Why Buy Vitamins?

© 2018, Terry Mercer


There are six (6) essential nutrient groups every human body is absolutely required to EAT… in order to sustain life, whether through diet or supplementation, these are necessary:

• Carbohydrates
• Proteins
• Fats
• Water (hydration)
• Vitamins, and
• Minerals

Pure Nutrition consists of the right type of nutrients, which are actually getting INTO THE BODY, to the correct places, because they are focused on what the cells in that system require, want, and are looking for already. Quality nutrition allows the body to get the nutrients it’s already used to using (from food) or wanting (by genetic design)… to optimize and improve your health in safe and efficient ways.  

VITAMINS & MINERAL SUPPLEMENTS may be recommend by your own doctor, according to the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP):

• for certain health problems (particularly joint, digestion, and general health)
• if you eat a vegetarian or vegan diet (as some key nutrients, your body needs, are usually missing from your diet)
• if you are dieting or flushing (actively trying to lose weight or detox), then extra broad spectrum nutrients are recommended to optimize health,
• if you are exercising or working out more than 30 minutes three times a week,
• if you are pregnant or breastfeeding
• if you aren’t otherwise getting a balanced diet, and eating at least three times a day.

Some Facts about Vitamins
Your body requires and actively uses vitamins & minerals for a variety of biological processes, including growth, digestion, and nerve function.

13 vitamins that the body absolutely needs: vitamins A, C, D, E, K, and the B vitamins (thiamine, riboflavin, niacin, pantothenic acid, biotin, vitamin B-6, vitamin B-12 and folate).

10 Minerals mammals must have to live: calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, iron, zinc, sodium, selenium, potassium, iodine, manganese.

Things are vital to understand about minerals:

Minerals are naturally-occurring inorganic substances (i.e. they do not have a carbon atom).

Minerals have huge roles, vital to the health, life, and longevity of all mammals, including healthy growth and development.

There are actually about 3800 known minerals in this world, but only 21 are essential to the healthy functioning of the human body (and most mammals).

Some minerals, such as lead and mercury are toxic to humans.

The first 10, in the list above, are what are most often found to be DEFICIENT, thus requiring extra attention (to diet or supplementation, and in many cases demand supplementation, because certain ones just don’t exist in the foods from a given geography).

The ‘essential’ 21 are often described as the five major minerals (calcium, phosphorus, potassium, sodium, and magnesium); and 16 trace minerals (iron, cobalt, copper, zinc, manganese, molybdenum, iodine, selenium, sulfur, chloride, boron, silicon, vanadium, nickel, arsenic, chromium).

It’s important to understand, as the name implies, “Trace minerals” are the same as the other minerals to earth, but to mammals, far smaller amounts (less than 100 mg/day, i.e. TRACE AMOUNTS) are required, so they were put into a separate category.

Each of the listed ‘essential Minerals’ have a specific biochemical function in the human body, but all of them MUST BE ‘combined’ with something else (carbonate, oxide,
sulphate, etc….. ‘the form’) for a body to use it from any supplement.

There is no such thing as a ‘pure’ 100% _____ mineral in any supplement; and that last name absolutely matters!

The trace minerals are needed in such tiny amounts that the actual role of many of them in a mammals body were not really discovered until the last few years (the doctors involved with MD’s Choice knew about all that back in the 90’s, but much of that science was just coming out, still in studies, or speculation).

The actually ‘essentiality’ of some of the ‘essential nutrients;’ are still questioned, discussed, and debated by some of the non-nutritionists today.

Once in a mammals body, minerals are either bound to organic molecules (having a carbon atom), or in their inorganic form (without such atom).

They are found in the body in two different states: 

1. Solid state: as crystals such as bones and teeth; Or
2. Solution: in ionized or non-ionized form such as blood plasma.


They can even change from one state to another; example, calcium, in a case of hypocalcemia is removed from bones (a solid crystalline form) to plasma (ionic form).

