Whole Food Nutrition VS. Vitamin and Mineral Supplements

The purpose of this article is to explain the difference between whole food nutrition and vitamin and mineral supplementation. It will also answer some vital questions concerning the proper use of vitamins and minerals and how they relate to Juice Plus+®. Two of the most commonly asked questions about Juice Plus+® are:

To answer the first question, you cannot and should not compare Juice Plus+® to manmade synthetic supplements. I will explain reasons why later in this article. As to the second question of how much of a specific nutrient is in Juice Plus+®, rather, the question should be - are the nutrients in Juice Plus+® absorbable (bioavailable) and used by the body?

Questions like these demonstrate a lack of public education of the true philosophy of nutrition. This is no one's fault; it is just time the lay person gets a better understanding and a sound philosophy of nutrition. It is not how much we put in the body, but how much the body can absorb over a long period of time.

ur bodies only absorb small amounts of nutrients at any single moment, not the huge amounts contained in most synthetic supplements, if the synthetics are absorbed at all. Normal amounts rather than mega-doses of bioavailable nutrients taken daily correlate with the laws of Nature. For example, when you look at the amounts of vitamin C contained in foods, it is relatively small compared to the amount in vitamin and mineral supplements. For instance, one orange has between 60-80 mg. of vitamin C.

The body is designed to handle foods and should get most of its vitamins from foods.(1) Many people consume isolated (USP) United States Pharmacopoeia listed vitamins. USP vitamins are synthesized, standardized, isolated, and are not always from natural sources, and are not always bioavailable.

In nature, vitamins and minerals are never isolated; they are always present in food in complex form (2-5), meaning synergistically connected to other nutrients and elements. Synergy means that each element works with and is interconnected with each other. No nutrient stands alone in whole foods. Most of these synergists are unknown to scientists, but please keep in mind the identity of a nutrient is found in connection with all other necessary food substances, not isolated by itself.

Each vitamin has a specific function and cannot be replaced by something else. The factors that influence the absorption of a nutrient relate not only to the nature of the nutrient itself, but also the interaction with other components (synergists) in the food.( 6) If you are deficient in one vitamin, the orchestra of nutrients in the body can be hindered in their metabolic function. This is not to say vitamin and mineral supplements do not work or are completely unnecessary. Vitamins are specific. Find out what you are deficient in and take them with whole foods.

We must understand man can never duplicate nature perfectly, especially when all vitamins, minerals, phyto-chemicals and enzymes are not yet known to man. He does not know what they are, has not discovered them yet, their action in the body, and the effect they have in the body isolated or with its other thousands of synergistic substances. How can a scientist produce what he has not yet discovered? Nutrition should not be guess work. Man at his best will never be able to produce the synergy of nature. Put your trust in nature.

There are thousands of unknown elements in each food. Ten years ago we knew nothing about phyto-chemicals (phyto=plant, plant chemicals), but they were in whole foods, put there by nature, absorbed from the soil, and are absolutely necessary for normal metabolic activities. Without them we lay the foundation for a weak immune system and disease. Look at the list of phyto-chemicals that are in just one whole apple. (See list - What's in a Fresh Whole Clean Apple?) Does your multiple vitamin and mineral supplement have what is in this one apple? Can you even imagine how many unknown but necessary chemical nutrients there are in all the other fruits and vegetables? We will never know exactly what is necessary to make a vitamin or mineral bioavailable. There have been studies that have shown that natural food complexes (concentrated foods) are better absorbed than isolated mineral salts. Here is an example of research, taken from an article written by Robert Theil, Ph.D., N.D. (7-18):

Another very important factor which is very seldom if ever explained to us is a term called selective absorption. This simply means that the body must choose what it needs and when it needs a nutrient to keep itself metabolically sound. All the known and unknown nutrients must be present at any given time to be absorbed. Only whole foods can supply these.

Vitamins and mineral supplements are sometimes necessary, but they are not nearly as comprehensive and bioavailable as food is, and should only be used for specific needs. They are not for everybody, every day. There are situations when mega-doses of vitamins and minerals may be necessary, particularly when used for athletes or people who are chronically ill. In these situations please consult a nutritional oriented physician.

Fruits and vegetables and other whole foods are absolutely, unequivocally necessary on a daily basis for all humans, adults and children. It is stated that we should eat 5-9 servings of fruits and vegetables daily. Do you? Of course not. I would like to add something to this. Three of these fruits and vegetables should be dense, nutritious choices like parsley, kale, spinach, broccoli, and beets. When we do eat these foods, they are usually cooked. Cooking can be detrimental because of nutrient losses, making the equation even more difficult.

This brings us to the most important question of all. How do you compare Juice Plus+® to vitamin and mineral supplements? You really cannot compare them. A whole food concentrate is not a man made supplement. When asked this question, do not try to compare the two. Bring the person's attention to why Juice Plus+® was developed. It was developed to support two major foods groups- fruits and vegetables. And here are the reasons why:

We do not eat the dense nutritious fruits and vegetables. If we do, we cook them and destroy a large part of the necessary enzymes, vitamins, and minerals. Keep in mind frozen, processed, and canned foods can be deficient, to say nothing of foods that are shipped in from distant places that are losingtheir nutrient value.

We know that Juice Plus+® is bioavailable. Do you know if the supplements you are taking are bioavailable?

Fruits and vegetables are necessary for everybody throughout their lifetime. Synthetic supplements may not be.

The known and unknown synergistic nutrients are in whole foods - fruits and vegetables. They are not in man made supplements.

Isn't it amusing that most folks believe that the foods they eat, particularly fruits and vegetables, are sustaining their bodies, building their immune system, and giving them all necessary nutrients? But, as soon as you take those same foods and concentrate the juice powders and fibers and put them into a capsule, these same people become suspicious. This is because :

They are used to knowing exactly what is in a pill or capsule. This concept is supported by the drug industry.

People wonder how we get fruits and vegetables in a capsule. Juice Plus+® is not dehydrated fruits and vegetables. It is the concentrated, fresh juice powders. If you remove all the water from a glass of orange juice, what would be left is the powder, which is the concentrate.

We know that the foods we are eating on a daily basis are not doing the job. Plenty of studies have proven these statements otherwise. In some situations supplements are necessary. Your first priority is to eat wholesome foods. Second, choose concentrated food sources to support your diet. Third, choose your vitamin and mineral supplements according to your needs.

