Supplements vs Real Food

I really want to spread the message that supplements can be helpful when needed, but they’ll never replace the power of real foods. That’s where the focus should be! 🥦✨

Here’s Why Real Food Matters

Beyond the familiar vitamins and minerals, plant-based foods are rich in complex mixtures of bioactive compounds - and the way these compounds work together in your body is far more powerful than any single isolated nutrient.

Real food offers synergy. The interactions between different compounds in whole foods amplify their effects in ways that supplements just can’t replicate.

Polyphenols (Yes, That’s a Word You’ll Want to Know)

Polyphenols are a group of powerful antioxidants found naturally in plant-based foods. These compounds:

• Help protect your cells from damage

• Reduce inflammation

• Support heart health

Pretty impressive, right?

But here's the kicker - polyphenols work better together. Studies show their bioavailability (your body’s ability to absorb and use them) is significantly higher when multiple types are consumed together, rather than in isolation. In other words: the more variety of plant-based foods you eat, the more your body benefits.

To date, scientists have discovered over 10,000 different types of phytochemicals in plants - each with potential health-promoting effects. That’s an enormous library of natural compounds, and we’re only beginning to understand how they work.

Can you imagine the untapped benefits still hidden in these natural sources?

Therefore, your best health ally? A colourful, diverse, plant-rich diet that delivers not just nutrients, but powerful natural compounds working together in harmony.

Food first, always. 🌱

© 2025 Irina Bormotova, ANutr

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