Important considerations when evaluating a food source:

• The mineral concentration of any food will depend on the soil and water in which they are grown.
• To evaluate the essentiality or toxicity of a nutrient (vitamin or mineral), it is necessary to evaluate its bio-availability (the amount actually absorbed, and transported to the site of action).


All vitamins fit into just two categories:


    Water-soluble vitamins are easily absorbed by the body, which doesn't store large amounts. The kidneys remove any of these type of vitamins that are not needed, and used by the body, within hours of injected. Which means they need to be added to the diet (or supplementation) on a daily basis, because there are no extra supplies, storage, or holding for later use.

    Fat-soluble vitamins are absorbed into the body with the use of bile acids. Any not used immediately, are stored in the fat cells in the body. They are not flushed, the body stores these for use as needed, but are the only type of vitamins a person can actually get too much of. Fat soluble vitamins can build up.

Pure Nutrition

There are many very good reasons to add responsible vitamin and mineral supplements to your daily routine, especially something like Complete Formula (that consists of 97 different vitamins, minerals, trace minerals, amino acids, and enzymes). If you have digestive issues, the Intestaid (GI Support) is worth trying. It’s also wise to add a targeted supplement, such as Arthrosamine (for joints) if you are over 40, or have issues with your joints, or arthritis. These supplements from MD’s Choice do NOT contain herbs… and are designed to supply the body what it needs and is already looking for, in forms it can actually use… to help the body maintain optimum health at low doses, and actually repair and rebuild itself when possible at higher doses. Nothing magic, or quick… just PURE NUTRITION and real science! 

They are designed for quality absorption. That does not mean quick results, as there are no drugs (including their herbal counterparts). There are no pain killers or masking agents.

Develop a Vitamin Strategy

The 2005 Dietary Guidelines for Americans advises that nutrient needs be met primarily through consuming foods, with supplementation suggested for certain sensitive populations, and targeting specific needs. Sadly, these days, MOST PEOPLE (and pets) fail to get a good consistent board spectrum diet.

The basic guidelines are published by the Department of Health and Human Services and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), to help provide some science-based advice for minimum requirements. They hope to promote the overall health, and to reduce risk for chronic diseases, through diet and physical activity. (Interestingly, goals the doctors involved with MD’s Choice established back in the 90’s).

The American government has formed a basis for federal food, nutrition education, and information programs. And is finally seeing the importance of educating people about which vitamins (and minerals) you’re normally getting in your daily diet, and which you should add in your supplementation. Their recommendations aren’t perfect, but they are a start… and are improving.

It’s also important to understand that those ‘one’ pill (or capsule) a day type stuff is only ‘better than nothing’ (assuming there aren’t herbs involved, or any contaminants from countries we couldn’t safely drink their water); and, generally they a large waste of money, because they are highly compressed, listed in combined (not elemental) amounts, and in the wrong forms (usually a carbonate or oxide, or whatever was cheapest at the time and densely packed). The ‘one’ pill (tablet, capsule, or drops) a day doesn’t usually care about nutrition, ignoring elemental amounts and actual absorption potential.

Consumers that become aware, can quickly learn which brands to avoid, based on the ingredients used in their products, and methods of advertising. Educated consumers build a list of what to avoid, and what to use… and understand that ‘last names’ matter (especially for minerals). They will achieve adequate vitamin intake, and optimize their own health and wellbeing with products using nutrients that are safe, effective, and efficient.

Barbara Schneeman, Ph.D., Director of FDA's Office of Nutritional Products, Labeling, and Dietary Supplements, says, "The Guidelines emphasize that supplements may be useful when they fill a specific identified nutrient gap that cannot or is not otherwise being met by the individual's intake of food." She adds, "An important point made in the guidelines is that nutrient supplements are not a substitute for a healthful diet." Wow, that only took 25 years to get them to admit.

Special Nutrient Needs

According to the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, many people consume more calories than they need without taking in recommended amounts of a number of nutrients. The Guidelines warn that there are numerous nutrients—including vitamins and minerals—for which low dietary intake may be a cause of concern.

