The other day I was asked, why would I purchase your Australian Greens as opposed to another brand (which I won’t mention)
For context the other brand, was a greens blend that contains 70+ ingredients, a large majority of which are isolated compounds/extracts….
Almost everyone else sells extracts because they are so much cheaper to produce (because they are 99% water or alcohol). We steer clear of extracts for two main reasons.
- Effectiveness
Whole food supplements contain a complex mix of nutrients that work synergistically to provide maximum health benefits. The whole foods naturally contain a variety of vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and other bioactive compounds that work together to support the body’s natural healing and immune systems. Isolated compounds, on the other hand, contain only a single nutrient, which may not be as effective as the whole food source.
For example, vitamin C is an essential nutrient that plays a crucial role in immune function, wound healing, and collagen synthesis. However, vitamin C is not the only nutrient found in whole foods that support these functions.
Camu Camu, one of our superfoods-that contains the most Vitamin C of any food in the world, also contains a variety of phytochemicals, including flavonoids and carotenoids, that work together with vitamin C to provide maximum health benefits.
An isolated vitamin C supplement is never going to compare to consuming Camu Camu as a whole food because its just one compound and it is often excreted quickly by the body because the body can’t utilise them and doesn’t recognise individual compounds.
2. Absorption
Moreover, whole food supplements are more easily absorbed and utilized by the body than isolated compounds. Whole foods contain natural fibres and other compounds that help to slow down the absorption of nutrients, allowing for better digestion and utilization.
In contrast, isolated compounds are often highly concentrated and may be poorly absorbed by the body, leading to poor efficacy and potential side effects, like the fat soluble vitamins, Vitamin A, being a perfect example, if its given to the body in excess it stores it in the liver where it can become quite toxic.
3. Safety
Another advantage of whole food supplements is that they are less likely to cause adverse reactions than isolated compounds. Many isolated compounds, such as synthetic vitamins, may be produced using harsh chemicals and may contain additives and fillers that can cause allergic reactions and other side effects. Whole food supplements, on the other hand, are made from natural, minimally processed foods that are less likely to cause adverse reactions.
4. Environmental Benefits
Many isolated compounds are produced using intensive farming practices, which can contribute to environmental degradation, including soil depletion and water pollution. Whole food supplements, on the other hand, are made from organic or sustainably grown fruits, vegetables, and other foods, which are better for the environment and support local agriculture.
When you take a whole food supplement like all products at Forest Super Foods, you are literally just consuming real food that is dried and powdered – you get it in the proportions that our body can process, with all the other compounds necessary for its digestion. What’s more the digestion of these compounds is completely different, it’s kind of like a code that the body can read.
That’s why everything we do is whole foods – not an extract or isolated compound.