The research that we have provided that has been done on Juice Plus+® is extraordinary, to say the least. There is not enough room in this paper to describe the entirety of the research that has been done. I will review some of these:

One research paper done in June 1996 showed how absorbable Juice Plus+® is. This was published in The Journal of Current Therapeutic Research (vol. 57, June 6, 1996). It demonstrated that taking Juice Plus+® for only 28 days increased beta-carotene 510%, alpha-carotene 119%, and lutein increased 44%. Lycopene increased 2, 046% and alpha-tocopherol (vitamin E) increased 58%. These were all blood studies. Blood was drawn before, during, and after the experiment.

Another study at the University of Arizona measured the effects Juice Plus+® has on the immune system. The results showed that after taking Juice Plus+®, T-cells were increased (they fight cancer and viruses), natural killer cells increased (these attack tumor cells and infections), and cytokines increased (hormone-like substances that stimulate the immune system).

A DNA study was done at the medical department at Brigham Young University. The average age of participants was 68 years. This study showed that the antioxidants contained within Juice Plus+® significantly reduced the level of DNA damage in the body. When the DNA gets damaged, cells begin to mutate into cancer cells and the immune system is weakened.

These studies have proven beyond a shadow of a doubt that Juice Plus+® is not only absorbed through the digestive tract, but effects the interior cells of the body. The double edge research shows that nutrient contents of blood are affected plus the immune system is improved at all ages. This also makes Juice Plus+® an anti-aging food supplement. Please ask for copies of these studies from your local Juice Plus+® distributor.

Often times we face statements like, "Well, I take spirulina, or blue green algae, kelp, or bee pollen. Why do I need Juice Plus+® ?" All these products are wonderful. I added spirulina and kelp to Juice Plus+® Complete because of some of the nutrients they contain, but they are not fruits and vegetables. An orange is an orange, an apple is an apple; each are totally different from any other food. Consider all the unknown elements in an orange. God made every food different in some factor, whether it's the color, flavor, minerals, enzymes content, etc. We know we need a variety of foods in order to be healthy and what is most important is that we eat a variety of fruits and vegetables. Spirulina, bee pollen, kelp, etc. are supplements to the diet - fruits and vegetables are a necessity. That's why we used 17 nutritionally dense fruits and vegetables in Juice Plus+®.

With Juice Plus+® we have actually concentrated nature into a capsule. Here is how:

Putting Juice Plus+® together in this way helps to overcome any deficiencies present in any one food. Plus, each nutrient represented in Juice Plus+® is in more than just one of the foods included in the formula. Example: calcium is not just in carrots, but is also in spinach and broccoli also. Potassium is in parsley and beets. I call this a "nutritional loop system" when single nutrients are contained in more than one of the foods included in the formula.

It is important to understand that it takes time for whole food supplements to work in conjunction with normal body functions. Most people do feel different after a few short months on Juice Plus+®. But others that make statements that they don't feel a difference are under the delusion that nutrients work like drugs and you should feel immediate effects. Nutrients have few immediate effects. We have to wait until nature gets rid of deficient and defective cells, and replaces them with new cells that grow and strengthen the body. Renewal is slow and steady.

Your blood cells take three months for renewal, muscle cells and organs take six months, bones and teeth about a year. That is what good sound nutrition is all about. You have to wait until the nutrients are built into your structure to feel the difference and for it to show. It is similar to a house plant that has been neglected-you start to fertilize the plant and the plant perks up. But it sometimes takes a few days or weeks to see the difference.

Every year 97% of your body is replaced, reconstructed from the foods you eat. You have to make the choice. Are you going to depend on foods produced by nature or on man's supplements made in a laboratory? At Yale New Haven Hospital, researchers evaluated 257 vitamin products. (20). Some were made with wrong or cheap nutrients, some had improper ratios of nutrients, some were missing vitamins or minerals that were necessary. Only 49 were judged to be adequate. Choose your supplements carefully. Ask professionals or health food store owners to identify the best companies. Ask for a bioavailability study on the supplements you choose.

In summary, it is just a matter of understanding what true nutrition is and the role vitamin and mineral supplements play. Your priority is to eat healthy food, exercise and drink plenty of purified water. The supplements you choose are entirely up to you. Just make sure there is research to back up the bioavailability. Juice Plus+® has been proven to be bioavailable. The research has shown its effects reach down to the cellular structure of the body which is the ultimate goal of any formulated health product.

I hope this article has helped you in understanding the true philosophy of nutrition. Whole foods and whole food concentrates are necessary. Everybody at every age needs fruits and vegetables. This especially includes the athlete, the elderly, and growing children. Teach them to depend on nature, for the health and wealth of this country depend on it.

This article is not intended for treatment of disease, nor as a substitute for medical treatment, nor as an alternative to medical advice. It is a review of scientific evidence presented for information purposes. Any application of the advice herein is at the reader's discretion and sole risk and should not be adopted without a full review of the scientific references given and consultation with your health oriented practitioner.

Whitney EN, Hamilton EMN. Understanding Nutrition, 4ed. West Publishing, New York, 1987.

Olson JA. Vitamin A, retinoids, and carotenoids. In Modern Nutrition in Health and Disease, 8th ed. Lea & Febiger, Phil., 1994:287-307.

Farrell PA, Roberts RJ. Vitamin E. In Modern Nutrition in Health and Disease, 8th ed. Lea & Febiger, Phil., 1994:326-358.

OeCava JA. The Real Truth about Vitamins & Antioxidants. A Printery, Centerfield (MA),1997.

Jenkins DJA, Wolever TMS, and Jenkins AL. Diet Factors Affecting Nutrient Absorption and Metabolism. In Modern Nutrition in Health and Disease, 8th ed. Lea & Febiger, Phil.: 583-602, 1994.

Macrae R, Robson RK, Sadler MJ. Encyclopedia of Food Science and Nutrition. Academic Press, New York, 1993.

Plesofsky- Vig N. Pantothenic acid and Coenzyme A. In Modern Nutrition in Health and Disease, 8th ed. Lea & Febiger, Phil., 1994: 395-401.

Herbert v. Das KC. Folic acid and vitamin B12. In Modern Nutrition in Health and Disease, 8th ed. Lea & Febiger, Phil., 1994: 402-425.

Kasai T, InDue K, Komatsubara H, Tsumimura. Synthesis and antiscorbutic activity of vitamin C analogue: L-threo-hex-2-enaro-1,4-lactone ethyl e: guinea pig. Int J Vitamin Nutr Res, 1993:63(3):208-211.