These nutrients (which most need more of) are:

For Adults ~ calcium, potassium, fiber, magnesium, and vitamins A (as carotenoids), C, and E
For Children and Adolescents ~ calcium, potassium, fiber, magnesium, and vitamin E
For specific groups (or health problems) ~ vitamin B-12, iron, folic acid, and vitamins E and D, glucosamine sulphate 2KCl.

One of the problems is that they often state ‘a’ nutrient, like calcium, but ignore the ‘co-factors’ (co-operative nutrients, and things to optimize it’s absorption and use within the body). Hence, why it’s important to work with companies that actually deal with the reality of NUTRITION, care about bio-availability and absorption, and are aware of safety issues. MDsChoice.com can help with all that, and have been since 1995.

Consider the following tips before buying a dietary supplement:
• Think twice about chasing the latest headline.
• Sound health advice is generally based on THIRD PARTY unbiased research, repeated over time. Not a single study touted by the media… or a poorly crafted study involving too few bodies, or failing to support the numbers.
• Be wary of results claiming a "quick fix" that departs from scientific research and established dietary guidance.
• Avoid companies that use any nutrients in their oral supplements containing anything with ‘carbonate’ or ‘oxide’ or ‘glucosamine HCl’ in it… because they either don’t know about nutrition, or don’t really care about bio-availability and effectiveness.
• Some products can be harmful when consumed in high amounts, especially those with drug activity; especially for a long time, or in combination with certain other substances.
• Learn to spot false claims. If something sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

Examples of false claims on product labels include:
• Quick fixes (only possible with DRUG ACTIVITY)
• Some claims of "cure-all"
• Celebrity Endorsements (should be avoided)
• If they claim to cure any disease (especially things like RA, MD, HIV)
• "Totally safe," ‘Holistic,” “GMO,” "all natural," and has "definitely no side effects" are far too common, and should be avoided.

Other red flags include:
• claims about limited availability
• offers “free trial offer” but requires ANY for advance payment.
• offers "no-risk, no-question asked, money-back guarantees" (but fails to provide that to those asking)
Also ask yourself,  
• "Is the product worth the money?'"
• Resist the pressure to buy on the spot, too much pressure is often not a good sign.

Some supplements may seem expensive.
• Look at INGREDIENCE of the company’s OTHER PRODUCTS.
• If they have more than two versions of a product intended for a given purpose, WHY?

What is their reasoning for that?
What are the differences??
In-house competition is interesting, especially when a company claims to have a product with many millions spend on the development, and legal hoop jumping, why create products you claim works, and have millions invested in… if it really worked)

• Google their company name and basic history…
• How long have they been in business?
• Are actual practicing doctors (human or animal) actually using their products – outside those getting free product, or a salary from the company??
• Are there any complaints about the company listed with the BBB or Chamber of Commerce?
• Has their company or products been reviewed on Consumer Reports, Rip-off Reports, and the other sources available over the internet these days?
• Look toward ACTUAL CUSTOMERS, not smoke and mirrors (or paid endorsements).

Some more vital things to consider:
• WHO is behind the development and formulation of the product? Do they have a NUTRITION or Pharmacology background?
• what ingredients are being used (remember what to avoid, the flags)
• where the ingredients are being blended and bottled (you really don’t want products from countries that lack any regulations, and have water you can’t safely drink),
• how many years they’ve been in business, and
• are there any negatives being said about their company or products?
• where are the products being sold? (mainstream big box stores, and joe’s vitamin shop with some high school kid or non-nutritional person is pushing the latest ingredient of the month buzz word miracle, or they have a bunch of products containing carbonates or oxides, or glucosamine HCl in the supplements they sell… should tell you they do NOT understand nutrition, safety, or efficacy.



All information in this article is for educational purposes only. Nothing herein is for the diagnosis, treatment, prescription, or cure of any disease or health condition. If you have medical concerns, please see a real licensed doctor, who can actually see you... run any necessary tests, and focus on your specific needs, symptom(s), and unique situation. 

© Copyright 2018, Terry Mercer - any other respective holders. All Rights Reserved