Every textbook I own on nutrition begins by making the statement that a good diet provides all the nutrients needed to “prevent clinical signs of deficiency.” However, that statement assumes we know and will recognize any and all signs. If you have dry skin is that a clinical sign of vitamin A deficiency, maybe vitamin D? How about a lack of essential fatty acids? That’s also a classic sign of hypothyroidism. Could it be a lack of iodine or tyrosine?
Lack of signs of deficiency is also a long way from healthy. Recommended daily allowances (RDA) are minimums that, when met, will prevent those clinical signs. For example, the RDA for vitamin D is 400IU. However, supplementation levels vary from 400IU per day to 50,000IU per week. What is the margin of safety?
Many clinical conditions require supplementation at levels much higher than the RDA. Macrocytic anemia often requires high doses of folic acid and vitamin B12, frequently in synthetic forms, to stimulate adequate red blood cell (RBC) production. This can be a genetic issue, requiring life time supplementation.
If you want to insure adequate micronutrient intake start with a good diet. That means 5 servings of vegetables, 2 fruits, and 3 protein servings per day. About 50% of the fruits and vegetables should be raw. Now add a phytofood supplement rather than a multiple.
A multiple throws together as many different micronutrients as can possibly fit in the capsule or tablet, without regard to compatibility or dosage. For example, most multiples with contain zinc, copper, and iron. These three minerals compete for absorption and should not be taken together.
A phytofood is concentrated plant food. Wheat grass juice is an example. Pea vine juice, carrots, barley and many other plants can be processed to provide a concentrated form of micronutrients, in the ratios found in nature. There is no need to fortify these supplements. Greens Plus, Sun Chlorella, and Standard Process Catalyn are readily available phytofood supplements.