Ishida A, Kanefusa J, Fujita H, Toraya T. Microbiological activities of nuclec modified analogues of vitamin B12. Arch Microbial, 1994;161 (4):293-29

Swenseid ME and Jacob RA. Niacin. In Modern Nutrition in Health and Dise ed. Lea and Febiger, Phil.:376-382, 1994.

Nakano H, McMahon LG, Gregory JF. Pyridoxine-%'-beta-glucoside exhib] incomplete bioavailability as a source of vitamin 8-6 and partially inhibits utilization ofco-ingested pyridoxine in humans. J Nutr, 1997;127(8):1508

Tandler B, Krhenbul S, Brass EP. Unusual mitochondria in the hepatocytes o treated with a vitamin B12 analogue. Anat Rec, 1991;231(1):1-6.

Tanphaichitr V. Thiamin. In Modern Nutrition in Health and Disease, 8th ed. Febiger, Phil., 1994:359-365.

McCormick D8. Riboflavin. In Modern Nutrition in Health and Disease, 8tb Febiger, Phil., 1994:366-375.

Leklem le. Vitamin B(). In Modern Nutrition and Health and Disease, 8th ed. Febiger, Phil., 1994:383-394.

Jenkins DJA, Wolever TMS, and Jenkins AL. Diet Factors Affecting Nutrient Absorption and Metabolism. In Modern Nutrition in Health and Disease, 8 Lea & Febiger, Phil:583-602, 1994.

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Comments

Mon, 11/22/2010 - 12:02am

#1 [1]

Robin Thomas

Title: LumiGRATE Poster - Top of the Totem Pole

Joined: Aug 21 2010

Posts: 94

Re: Whole Food Nutrition VS. Vitamin and Mineral Supplements

I certainly agree that eating whole foods, including a broad variety of fruits and vegetables is key to our good health. Juice Plus is advertised as a "whole food" supplement and because of that is considered a healthier alternative to a vitamin/mineral supplement. First of all, I am wondering about the logic of declaring Juice Plus a "whole food"supplement. It is quite different than cramming the nutrition of a whole apple (plus a variety of other fruits) into a capsule. There is simply way too much fiber in fresh fruits and vegetables. First Juice Plus extracts the juice from these fruits and vegetables eliminating a lot of the bulk from the fiber. Second, they dehydrate the juice into a powder/extract. However, when you extract the juice from a whole food, studies show that you lose as much as 90% of the nutrients with the waste. (Journal of food science. Vol. 70, 2005. pp. S167-S171 [2]).

In fact, much of the "waste" left behind after juicing has been shown to be extremely rich in phenolic compounds that decrease cancer risk. (Food and Chemical Toxicology 45 (2007) 1224 [3]– [3]1230 [3]).

You can see at the following document on the ORAC value of foods that significant antioxidant properties are lost in juice. (Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity (ORAC) of Selected Foods [4]– [4]2007, Nutrient Data Laboratory, U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) 2007 [4]).

So then Juice Plus takes this nutrient depleted juice and processes it into a powder. How is this processing not reduce the nutrient value even further? How do you know that the processing does not "destroy a large part of the necessary enzymes, vitamins, and minerals." ? Juice Plus then adds isolated nutrients back into the final product. I am not saying this is bad, but merely that I question using the terminology "whole food".

Another key point in the above article is that of bioavailability. It is touted that Juice Plus is more bioavailable than vitamin/mineral supplements. It is sadly true that supplements are not regulated beyond food GMPs, and that outsourcing of supplement manufacturing is commonplace. There are quite a few inferior vitamin/mineral products on the market. It is not true that "whole food" supplements are naturally more bioavailable than a high quality vitamin/mineral supplement made through pharmaceutical GMPs.

Bioavailability is defined as the degree and rate at which a compound is absorbed into a living system or is made available at the site of biological activity. Different vitamins and minerals have different absorption rates regardless of whether they come from a tablet, liquid, powder, or food. Calcium, for example, has a relatively standard absorption rate (between 25 and 35%). The delivery form does not generally make a significant difference if an individual is healthy and intakes are adequate. Chelated minerals and not mineral salts are used in a quality mineral supplement.

A well-made tablet provides a very effective delivery system and is the chosen form of most quality multivitamins and pharmaceutical medications. Tableted products allow for a higher level of active ingredients - almost 3 times as much as a capsule and much more than a liquid or spray. In general, the stability of tablets is also superior to liquids.

Additionally, there are many factors that can affect the absorption of vitamins and minerals in the human body. Some of these factors are a function of the person taking the nutrient and are dependent on an individual's age, digestive system integrity, overall state of health, gender, whether the supplements are taken on a full or empty stomach, and even the time of day. People whose nutrient needs are greater - such as growing children, pregnant or lactating women, and those who are currently deficient - may have significantly enhanced absorption rates for certain nutrients. Even absorption of minerals from food sources can vary significantly. Boron, molybdenum, and iodine can be absorbed at over 90 percent, while the average absorption rates of zinc, copper, and selenium can range from 30 to 80 percent.

A recent study was done at USANA comparing the bioavailability of a few key nutrients: vit C, Riboflavin, vit B6, and plasma antioxidant reserve

Four products were analyzed relative to USANA's Essentials™ vitamin/mineral/antioxidant supplement:

1. A plant-sourced vitamin/mineral supplement utilizing minerals obtained through hydroponic cultivation

2. A food based supplement consisting of dehydrated fruits and vegetables

3. A leading single daily vitamin/mineral tablet containing up the recommended daily allowance (RDA) of select vitamins and minerals

4. A gel-based vitamin/mineral supplement containing up to the RDA levels of vitamins and minerals

The results?

Check out the graphed date HERE [5]

"The Essentials provided the largest increase in circulating concentrations for all three nutrients examined. Interestingly,the leading daily multivitamin produced a larger absorption curve for riboflavin than the plant-matrixed, juice-based, and gel-based products, even though all 4 products contain the same amount of riboflavin in their formulations. As seen in the vitamin C curve, only the
juice-based product produced an absorption curve that approached that of the Essentials.
Plasma antioxidant reserve seems to match the curve for vitamin C, suggesting that PAR is
heavily influenced by vitamin C status.

Studies where multiple doses are given over a longer period of time could also provide insight
into the absorption of fat-soluble vitamins, such as vitamin E, coenzyme Q10, vitamin K, and the
carotenoids, as these vitamins take longer to accumulate in the body. It also appears that for
vitamin C, riboflavin, and vitamin B6, the Essentials not only had the best absorption, but also
maintained increased levels of the nutrients longer over the time period examined. Therefore,
it appears that the USANA Essentials provides optimal levels of the most bioavailable forms of
nutrients to obtain blood levels significantly higher than the competition."

