for real food or medication
While it’s true that natural supplements can be an effective way to support your health, don’t mistake them for real food or medication. The FDA does not regulate supplements and can contain unlisted ingredients that are either dangerous or simply ineffective. In addition, supplement manufacturers aren’t required to prove their claims before marketing their products, so you may waste money on something that doesn’t work.
If you want to take a supplement, ensure it has been tested by an independent third party (like ConsumerLab) and only take what is recommended on the label. And remember: no matter what kind of supplement you choose (or whether or not you use one), eating well-balanced meals full of fruits and vegetables will always be your best bet for staying healthy!
Conclusion
We hope this article has helped you to understand the difference between natural and synthetic supplements. We also want you to know that many options are available depending on your health needs. The most important thing is finding a supplement that works best with your lifestyle and budget!
