Pharmaceutical Grade Vitamins

What are pharmaceutical grade vitamins?  Most people have never heard of them, nor had I until recently.  In my research over the different varieties of vitamins and supplements, I've been trying to get to the bottom of what the different types of vitamins are and what they have to offer.  Most people are unaware that anytime they want to take a supplement, they generally have many different options for how to take it. They think that all vitamins and supplements are created equal.  In their minds, 1000mg of vitamin A equals 1000mg of vitamin A.  But this isn't the case at all.  As you'll see below, there is a vast difference between the different forms of vitamins that you can take.  Pharmaceutical grade vitamins are leaps and bounds beyond the cheap grocery store brands, but are they the best vitamins you can take?  Are there other vitamins that are even more superior to pharmaceutical grade vitamins.  Read below.

Here are the different grades of vitamins that you can take and some more information about each of them. I'm listing them in ascending order, meaning that they go from worst to best.

1. Regular Grocery Store Food Grade Vitamins

• These supplements are generally what's known as synthetic isolates. Your body can only partially absorb and utilize synthetic isolates. Not only that but regular grocery store vitamins often have "fillers" in them, meaning they're impure. They put extra inert chemicals into them to make them cheaper. They aren't even always required to print on the label the different dyes and fillers that they have in their final product. There may be things in there that you're allergic to or just plain aren't very good for your body.

2. Pharmaceutical Grade Vitamins

• These vitamins meet the standards set by the pharmacies themselves. Regular supplements differ in that they only meet the standards for human consumption. That's why they're often referred to as food grade vitamins. Pharmaceutical grade vitamins have a higher quality standard, meaning two things. First, you won't get unnamed "fillers" like you would in regular grocery store vitamins. Second, depending on which kind you buy, they should be more bio-available, meaning that your body can more easily absorb and utilize the vitamins.
  

3. Whole Food Vitamins

• This is really the best form of vitamin that you can take. It's not a synthesized vitamin with artificial elements. Whole food vitamins are made with all natural foods, generally raw foods, and have a very high quality standard. Because of that, whole food vitamins generally come as a multivitamin because they usually contain lots of different types of compressed fruits and vegetables, with lots of beneficial compounds like chlorophyll and digestive enzymes. The main benefit of whole food vitamins is their bio-availability. Since they're made directly from real food, your body can utilize the whole pill. There aren't any side effects or any unknown fillers to watch out for, and your body doesn't have to work extra hard to absorb and process it. If you're looking to get exactly what you're paying for, then this is the way to go. This is undeniably the safest, most useful type of vitamin on the market. They're generally more expensive, so it's up to each individual person which supplement is best for them. But I've left you a link at the bottom to a great whole food multivitamin supplement that's on a very nice sale right now.

In the world of multivitamins, a person needs to be very careful on which brand of supplement they choose. Why is that? Well mostly because a multivitamin is generally your most important pill, filled with supposedly everything a person needs in the realm of vitamins and minerals. Pharmaceutical grade multivitamins are nice because they at least have higher quality control standards that other pills don't. But better still are whole food multivitamins. As far as I'm concerned, when getting the essential vitamins and minerals your body relies on, it's best to get them from all natural sources. Other supplements a person might take for things like joint pain, hair growth, skin care, etc, will most likely have to come from non-natural sources. But those aren't generally compounds that your body relies on for normal, healthy function. Whole food multivitamins help give your body a great foundation to work with. I've left you a link to a great whole food multivitamin below that's on sale.

Of course, your best option is to just eat lots of raw organic fruits and vegetables. Instead of taking vitamins and supplements, consider adding more raw organic fruits and vegies into your diet. Your body will thank you for it. The real thing is always best, and the added benefits that come with the rest of the fruit, things like antioxidants and fiber, make it well worth it. Fruits and vegetables aren't expensive, and they make a great snack. Why not have a bowl of sliced apples sitting on your desk at work? Vitamins and supplements will only carry you so far. If you aren't eating the fruits and vegetables your body needs, you'll most likely eventually run into more serious health problems than a lack of this or that vitamin. The best thing to do is change your habits now and starting eating healthier.

This article is meant to add to your general knowledge and is not meant to be taken as medical advice.