The quality and purity of the raw materials, manufacturing, and 100% potency guarantee of a product developed, manufactured, and tested through pharmaceutical GMPs is what I want to supplement my own healthy diet. I have found only two companies that adhere to these specifications in the USA: Douglas Labs [6]and USANA Health Sciences [7].

Be Well!

Robin

__________________

Robin started contributing to Lumigrate in August 2010. "Meet Robin Thomas", a topic in our biographies/vitae forum is at http://www.lumigrate.com/forum/meet-robin-thomas [8] to read all about her journey, which was greatly influenced by the need to help solve her youngest son's significant health challenges. For those who want just the overview here: After working over 22 years in medical research at the University of North Carolina on chronic inflammatory diseases she switched her focus to preventive health in 2004 when she was introduced to USANA Health Sciences. Robin is passionate about helping others improve their health, have more energy, manage their weight, and improve their skin.

I love meeting new friends !

LIKE me on Facebook [9] Connect on LinkedIn [10]

Follow me on Twitter [11] Learn more at my BLOG [12]

"I dream of a world free from pain and suffering. I dream of a world free from disease. The USANA family will be the healthiest family on earth. Share my vision. Love life and live it to its fullest in happiness and health."

-Dr. Myron Wentz, Founder and Chairman, USANA Health Sciences

Mon, 11/22/2010 - 7:45am

#2 [16]

Mardy Ross

Title: LumiGRATE Poster - Top of the Totem Pole

Joined: Feb 16 2009

Posts: 2032

Good Information about how Robin's chosen a supplement

I really appreciate your writing the above response, Robin. This might sound strange, but this is exactly the kind of 'discussion' that I want to encourage for people on Lumigrate in the forums because we all are out here knowing that we want to do more or differently and then also not exactly sure what to do from there!

I doubt you've had the time or have felt the need to watch the OVER hour long video on Lumigrate on Supplements and Disease Prevention, but Dr Rollins had stated at the time we were recording in the fall of 2008 that he felt that Douglas Labs was one of the best supplements. He was in the process of selecting what products to carry at the Integrative Medicine Center of Western Colorado, a clinic many of us progressive providers met about for years and he finally made happen. It was very education for me to have Lumigrate's office inside the Center for that first year, as he and the naturopath had different preferences on many products and some overlaps and differences in their knowledge base. They were learning from each other, something I call 'cross pollination' for fun. I work to bring that 'experience' to the pages of Lumigrate's forums so those reading can see that it's really about finding good information, forming an opinion, then 'doing'. And remembering there are MANY opinions. We hope to bring interesting, streamlined information to people to make that process easier for them.

I really want to thank you guys for writing about supplements and how it is YOU chose the ones to 'get behind' and take as well!

~~ Mardy

__________________

Live and Learn. Learn and Live Better! is my motto. I'm Mardy Ross, and I founded Lumigrate in 2008 after a career as an occupational therapist with a background in health education and environmental research program administration. Today I function as the desk clerk for short questions people have, as well as 'concierge' services offered for those who want a thorough exploration of their health history and direction to resources likely to progress their health according to their goals. Contact Us comes to me, so please do if you have questions or comments. Lumigrate is "Lighting the Path to Health and Well-Being" for increasing numbers of people. Follow us on social networking sites such as: Twitter: http://twitter.com/lumigrate [17] and Facebook. (There is my personal page and several Lumigrate pages. For those interested in "groovy" local education and networking for those uniquely talented LumiGRATE experts located in my own back yard, "LumiGRATE Groove of the Grand Valley" is a Facebook page to join. (Many who have joined are beyond our area but like to see the Groovy information! We not only have FUN, we are learning about other providers we can be referring patients to and 'wearing a groove' to each other's doors -- or websites/home offices!) By covering some of the things we do, including case examples, it reinforces the concepts at Lumigrate.com as well as making YOU feel that you're part of a community. Which you ARE at Lumigrate!

Mon, 11/22/2010 - 2:06pm

#3 [18]

Marylee LaBaw

Title: LumiGRATE Poster - Itinerant

Joined: Feb 22 2010

Posts: 6

Re: Whole Food Nutrition VS. Vitamin and Mineral Supplements

Robin,

That is an extremely well written, thorough piece. Thank you for the time and energy put forth to bring us this information!

I just want to add why I chose USANA over other products: Being an ex-triathlete and competitive horse back rider, I always knew the importance of supplementing my diet to help keep my body in top form and recover quickly from the stress and strain I put on it and was using several different brands at the time.

The vast array of supplements on the market is daunting, to say the least, and it can be hard to know what's the best product to take, so I did some research. I searched online, consulted with my brother and sister-in-law (both doctors who use Douglas Lab and PURE products) and using Lyle MacWilliams Comparative Guide to Supplements, I found USANA products to be the top choice.

Douglas Lab and USANA products both received the top 5-star rating in the Comparative Guide but USANA's Essentials and HealthPak 100 received the Editor's Choice award because, unlike Douglas Lab, they are available without the added expense of a doctors visit. Also, USANA has a wonderful opportunity for someone looking for a home based business, which I was, so the choice was easy to make.

I love my life and I love USANA!

To your health!

Marylee

Mon, 11/22/2010 - 6:42pm

#4 [19]

Juice Plus 007

Title: LumiGRATE Poster - Top of the Totem Pole

Joined: Sep 1 2010

Posts: 65

Re: Whole Food Nutrition VS. Vitamin and Mineral Supplements

Juice PLUS is a Whole Food Supplement. It has a food label not a supplement label. A vitamin is something that is taken out of a whole food, manufactured and then marketed as healthful. I would refer you to the science behind Juice PLUS. You can find it here: http://www.tkociembajuiceplus.com [20]. This is Gold Standard Science which means that it is randomized, placebo controlled, double blind and tested in a patient's body. Its p Value is always >.95 which means it is accepted science the world over. Then it has to be published in a Peer Reviewed Journal. Those are very high standards. A lot of companies tout that they have science behind their products but their web sites do not highlight the science.

