I have been asked to elaborate on whole food supplements versus mega dose vitamins. To me, it's like comparing an egg to a golf ball. They are both white and somewhat round, but that's where the similarities end. First, I have to ask one thing: "Why do we take vitamins?" It is to supplement the nutrients that are not in the foods that we eat. So it stands to reason that the supplement should be made from food. But why food? Because it contains many more nutrients than humanity has been able to isolate and stick in a bottle. A carrot, for example, contains more than 200 nutrients and an apple contains 397! Of those, only 39 have ever been isolated and put into a supplement. The typical multi-vitamin contains between 13 and 20 isolated components. "Oh, but there is MORE in a multiple vitamin." More does not mean better. Quality is more important than quantity. Nutrients are never found alone in nature, nor do they work in the body as isolated components. They have synergistic actions that make a tremendous difference in bioavailability and function. For instance, calcium doesn't just jump into the bones. First, it needs to be digestible; it needs to combine with phosphorus; vitamin D and essential fatty acids are necessary for absorption; and magnesium, vitamin D and vitamin C are needed for bone strength. Calcium doesn't work alone. Neither do the other nutrients. Have you ever wondered how many parts it takes to build your car? I checked. It takes 15,000 to 20,000. It takes four bolts to hold an engine on its mount. What would happen if one bolt was missing? Perhaps nothing for awhile, but eventually, you could lose your engine. That's why we supplement, to make sure we're not missing any needed "nuts and bolts." Let's say you take the usual mega-dose synthetic vitamin. They usually contain significantly more of the RDAs than necessary. Your B-Vitamins are typically 3,333 percent of the RDAs. That's like getting 3,333 bolts for an engine that needs four. You can't use them all and they now become a hazard. If you take a synthetic vitamin, it would be like getting 3,333 bolts, 400 windshields, 833 brakes, 150 tires, 500 capacitors, 1,666 wheels, 333 cotter pins, 20 engines, 90 crankshafts, 800 batteries and 127 seats and calling it a car. I don't know of anyone that can make that go! With synthetics, it's also like getting 3,333 bolts that are plastic! The quality is so poor, that if you can utilize it, it won't hold up to the job. Nutrients are designed to work together. We can't possibly guess how many of each micro nutrient we need. Sometimes the smallest nutrient is the most powerful in its effect on health. So the next time you look at a label and you are only looking at how MUCH of a nutrient is in that product, think about how well your "car" will drive with a few different components, in huge amounts! Dr. Holly Carling is a Doctor of Oriental Medicine, Licensed Acupuncturist, Doctor of Naturopathy, Clinical Nutritionist and Master Herbologist with more than 30 years of experience. Dr. Carling is currently accepting new patients and offers natural health care services and whole food nutritional supplements in her Coeur d' Alene clinic. Visit Dr. Carling's Web site at www.vitalhealthandfitness.com to learn more about Dr. Carling, view a list of upcoming health classes and read other informative articles. Dr. Carling can be reached at 208-765-1994 and would be happy to answer any questions regarding this topic.