What do you find when you look at your multivitamin’s label? Do you see things like guava, turmeric, holy basil, barley grass, and maca? Or do you come across things like folic acid, ascorbic acid, thiamine mononitrate, pyridoxine hydrochloride, and cyanocobalamin? If you aren’t seeing the first list of ingredients or something like them then your vitamins probably aren’t doing you much good and may actually be causing you more problems than you realize.
The majority of vitamins and multivitamins being sold today are full of synthetic versions of the nutrients found naturally in food. These synthetics are not the same as the natural versions, despite what the scientists who create them and the companies who peddle them would have you believe. How could they be the same thing when they come together in completely different processes, using different ingredients, and wind up as isolated molecules that may be similar, but not identical to anything we find in nature? Synthetic vitamins come from coal tar, petroleum byproducts, hazardous chemicals, industrial waste, and corrosive acids. This is not the way nature makes our vitamins and unsurprisingly they don’t work as well either. Synthetic vitamins are not as easily absorbed or put to use as the natural ones our bodies recognize. The rigid, isolated, and often crystalline synthetics are harder on the kidneys and liver, collect in tissues, and are even often treated as toxins. This means they slowly do damage to your nervous system, muscles, cardiovascular system, organs, and your immune system too. As toxins, they also contribute to obesity and make it hard to lose weight as the body likes to stuff toxins in fat cells where they do less damage than they can while roaming free. These vitamins are just wasteful, wasting both our cash and our health. It doesn’t have to be this way any longer. Nature has the vitamins and minerals we need if you know where to look. Let’s look at a few of the superfoods that could be packed into your vitamins. Annatto – Annatto refers to the seeds of the achiote tree. These seeds are often used as a natural coloring and dye, but are also exceptionally rich in tocotrienols. These antioxidants work very similarly to and in conjunction with vitamin E. Annatto doesn’t stop there. It supplies a plethora of other antioxidants in the form of carotenoids. Annatto also helps reduce inflammation, blood pressure, and cholesterol for an all-around healthy heart. 
Guava – This tropical fruit is extremely rich in vitamin C, carotenoids (natural vitamin A), manganese, magnesium, vitamin E, copper, and plenty of B vitamins like folate. Guava’s prolific number of nutrients help the body with thousands of functions, protect against cellular aging, lower blood pressure, aid in weight management, and contribute toward a sense of well-being and overall health. Sesbania – This Malaysian tree is used as food and for medicinal purposes. It aids digestion, detoxifies, and has antibiotic properties. Sesbania is being studied for its promising anti-aging abilities as well. Barley Grass – Barley grass is one of the most concentrated superfoods you can find, very similar to wheat grass in nutrients. The young, tender leaves of barley grass are loaded with chlorophyll, B vitamins, carotenoids, iron, and vitamin C. It soothes digestion, freshens breath, reduces body odor, improves hydration, lowers cholesterol, stabilizes blood pressure, and improves the immune system. Turmeric – This orangish root is often used to season curry, but is being studied right and left for all the exciting benefits it has to offer. Turmeric is related to ginger and contain a powerful anti-inflammatory and antioxidant, curcumin. This little compound that gives curry its color and pungent flavor is showing promise against arthritis, diabetes, heart disease, Alzheimer’s, and even cancer. Turmeric also helps detox the liver, improve digestion, reduce pain, and even control weight. Eleuthero – Formerly known as Siberian Ginseng, this root is an adaptogenic herb that helps the body deal with stress more effectively. Eleuthero acts as an antioxidant, controls blood sugar, reduces the duration of colds, lowers cholesterol, stimulates the immune system, improves memory, fights pain, and raises energy levels. You will find it in the Raw Vitamins for Him. 
Lemon – Lemons have some powerful antiviral, antibacterial, and immune-boosting abilities. Lemon also aids digestion and helps detoxify the liver. These citrus fruits balance the body’s pH, supply plenty of vitamin C, lower blood pressure, and strengthen blood vessels. Lemons are a good source of flavonoids, B vitamins, calcium, iron, copper, magnesium, phosphorus, and potassium while battling fatigue and thirst too. Rhodiola Rosea – This flowering herb is another adaptogen that combats stress and fatigue. Rhodiola also shows promise against depression, anxiety, sleeplessness, decreased memory, and elevated blood sugar levels while acting as an antioxidant too. Muira Puama – Muira puama is an adaptogenic herb that improves sexual function in both men and women. It takes the place of eleuthero root in the Raw Vitamins for Her for good reason. This herb calms cramps and PMS symptoms and can ease the symptoms of menopause too. Apart from this, muira puama stimulates the reproductive, nervous, and gastrointestinal systems to improve circulation, boost energy levels, increase sexual desire and satisfaction, and even combat erectile dysfunction. Fo-Ti – Fo-Ti has an ancient reputation as a rejuvenating herb with longevity and energizing properties. It is a part of many legends in Chinese history that revolve around people defying aging, including an herbalist who reportedly lived to a ripe 256 years old thanks to the herb and meditation. Fo-Ti balances hormones, reduces stress, boosts energy, lowers blood pressure, lowers cholesterol, and may even prevent premature greying of hair. Bilberry – Bilberry is related to the American blueberry, but these berries are darker in color, tarter, and somewhat smaller. They pack a lot of nutrition in each little package though. Bilberries are rich in antioxidants, antimicrobials, and anti-inflammatories. They are traditionally used to improve night vision and general eyesight, but they are also beneficial in protecting the heart, blood vessels, and kidneys while fighting diabetes and chronic fatigue. 
Holy Basil – Holy basil, also known as Tulsi, is a member of the mint family and is a sacred herb in India. It has been used as medicine for thousands of years in India, Rome, and Greece. Holy basil has antibacterial, antifungal, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory properties that make it an excellent addition to the vitamins. It detoxifies the body, including the pineal gland, and is capable of removing fluoride from water and the body. Holy basil also slows many of the symptoms of aging. This herb is rich in carotenoids, B vitamins, vitamin K, calcium, iron, magnesium, manganese, and copper. It is also full of beneficial flavonoids and antioxidant compounds like cryptoxanthin, lutein, and zeaxanthin that protect cells from free radical damage, especially when complexed with so many other antioxidants instead of isolated. Maca – This Peruvian herb is related to the radish, but unlike its relative it has been linked to libido and hormonal balance for over 2,000 years. It improves the symptoms of menopause, reduces enlarged prostates, and combats infertility. Maca is also rich in B vitamins, calcium, and magnesium for strong bones, muscles, and raised energy levels. Grape Seed – Grape seeds are rich in antioxidants, flavonoids, vitamin E, and linoleic acid. These all protect the body from cellular damage and inflammation. Grape seed strengthens blood vessels, improves circulation, and speeds healing. Cordyceps – These mushrooms are best known for attacking and zombifying insects, but they also grow under more normal fungi conditions. Cordyceps have been a part of Chinese medicine for thousands of years. These little mushrooms are powerful antibacterial and antiviral food. They increase circulation, boost the immune system, strengthen muscles, detox the kidneys and liver, lower cholesterol, improve oxygen use, reduce fatigue, improve sexual function, and may even kill cancer cells. If your vitamins are just a list of isolated compounds and synthetic chemicals, then you aren’t doing your body justice. Give it the nutrients it will recognize and your body will love you for it. If you really want to make a difference, check out the ingredients in Sunwarrior’s Raw Vitamins for Him and for Her. They’re all natural, raw, vegan, and without synthetics, binder, fillers, or anything else you don’t need or want. Your body will be grateful.