There are 40 known vitamins. A vitamin is a phytonutrient. There are over 20,000 identified phytonutrients. It is believed that there may be 100,000 phytonutrients. It is the synergy of all of these phytonutrients that makes the difference in your body. There is nothing in front of the counter not behind the counter that can claim what Juice PLUS can claim. (Dr. Richard DuBois, 16 years as chief of staff at Atlanta Memorial and 10 years as head of Atlanta Medical Association). There are 10 studies on Juice PLUS bioavailability on the web site above. A company is known by the company it keeps. After a 10 year study, the Woman's Health Study proved that vitamins did nothing to prevent cancer. Similar studies have been published about heart disease.

An ORAC value is measured in a test tube. It has very little relationship to what actually happens in a body. Companies that quote ORAC values generally do not have Gold Standard Science backing up their products.

Juice PLUS has a food label, not a supplement label. In Texas where food is not taxed, Juice PLUS is not taxed.

The University of Graz study on the COBRA forces of Austria showed that the 5.43 micrograms of Vitamin C found in Juice PLUS outperformed the 1500 Milligrams of the vitamins C supplement they were taking. The COBRA forces are the equivalent of our Navy Seals. The studies go on and on.

__________________

Mardy's Note: 12/8/11: The distributor who provided this content on Lumigrate at my encouragement and with my support in the past has messaged through Lumigrate to request the content he provided be removed as he doesn't wish to participate in this 'effort' anymore. The forums at Lumigrate are a social media format, similar to facebook. That would be like contacting facebook and saying "take everything I ever commented on or posted off". Many conversations and exchanges of other providers are woven in 'threads' and that would be disrespectful to the other forum participants who gave their time and energy to participate in the 'social' media of Lumigrate's forums. However, I have changed the UserName to be Juice Plus 007, removed the photo, and am posting this in the signature and removing the contact information that is set up in the signature in order to make it clear this contributor no longer wants to be 'connected' with the posts. Additionally, as time permits, I will work to replace the content with similar but that will entail selecting another person distributing for Juice Plus. I wanted JP represented on Lumigrate because it is a well-known company based on the concept of supplementing fruits and vegetables. Also because JP reaches many people due to it's vast number of distributors; there are 10 in Grand Junction, population 50k or so. In addition to removing the information in the signature for contact, I have changed the username and email address associated with it to route to me if anyone were to send a "private message" to JP007. My first step will be to edit out any internal contact information/links to the requestor. I guess you call this an "imposter"? Grins! I hope this is a clear statement for the users of Lumigrate to view related YOUR forum area and how I manage it. After all, it is YOUR health education (and mine) I'm advocating for but Lumigrate, at the end of the day, is my website. I care a great deal about the users of Lumigrate feeling they are being treated well and providing a forum area which is a FUN place to come get valid, progressive information in a streamlined way when searching for health information our audience of consumers is seeking.

Tue, 11/23/2010 - 9:35am

#5 [21]

Mardy Ross

Title: LumiGRATE Poster - Top of the Totem Pole

Joined: Feb 16 2009

Posts: 2032

Women's Health Study. Best, Better, Not so Good Continuum.

I'd like more information on the Women's Health Study, actually. Is that related to the breast cancer/hormone study, Tom?

In an interesting turn of events, I was asked to go to dinner last night with a couple of people who are getting interested in the business aspects of the supplements and essential oils/aromatherapy aspects of health care. We talked about the different ways of going about creating products and marketing them, and naturally direct or network marketing versus retail "brick and mortar" or online was part of the conversation.

They have been reviewing areas of Lumigrate.com related to nutrition and supplementation of nutrition and were finding the discussions intriguing and very helpful. So naturally, there are questions about the Products tab on Lumigrate, which was not even part of the original concept of the website but as the website was being constructed with the video content recording/editing two years ago people started asking me after they'd seen a video 'what was that again, that he said to take (or buy or do?)' and I wanted a fast reference for people who were users of Lumigrate to refer to. Everyone knows what Amazon.com is so that is the 'standard' on new websites and in the first year to two years you just see what happens -- you see what people 'do with it'. So we're at that point now, reviewing things and starting to prepare to do a 'facelift' as I like to call it. (Nothing will really change substantially, but it will look different and be more 'current'.)

Since these people I met with are novices to the health industry but have a good combination of backgrounds in providing services to people and a long histories in the agricultural business world, and we were eating dinner -- it occurred to me to talk about the way I like to break down information about nutrition. There are no 'right and wrong answers for everyone' -- people are complex and some want the privacy of going to a big store or ordering online and don't want to talk with anyone. Others want the individual contact that comes from going to a medical provider/office or purchasing a product that's distriubuted in a fashion that's more along the lines of a home-based business.

The nutrition world, in particular supplements, is growing and becoming more complex by the minute, so I very much appreciate everyone's time in contributing so that people who are looking to Lumigrate as a resource have these words to read and these thoughts to help usher theirs along the way. ~~ Mardy

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Tue, 11/23/2010 - 11:06am

#6 [22]

Juice Plus 007

Title: LumiGRATE Poster - Top of the Totem Pole

Joined: Sep 1 2010

Posts: 65

Re: Whole Food Nutrition VS. Vitamin and Mineral Supplements

Mardy,

Having worked for four Fortune 500 companies I can safely say the Juice PLUS has an outstanding business model. In fact it is the best I have ever seen. In my past I have been involved with several network marketing companies and none of them held a candle to Juice PLUS when it comes to product or business models, for me.

If you want refer those people to me and I will take them through one or two "web walks".

According to Dr. William Sears, author of 40 books, the supplement business is actually quite easy. Does it have Gold Standard Science backing it up. (check)? Is it bioavailable (check, 10 separate studies)?

Whole food nutrition means that you get all of the phytonutrients in whole foods. It means a food label not a supplement label with RDA's. America doesn't have a vitamin shortage it has a whole food shortage.

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Tue, 11/23/2010 - 3:08pm

#7 [23]

Juice Plus 007

Title: LumiGRATE Poster - Top of the Totem Pole

Joined: Sep 1 2010

Posts: 65

Re: Whole Food Nutrition VS. Vitamin and Mineral Supplements

This isn't quite the link that I was looking for but it clearly makes its point about the efficacy of vitamins and minerals versus whole food nutrition. Whole food nutrition wins hands down. The question becomes after whole food nutrition what is the next best thing. There is no other product that has the research behind it like Juice PLUS.

To look at the research about Juice PLUS go to: http://www.tkociembajuiceplus.com [20]. There you will find a number of studies on whole food supplementation with 10 of those about bioavailability. Others about reducing DNA Damage, lowering oxidative stress, Positive impacts on Cardiovascular damage, improving systems inflammation, supporting a health immune system and there are seven more Gold Standard Studies in the pipeline.

