| The theory behind the so-called Paleolithic Diet | | | | refined or synthetic isolates. Consider that even |
| (Paleo Diet, for short) suggests that whole food | | | | though whole food vitamins may contain less of |
| vitamins obtained from minimally refined and | | | | any single "active ingredient," they also contain |
| processed whole foods, like vegetables, fruit, nuts | | | | traces of many micronutrients your body needs |
| and lean meats, should be optimally suited for | | | | that would be absent in the purified isolated |
| human biology, and thus optimal health. | | | | vitamin concentrate. |
| The Paleo Diet (or caveman diet) is based on the | | | | For example, even though an apple contains a lot |
| kinds of foods that our human ancestors ate for | | | | of vitamin C (ascorbic acid), it has been shown |
| millions of years, long before agriculture and fast | | | | that the antioxidant capacity of an apple is far |
| food restaurants came to be. For most of the | | | | greater than that of the ascorbic acid it contains. |
| time humans have been on the planet, they had | | | | In other words, other whole food vitamins in the |
| to collect (hunt and gather) their food from | | | | apple contribute to its antioxidant power. |
| whatever was around them in nature. There was | | | | It has been shown that refined and isolated |
| no McDonald's conveniently located every two or | | | | beta-carotene is not as beneficial as |
| three miles on the Serengeti. | | | | beta-carotene obtained from eating carrots, and |
| The result of humans evolving in harmony with | | | | may actually be harmful. |
| the natural foods available is that human biology | | | | Raw fish oil vitamins, such as salmon fish oil or |
| and genetics are optimized for such a diet. This is | | | | cod liver oil, are good examples of whole food |
| why fruits and vegetables are universally | | | | vitamins. Fish oil contains a number of important |
| considered to be healthy foods by almost | | | | nutrients besides the essential fatty acids EPA and |
| everyone, and refined sugar (which was rare | | | | DHA on which they are marketed. Cod liver oil is |
| during hunter-gatherer times, in the form of | | | | one of the only sources of natural vitamin D, an |
| seasonal honey) causes obesity, cavities, and | | | | essential nutrient for bone health and many |
| even diabetes. | | | | biological functions in the human body. |
| You don't need a PhD in nutrition to come to the | | | | This isn't to suggest that whole food vitamins can |
| common sense conclusion that if humans evolved | | | | prevent or cure any disease (although there's |
| on a whole food diet of vegetables, fruit, nuts, | | | | good evidence they do). Genetic and |
| and lean meat, then such a diet ought to be | | | | environmental factors all play a role in health |
| optimally compatible with our biochemistry and | | | | outcomes and disease. But all else held constant, |
| genetics. | | | | whole food vitamins obtained from a natural |
| After all, humans are still around, so we must | | | | whole food diet will provide the optimal nutrition |
| have done something right as a species. | | | | for the human body, as it was designed by |
| It is not easy to eat a whole food diet in this day | | | | nature. |
| and age. Refined and processed foods are | | | | Isn't that a lot easier to live by than all the |
| everywhere and many people have turned to | | | | confusing nutrition science that is out there? |
| nutritional supplements to get the important | | | | Remember, a lot of the nutrition science being |
| vitamins they may not be getting in the diet. | | | | conducted is funded by the manufacturers of |
| The "paleo diet" concept serves as a comparative | | | | refined and processed (junk) food. Is it any |
| guide to nutritional supplements, for those people | | | | wonder that the research is so contradictory and |
| who take them. Just as foods can be devitalized | | | | confusing? |
| by refining and processing, so can vitamin | | | | Lastly, a note on cereal grains. Human biology isn't |
| supplements. | | | | adapted for eating grains. Hunter-gatherers didn't |
| If you are eating a whole food diet, rich in | | | | eat them and it was only with agricultural |
| vegetables, fruit, nuts, and lean meat, and low in | | | | cultivation that sufficient quantities of cereal grains |
| calories, you probably don't need to supplement | | | | could be produced by humans. Even so, grains |
| with vitamins at all. But if you feel you would like | | | | require a lot of processing (grinding and cooking) |
| to supplement your diet, seek out whole food | | | | to be digestible in humans. Just as with whole |
| vitamins. Simply use the Paleo Diet as a | | | | food vitamins, whole grains are better than |
| comparative guide to nutritional supplements. | | | | refined grains, but grains should always be |
| Look at labels and determine if the nutritional | | | | consumed sparingly and should only make up a |
| supplements contain whole food vitamins vs. | | | | small percentage of the human diet. |