Do synthetic vitamins do more harm than good?

Hi There Fitlifer,

I hope you are having a fantastic week and have done or will do something that brings you joy in the next 24 hours.

Here’s what we’ll dig into together this week…

• 🥦 Why You Should Get Your Vitamins From Food (and Superfoods)

• 😵‍💫 One Thing That’s Stopping You From Losing Weight

• 🫒 Can Olive Oil Reduce the Risk of Dementia?

• 🚑 What’s happening this week in health…

• 🎁 Who won this week’s giveaway…

Want to win some Organifi Products? Rate the newsletter (at the bottom) and let us know what you’re struggling with or what you’d like to learn next.

🥦 Why You Should Get Your Vitamins From Food (and Superfoods)

Do synthetic vitamins do more harm than good?

We all know what happens in the bathroom after you’ve had those synthetic B vitamins…

When it comes to vitamins, you should never sacrifice quality for quantity. Synthetic vitamins may be more convenient, but at what cost?

Think about this, my friends: A humble carrot contains over 200 nutrients and phytonutrients in its little body. This is an incredibly wide range your body gobbles up, absorbs, disperses, and digests. It’s a harmonious system, just like nature intended.

Synthetic vitamins, on the other hand, are only single elements—isolated and produced without any of their natural partners.

Worse, these inferior vitamins are often glued together with other synthetics to make them more wide-ranging, like their natural counterparts. But these vitamin combinations are really just fractions of what you get from natural foods, and they can’t even compare to something as simple as a carrot.

Plus, your body isn’t as good at absorbing these synthetic versions, either.

So… what do you think, are they worth it?

In my opinion, too many Americans waste too much money on practically useless stuff (like multivitamins). That’s why your vitamins should come from whole, real foods... not some cold, sterile, lifeless laboratory.

Powders made from whole foods, like Organifi products, are an excellent way to get multivitamins. For example, wheatgrass is a fantastic source of vitamin B, and you can find that in Organifi Green Juice. These powders retain the benefits of natural foods, ensuring you get the nutrients in a form your body can effectively absorb and use.

😵‍💫 One Thing That’s Stopping You From Losing Weight

When it comes to your health (and weight management), you should never underestimate the impact of cortisol. This "stress hormone" plays a crucial role in our body's response to stress and various metabolic processes, but chronic elevation can lead to serious issues.

Research has shown a correlation between elevated cortisol levels and increased abdominal fat deposition. A study published in Psychosomatic Medicine (PMID: 16353426) found that stress-induced cortisol secretion was consistently greater among women with central fat distribution. This suggests that individuals with higher cortisol levels may be more likely to accumulate fat in the abdominal area.

As we age, our bodies undergo various physiological changes that can affect weight management. Older individuals often find it more challenging to lose weight, and this may be partly attributed to changes in cortisol levels. A study published in Psychoneuroendocrinology (PMID: 24495612) found that changes in self-esteem in older adults can predict alterations in cortisol secretion, particularly among those experiencing psychological distress (PMID: 24495612). These age-related changes in cortisol levels can potentially contribute to metabolic changes.

While cortisol is essential for various bodily functions, chronic elevation can have detrimental effects on multiple organs. Excessive cortisol has been associated with various health issues, including metabolic disturbances, cognitive decline, and immune system suppression (PMID 27345309). Additionally, high cortisol levels have been linked to decreased bone mineral density, increased risk of cardiovascular disease, and disrupted sleep patterns (PMC4570173).

In my opinion, too many people underestimate the impact of stress on their overall health and well-being. That's why it's crucial to manage stress and keep cortisol levels in check for a healthier body and mind.

Yes, diet matters. Yes, exercise also matters. But it’s not about eating salads and working out all day, every day. Stress is just as big of a factor—and if you’re not addressing it, none of this other stuff will work the way you wish it would.

So, as you can see, there are dozens of reasons to get your stress under control. Feeling relief from stress is one of the most powerful and uplifting feelings you can experience. Getting your pants to fit better is a really nice side effect, too.

Have you heard about Ashwagandha? It’s one of my favorite superfood herbs for lowering cortisol back to normal levels. It’s also one of the superstar ingredients in Organifi Green Juice which you can get for 20% off right now, right here, with code Drew. 

🫒 Can Olive Oil Reduce the Risk of Dementia?

Maybe! According to a recent study (PMID: 38709531), people who consumed 7g of olive oil daily were 28% less likely to develop a fatal form of dementia. This study took place over almost 30 years and involved over 90,000 people.

So… does this mean consuming olive oil helps protect us from dementia? Again, maybe!

While the results of this study are associational and do not conclusively show that olive oil is responsible for these effects, we do know olive oil contains compounds that help in the fight against Alzheimer’s disease, like phenolic compounds, monounsaturated fatty acids, and vitamin E.

So forget about margarine or hydrogenated oils—olive oil may be the swap your mind needs.

🩸Toxic metals in Tampons?  For the first time, a widespread study has been conducted to test for toxic metals in tampons, and the results are not good…

🐓 Nation Wide Chicken Recall Check your freezer! If you’re a fan of chicken kebabs, we may have some bad news for you concerning a possible listeria contamination…

🥵 Do you burn more calories in a heat wave? They say you burn more calories if you exercise in the heat, but is it worth the danger? Take a look at this article before you go run in the sun.

😷 A Colorado county is under investigation for severe ozone pollution? A relatively small section of the Colorado Front Range is currently being researched by top U.S. scientists looking for sources of toxic greenhouse gases…

🥗 What (and how) to eat to stay cool this summer  Did you know that certain foods can help you regulate your body temperature on hot days? Not only that, but your meal size matters too. Take a look!

See you next week!

Remember, we’re in this together,

-Drew Canole

PS: Want to win some Organifi products? Share the newsletter with your friends, send feedback below, and share some Organifi love, let me know what you liked, what you'd like to learn more about, and what you're struggling with.