Vitamins and Minerals: Choosing the nutrients you need to stay healthy

http://www.health.harvard.edu/special_health_reports/vitamins-and-minerals-choosing-the-nutrients-you-need-to-stay-healthy [24]

About half of all Americans routinely take dietary supplements, the most common being multivitamin and multimineral supplements. Yet, as this report explains, there is no compelling evidence to support this practice. In general, studies of people who eat diets rich in fruits, vegetables, nuts, whole grains, and fish show that they consume higher levels of vitamins and minerals from these foods and also have a lower risk of many diseases, including heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and cancers. On the other hand, trials testing the effect of selected vitamins or minerals as pill supplements have mostly shown very little influence on health. The main exception may be fish oil supplements, for which some trials show a lower risk of heart disease and possibly vitamin D.

This report explains the different types of studies used to assess the benefits and safety profiles of various nutrients. It also includes the recommended minimum and maximum amounts of the vitamins and minerals you should consume, as well as good food sources of each. The special section—“Does your diet deliver the daily recommended dose?”—will help you determine whether you’re getting sufficient amounts of vitamins and minerals from your diet, and what to do if you’re not.

Prepared by the editors at Harvard Health Publications in consultation with Dariush Mozaffarian, M.D., Dr.P.H., Assistant Professor of Medicine and Epidemiology and Nutrition, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, and Harvard School of Public Health. 48 pages. (2010)

Tom Kociemba http://www.tkociembajuiceplus.com

To order call me at 623-533-4071 MT Zone in AZ You will want to know about the Childrens Health Program where you can sponsor a child for up to three years with no charge.

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Tue, 11/23/2010 - 4:27pm

#8 [25]

Robin Thomas

Title: LumiGRATE Poster - Top of the Totem Pole

Joined: Aug 21 2010

Posts: 94

Re: Whole Food Nutrition VS. Vitamin and Mineral Supplements

I agree that Juice Plus is not a supplement, but a food- although it is a food that has been modified through processing to be not quite recognizable as a food. One of the great benefits said about Juice Plus is that it contains a wide variety of fruits and vegetables in an easy to take form. That can also be a problem. I refer to the development of food sensitivities common in people who have fibromyalgia, migraines, IBS and other similar chronic health issues. I suggest readers take a look at the food sensitivites segments of this website and read or listen what Dr. Christopher Lepisto and Dr. Rollins has to say.

I am friends with a registered dietician who works exclusively with food sensitivity testing and dietary counseling through a program called LEAP www.leapdiet.com [26] She has huge success with her clients eliminating symptoms of fibromyalgia, migraine, IBS, as well as stubborn weight control and eczema. She utilizes a variety of methods to help patients identify their trigger foods, including food history, Mediator Release Testing (MRT) and elimination diets. She works in a Holistic Medical Center that offers both Juice Plus and USANA products. Many of her clients, though, find out that they are reactive to many of the fruits and vegetables used in Juice Plus products. Since there is no way to determine specific ingredients of Juice Plus products (as it is a mixture of foods) they cannot take the Juice Plus without reacting negatively. So... there is a down side to a "whole food" supplement.

Bioavailability: The research I gave on bioavailability of USANA products vs other types of products, including the juice based product ( Juice Plus) had nothing to do with the ORAC score.

In case the reader doesn't want to go over to see the poster at the study link [5] Here is the study design and results: ( the pretty pictures are at the link) ( the italics below are my own comments)

Study Design
This study was a crossover study that consisted of 10 healthy adult volunteers (8 males, 2
females), ranging in age from 26–50. One supplement was evaluated each week for a total
of 5 weeks. Each product was given as directed to include the manufacturer’s recommended
daily dose in a single intake. On each study day, subjects were required to complete an
overnight fast, donate a baseline venous blood sample, and take the randomly assigned
dietary supplement. Additional blood samples were collected 1, 3, and 7 hours later. A
standardized breakfast and lunch consisting of a bagel with 20 g of cream cheese was given
to subjects at baseline and again after the 3-hour blood draw. Participants were also asked
to abstain from physical activity the day of their study appointment.

Nutrient Analyses
Ascorbic acid, riboflavin, vitamin B6, and plasma antioxidant reserve (PAR) were measured at
each time point to obtain an absorption curve for each product/nutrient.

RESULTS
For every nutrient examined, the USANA Essentials had the best bioavailability profiles. The
Essentials produced the largest change in blood levels of ascorbic acid, 15% greater than the next
closest product (plant matrixed) and ranged between 64% to 73% greater than all the others examined (p=0.046)(Figure 1A).

For riboflavin, the mean area under the curve (AUC) was the greatest after supplementation
with USANA’s Essentials. There was a 56% greater appearance of riboflavin than the next closest
competitor (leading daily vitamin) and 96% over the worst (juice-based)(Figure 1B).

Supplementation with the Essentials also had the best absorption of vitamin B6. The AUC was at
least 92% higher than all of the competitors. The juice-based product did not change the blood
levels of vitamin B6 at any of the time points following supplementation, indicating that either
this product contained no vitamin B6 or poor, if any, bioavailability (Figure 1C).

In terms of a functional endpoint, plasma antioxidant reserve, a measure of resistance of plasma
to oxidative stress, was measured. Supplementation with the USANA Essentials produced a 13%
increase in PAR over the next closest competitor( juice-based). The other 3 supplements had only a minimal effect on PAR (Figure 2).

Statistics:

A p value of < .050 is significant. Tom, a p value of .95 is horrible Do you mean to refer to the confidence interval?

The Women's Health Study was flawed in that it used single source vitamins and minerals. Yes, you are correct that a synergistic approach is necessary for optimal health. The synergy of nutrients and the mis-representation of RDA as a guide to optimal health are key and are topics for a future discussion.

Be Well!

Robin

__________________

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Tue, 11/23/2010 - 4:58pm

#9 [27]

Robin Thomas

Title: LumiGRATE Poster - Top of the Totem Pole

Joined: Aug 21 2010

Posts: 94

Re: Whole Food Nutrition VS. Vitamin and Mineral Supplements

USANA Health Sciences is a scientific nutritional research company whose products are based on 30 years of cell culture technology. Here is a list of just some of the research partnerships from the past two years:

you can see the direct link at http://www.usana.com/dotCom/difference/partner [28]

Research Partnerships

In addition to conducting countless clinical studies [29]in-house, USANA scientists often collaborate with respected universities and research centers to ensure our formulations remain on the cutting-edge of nutritional science and to test the effectiveness of our products in helping consumers achieve optimal health.

