Why Vitamins Can't Replace Fruits and Veggies

So I have a friend who just doesn't eat fruits and vegetables. It's all meat, eggs, meat, bread...oh yeah and meat! He claims that it's okay because he takes a multivitamin pill every day. However, I'm quite doubtful that this makes up for the loss of nutrients. So I decided to dive into this and find out for myself!

Vitamin supplements are mass-produced and sold in drugstores and supermarkets across the nation. They are so common that several generic brands of vitamins can be seen sitting next to the name brands. The raw ingredients inside each pill are no different in the quality. In fact, there is no difference between synthetically produced vitamins and vitamins derived from natural plant and animal products. Most companies use synthetically produced vitamins because they are cheaper, so why the price differences? What separates them is how the ingredients are put together and delivered into the body. You might be thinking, why does it matter how they are packed together as long as the vitamins enter the body? Two words: stomach acid. Your stomach is so acidic that the vitamins will be destroyed and wasted before they can do any good for you. That's why the most effective nutrient supplements have an outer coating called enteric coating to keep the stomach acids from destroying the nutrients. The nutrients can then enter the intestines before dissolving in the bloodstream with the most effective absorption. So when you see the bottle saying, "Now better absorption!" it is likely that the pills have better coating to bypass the stomach. There are also different coatings that determine if the vitamins are absorbed slowly or all at once. For more detailed information behind how a vitamin pill is made, check out How Vitamin is Made.

So why don't we all just take vitamins with enteric coating? Sorry, but most vitamins don't have it because it's costly and not everyone can afford them. It is difficult to find vitamins with enteric coating, but you'll have an easier time finding this coating on other supplements such as fish oil. You can see such a product on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Kirkland-Signature-Enteric-Coated-softgels/dp/B002RL8FDO. 

With the varying levels of vitamin absorption, the safest bet is to still eat fruits and vegetables. Vitamins lack the fiber and antioxidants that fruits and vegetables have. I am not saying that people should only eat these naturals foods, but that they should not leave them out. In fact, many people need to take vitamin supplements because they still don't get the full amount of nutrition from their diet. Vitamin supplements are meant to be exactly what they are, supplements, not replacements for food. So the best option is to eat a balanced diet that includes lots of fruits and veggies and take vitamins to fill in what you may still be lacking.

Now if you come across some one like my friend who relies on vitamin pills, you can feel like an expert and tell them why they're not doing enough for their bodies. So just eat, be happy, and share your thoughts!