MEDIA RELEASE 17 June 2008
Natural or synthetic: what supplements do Australians really consume?
Many Australians are blindly consuming synthetic multivitamin supplements that
mostly have little positive effect on their health and wellbeing, according to
Planet Health, a niche distributor of premium natural health products.
Melinda Hunt, nutritionist and senior product manager for Planet Health, said
consumers spend a considerable amount of money every year on synthetic
multivitamin supplements as a result of misinformation regarding their origin &
effectiveness.
"Most of the multivitamin formulas sold today are predominantly synthetic, which
means that the nutrients are 'man-made' in a laboratory rather than coming from
a natural whole food source. However, many studies have shown that nutrients
from whole foods are much better digested and absorbed than their synthetic
counterparts," Hunt said.
"The cells in our bodies are lined with various receptors which recognise and
communicate with bio-markers found in natural foods. Synthetic vitamins, on the
other hand do not have these bio-markers, leading to a poor absorption rate
which can be as low as 10 per cent.
"This is in comparison with natural whole food vitamins which can reach an
average absorption rate of 95 per cent," she explained.
Mark McLaurin-Smith, marketing consultant for Lifestream, producers of
nutrient-rich whole foods including the "superfood" supplements Spirulina,
Chlorella & Ultimate Greens, has been undertaking consumer surveys for the past
10 years. These surveys have confirmed that most consumers are unaware that the
multivitamin supplements they take are synthetic.
"Most of those surveyed who took a synthetically manufactured multivitamin were
shocked to find their nutritional supplements contained no natural, whole food
grown nutrients," said McLaurin-Smith.
"The best alternative to synthetic multivitamin supplements is Lifestream
Bioactive Spirulina. It is one of the most nutrient rich and bioavailable 'superfoods'
on the planet and has been recommended for use as a safe, effective nutritional
supplement by the World Health Organisation (WHO)."
Melinda Hunt said that although our primary source of vitamins, minerals and
nutrients should always be the natural foods we eat as part of a healthy and
balanced diet, it may be difficult to gain sufficient nutrients through diet
alone.
"Whilst our nutritional needs have remained largely unchanged for millions of
years, our diet has changed considerably because of our hectic modern lifestyle
and the availability of processed food," Hunt said.
"Nutrients never work as effectively on their own, so a shortage of one nutrient
can affect the function and utilisation of many others. This is why natural
whole food supplements that are well absorbed and utilised in the body can be
beneficial." she added.
According to Hunt, consumers should look out for these characteristics when
choosing their multivitamin supplements:
- They should be made from natural, high quality whole foods
- They should be supported by credible scientific research
- They should contain a balanced combination of nutrients to ensure optimum
efficacy
"And to get the best out of your natural whole food supplements you should
ensure they are kept away from the sun with the lid tightly closed, as oxygen
and heat can destroy nutrients," Hunt added.
Planet Health was founded in Sydney in February 1996 by Peter and Mandy Harwood.
Peter had previously spent a number of years in the natural healthcare industry
in sales and management roles.
"The vitamin and dietary supplements industry in Australia is estimated to be
worth around one billion dollars. It is an increasingly important sector and the
resources being invested in complementary health reflect this. It is vital that
suppliers of these products continue to ensure that consumers are put first by
developing supplements that provide genuine health benefits," Peter Harwood
said.
Planet Health distributes only brands that meet a very high standard of quality,
reputation, innovation and ethics.
Planet Health can be contacted on (02) 4862 9999 or by visiting
www.planethealth.com.au.
Released for Planet Health by Dennis Rutzou Public Relations (www.drpr.com.au)
For further information please call Kim Larochelle or Nicola Rutzou on (02) 9413
4244.
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