Universities
USANA has partnered with a number of universities to conduct research studies, including the University of Utah, Boston University, and the University of Sydney. In early 2008, USANA announced the results of a large, third-party clinical study completed at the University of Colorado Denver, which confirmed that lifestyle changes involving diet, supplementation, and exercise, can improve metabolic syndrome (Wyatt HR, et al).

Specific university research sponsored by USANA includes:

Ball SD, Keller KR, Moyer-Mileur LJ, Ding YW, Donaldson D, Jackson WD. Prolongation of satiety after low versus moderately high glycemic index meals in obese adolescents. 2003. Pediatrics 111:488-94.
Edwards RL, Lyon T, Litwin Se, Rabovsky A, Symons JD, Jalili T. Quercetin reduces blood pressure in hypertensive subjects. 2007. J Nutr 137:2405-11.
Greene DA, Naughton GA. Calcium and vitamin-D supplementation on bone structural properties in peripubertal female identical twins: a randomised controlled trial. 2010. Osteoporosis International, in review.
Moyer-Mileur LJ, Xie B, Ball SD, Pratt T. Bone mass and density response to a 12-month trial of calcium and vitamin D supplement in preadolescent girls. 2003. J Musculoskel Neuron Interact 3(1):63-70.
Wyatt HR, Ogden LG, Cassic KS, Hoagland EA, McKinnon T, Natalie Eich N, Chernyshev V, Wood T, Cuomo J, Hill JO. Successful internet-based lifestyle change program on body weight and markers of metabolic health. 2009. Obesity and Weight Management 5(4):167-73.

Linus Pauling Institute [30]
In 2007, USANA announced a 10-year partnership with the Linus Pauling Institute (LPI). Based at Oregon State University, LPI is one of the nation’s first two Centers of Excellence for Research on Complementary and Alternative Medicine designated by the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine of the National Institutes of Health. The Linus Pauling Institute conducts research based on the idea that a balanced and nutritious diet is the key to optimal health. USANA works closely with LPI to explore new products and ingredients and conduct extensive studies on the health benefits associated with key nutrients.

LPI papers, abstracts, and presentations supported by USANA include:

Barker T, Leonard SW, Hansen J, Trawick RH, Ingram R, Burdett G, Lebold K, Walker JA, Traber MG. Vitamin E and C supplementation does not ameliorate muscle dysfunction following anterior cruciate ligament surgery. 2009. Free Radic Biol Med 47:1611-8.
Barker T, Leonard SW, Martins TB, Trawick RH, Hill HR, Kjeldsberg CR, Traber MG. Cytokine alteration following antioxidant supplementation and anterior cruciate ligament surgery. 2009. American College of Sports Medicine Annual Meeting, Seattle, Washington.
Barker T, Leonard S, Trawick RH, Martins TB, Hill HR, Traber MG. The influence of alpha-tocopherol and ascorbic acid on circulating inflammatory cytokines following anterior cruciate ligament surgery. 2008. Free Radical Summer School, Spetses, Greece.
Barker T, Leonard SW, Trawick RH, Martins TB, Kjeldsberg CR, Hill HR, Traber MG. Modulation of inflammation by vitamin E and C supplementation prior to anterior cruciate ligament surgery. 2009. Free Radic Biol Med 46:599-606.
Barker T, Leonard SW, Trawick RH, Martins TB, Kjeldsberg CR, Hill HR, Walker JA, Traber MG. The supplementation of vitamins E and C modulate the relationship between circulating mediators of muscle weakness but not limb strength following anterior cruciate ligament surgery. 2009. Diet and Optimum Health Conference, Portland, OR.

Barker T, Leonard SW, Trawick RH, Walker JA, Traber MG. Antioxidant supplementation lowers circulating IGF-1 but not F2-isoprostanes immediately following ACL surgery. 2009. Redox Report 14:221-6.
Bemer B, Krueger SK, Orner GA. Sulindac pharmacokinetics. The role of flavin-containing monooxygenases. 2008. Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Summer Internship Presentation, Oregon State University, September 26.
Johnson S, Hagen TM. Changes in Acute Human Plasma Glutathione Levels Following Lipoic Acid Supplementation. 2009. Howard Hughes Medical Institute Summer Internship presentation, Oregon State University, September 24, 2009, and Center for Health Aging Research Life Scholars presentation, Oregon State University, October 14, 2009.

Jubert C, Mata J, Bench G, Dashwood R, Pereira C, Tracewell W, Turteltaub K, Williams D, Baily G. Effects of chlorophyll and chlorophyllin on low-dose aflatoxin B1 pharmacokinetics in human volunteers. 2009. Cancer Prevention Research 2(12):1015-22.
Leonard SW, Barker T, Taylor AW, Traber MG. APCI LC-MS quantitation of vitamin K in the plasma of anterior cruciate ligament surgery patients. 20XX. Analytical Biochemistry, in review.
Peluso MR, Miranda CL, Hobbs DJ, Proteau RR, Stevens JF. Xanthohumol and related prenylated flavonoids inhibit inflammatory cytokine production in LPS-activated THP-1 monocytes: structure-activity relationships and in silico binding to myeloid differentiation protein-2 (MD-2). 2010. Planta Med 76:1536-43.

Song Y, Chung CS, Bruno RS, Traber MG, Brown KH, King JC, Ho E. Dietary zinc restriction and repletion affects DNA integrity in healthy men. 2009. Am J Clin Nutr 90:321-8.
Song Y, Chung CS, Bruno RS, Traber MG, Brown KH, King JC, Ho E. Zinc status affects DNA damage and oxidative stress in healthy adult men. 2009. FASEB J 23:216.1. (Yang Song won the Young Investigator award with the American Society of Nutrition for this work.)

Song Y, Ho E. Effects of zinc deficiency on DNA damage, oxidative stress and oxidant defense in peripheral blood. 2008. FASEB J 22:A697.
Traber MG, Barker T. Vitamins E and C in ACL (Anterior Cruciate Ligament) Injury. 2009. 3rd International Symposium; Nutrition, Oxygen Biology and Medicine. Paris, France.

Glycemic Index Foundation [31]
A collaboration between the University of Sydney, the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation of Australia, and Diabetes Australia—the Glycemic Index Foundation (GIF) backs the GI Symbol Program in Australia. The GI Symbol Program is the only independent worldwide GI certification program requiring foods meet a number of criteria to prove they are a healthy choice within their food group. All USANA Foods carry the GI Symbol in Australia, and all testing data quality has been verified by the GIF.

Be Well!

Robin

__________________

I love meeting new friends !

LIKE me on Facebook [9] Connect on LinkedIn [10]

Follow me on Twitter [11] Learn more at my BLOG [12]

Tue, 11/23/2010 - 5:47pm

#10 [32]

Juice Plus 007

Title: LumiGRATE Poster - Top of the Totem Pole

Joined: Sep 1 2010

Posts: 65

Re: Whole Food Nutrition VS. Vitamin and Mineral Supplements

I have had absolutely no problems with CFS/FM/MS sufferers taking Juice PLUS. It is important that they understand that nutrition is not fast like a drug but does treat the whole body with no side effects while a drug acts quickly, treats a symptom but has side effects.

One of the things I like about our research summary is that we have linked the research description to the Medical Abstract to the actual publication. When you go to httP://www.tkociembajuiceplus.com [33] and click on "Juice PLUS Research" and scroll down to "Research Shows" to see how that works. I believe we are the only ones doing that but I don't know every site.

If you want to know a little about how Juice PLUS is made when you are on the landing page underneath the two Juice PLUS bottles is a link to the video.

I smell a pumpkin pie cooking right now.

Tom Kociemba

tom@kociemba.com [34]

623-533-4071 In Arizona or MT.

http;//www.tkociembajuiceplus.com

__________________

Wed, 11/24/2010 - 5:40pm

#11 [35]

Juice Plus 007

Title: LumiGRATE Poster - Top of the Totem Pole

Joined: Sep 1 2010

Posts: 65

Re: Whole Food Nutrition VS. Vitamin and Mineral Supplements

This post responds to "What should a person do who has developed food sensitivities".

Q: First what can I read to know more about whole food nutrition and compare that with isolated vitamins and mineral supplements?

A: Be sure to read the article at the top of this section titled: Juice Plus+®  vs. Vitamin and Mineral Supplements by Dr. Smokey Santillo

Q: What should a person do who has developed food sensitivities which are common in people who have Fibromyalgia, migraines, IBS and other similar chronic health issues. NOTE: NSA is the manufacturer of Juice PLUS.

A: Since allergies and sensitivities can be so diverse and since the associated reactions can go from a simple skin rash or stomach discomfort to anaphylactic reactions and death, NSA’s position is that the person who suffers from these issues is the best judge of whether to try Juice Plus+® considering the information you can provide them on ingredients and nutritional benefits, and also considering the severity of the potential reaction (assuming they did get a reaction). A list of ingredients and nutritional benefit studies may be obtained from Tom@kociemba.com [36].

NOTE: I have yet to have a problem with any Fibromyalgia, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome or MS sufferer taking Juice PLUS. Mostly their bodies are so starved for whole food nutrition that their bodies adapt quite well. If you feel you might have a problem you will want to start very slow, perhaps a half or only one capsule a day when starting out. Remember whole food nutrition heals the entire body over time. Drugs act quickly, treat symptoms and have side effects while whole food nutrition acts slowly, treats the entire body and does not have side effects. Nutrition make all of your cells healthier.

Q: What type of testing and quality control is done on Juice Plus+® products?

A: NSA’s manufacturing partners monitor the quality of all ingredients during all phases of the production process in accordance with strict specifications. Each individual batch is subject to many different types of quality control procedures. All are designed to ensure that at each phase of the process only high quality ingredients are used in the manufacture of Juice Plus+®. The company also carries out a number of tests on the finished product to ensure that each batch meets our exacting quality standards and consistently delivers the good nutrition that our customers have come to expect. For a short on line video that will visualize NSA’s manufacturing of Juice PLUS contact tom@Kociemba.com

Q: Is Juice Plus+® tested for pesticides and herbicides?

A: As part of the ongoing quality assurance program NSA regularly tests all products for herbicides and pesticides. This comprehensive testing is performed to meet both the US Food and Drug Administration and European Union standards. Specifically the Swiss Standards and the toughest standards of all, the Austrian Pharmaceutical Standards.

__________________

Wed, 12/08/2010 - 4:00pm

#12 [37]

Juice Plus 007

Title: LumiGRATE Poster - Top of the Totem Pole

Joined: Sep 1 2010

Posts: 65

Potential Synergy of Phytochemicals in Cancer Prevention:

Potential Synergy of Phytochemicals in Cancer Prevention:

Mechanism of Action 1

NOTE: More clinical evidence that fruit and vegetable extracts are the right way to go in prventing cancer and other chronic diseases.

Department of Food Science, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853

ABSTRACT Epidemiological studies have consistently shown that regular consumption of fruits and vegetables is strongly associated with reduced risk of developing chronic diseases, such as cancer and cardiovascular disease. It is now widely believed that the actions of the antioxidant nutrients alone do not explain the observed health beneﬁts of diets rich in fruits and vegetables, because taken alone, the individual antioxidants studied in clinical trials do not appear to have consistent preventive effects. Work performed by our group and others has shown that fruits and vegetable phytochemical extracts exhibit strong antioxidant and antiproliferative activities and that the major part of total antioxidant activity is from the combination of phytochemicals.

We proposed that the additive and synergistic effects of phytochemicals in fruits and vegetables are responsible for these potent antioxidant and anticancer activities and that the beneﬁt of a diet rich in fruits and vegetables is attributed to the complex mixture of phytochemicals present in whole foods. This explains why no single antioxidant can replace the combination of natural phytochemicals in fruits and vegetables to achieve the health beneﬁts. The evidence suggests that antioxidants or bioactive compounds are best acquired through whole-food consumption, not from expensive dietary supplements. We believe that a recommendation that consumers eat 5 to 10 servings of a wide variety of fruits and vegetables daily is an appropriate strategy for signiﬁcantly reducing the risk of chronic diseases and to meet their nutrient requirements for optimum health. J. Nutr. 134: 3479S–3485S, 2004.

jn.nutrition.org/content/134/12/3479S.full.pdf+html [38]

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Food Complex Mineral	Compared to Mineral Salt?
Calcium	8.79 times more absorbed into blood
Chromium	10-25 times more bioavailable
Copper	1.85 times more retained in the liver
Germanium	5.30 times more retained in the liver
Iron	1.77 times more absorbed into blood
Magnesium	2.20 times more absorbed into blood
Manganese	1.63 times more retained in the liver
Molybdenum	16.49 times more absorbed into blood
Selenium	17.60 times greater antioxidant effect
Zinc	6.46 times more absorbed into blood