The Organic, Probiotic Alternative –
Whole-Food, Multivitamins for Men & Women
Healthy Living Article by Ken Babal, C.N.

Does anyone still need a reason to take a multiple vitamin-mineral supplement? Even if you eat a near-perfect diet, you’re probably not receiving optimal amounts of essential vitamins and minerals. One reason is that food is only as good as the soil it’s grown in. And studies show that the mineral content of our soils has steadily been declining due to erosion and chemical farming techniques. Still need another reason? How about stress, pollution, excessive sugar and caffeine consumption and medications? All of these factors tend to deplete the body of key nutrients like vitamins B and C.
Everyone knows there are a lot of multivitamins to choose from. However, an organic, probiotic, whole food supplement tailored to a man’s or woman’s needs is an excellent choice. This type of high-quality supplement contains a complete spectrum of essential vitamins and minerals needed for energy, repair, immune function and a healthy metabolism. Furthermore, the vitamins and minerals are uniquely transformed by biofermentation.

WHAT ARE PROBIOTIC NUTRIENTS?

Most vitamin companies formulate their products with pure USP vitamins. However, one innovative company believes in the natural complexity of biofermented whole food extracts rather than the mega potency, isolated vitamins found in conventional, pharmaceutical-type vitamin supplements. New Chapter Probiotic Nutrients are cultured in organic soy and whole foods using nature’s most studied probiotic organisms, Lactobacilli acidophilus, bifidus and rhamnosus, and Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The process creates biotransformed vitamins and minerals like what you would find in cultured foods such as yogurt, miso and tempeh.

BIOTRANSFORMATION OF NUTRIENTS

New Chapter’s culturing process is a two-step technology that begins with a “superbroth” consisting of a whole plant protein-carbohydrate complex and bioflavonoids mixed with baker’s yeast, USP nutrients, organic whole soy and purified water. This initial culturing process converts indigestible, inactive soy compounds into digestible active isoflavones. Culturing also generates fermentation metabolites and bacteriocins that are immune supportive, cell protective and suppress unhealthful microbes and yeasts such as Candida albicans.

At this point, plant enzymes are added to break cell walls, deactivate the yeast and improve digestibility of the cultured whole food broth. The broken cell walls yield a myriad of valuable accessory nutrients including beta glucan, superoxide dismutase (SOD), phospholipids, branched chain amino acids, lipoic acid and glutathione. These substances promote normal functioning of the immune system, stress adaptation, blood sugar balance and liver detoxification.

To complete the culturing process, New Chapter adds probiotic bacteria. These friendly organisms are powerful transformers that assist in binding the vitamins and minerals to proteins and carbohydrates. Finally, a proprietary, low heat spray-drying process is used to preserve the vital probiotic nutrients in preparation for tableting.

In summary, what the company has done is create a bioconversion process that integrates lifeless vitamins and minerals into organic food complexes called glycoproteins that are recognized by the body as food. As one might expect, New Chapter’s Probiotic Nutrients are easy to digest and may even be taken on an empty stomach.

DO YOU HAVE A SPICE DEFICIENCY?

We all know something about the health consequences of vitamin and mineral deficiencies. But is it possible to have a spice deficiency? Culinary herbs and spices are believed to be key factors in traditional diets of healthy populations and are lacking in the typical American diet. New Chapter believes that nutrients work best when delivered with time-tested herbs, spices, superfoods and tonic mushrooms.

In many countries, it is traditional to eat cultured foods with supportive herbs. In Japan, for example, it is customary to drink green tea and eat ginger and wasabi along with miso. In Indonesia, people enjoy ginger and turmeric along with tempeh. And in India, people feast on teas and spices along with yogurt and cultured rice.

Ginger, one of the world’s favorite spices, contains compounds that inhibit pain and inflammation. Its blood-thinning properties are said to be comparable to drugs prescribed for that purpose. Ginger is an ingredient in curry powder, as is turmeric. Almost on a daily basis, studies on turmeric’s cancer-fighting qualities are published in major medical journals. Many of these studies were spurred by the observation that India, where spices like turmeric form an important part of the diet, has a rate of colon, breast, prostate and lung cancer that is 10 times lower than that of the U.S. Click here for New Chapter’s Ginger products.

New Chapter grows ginger and turmeric on their own organic spice farm in Costa Rica. It is a world model for organic sustainable farming in the rainforest, and demonstrates their commitment to environmental preservation and nutrient-enhancing growing practices. Organic whole foods deliver the ideal form of essential micronutrients and the infinite wisdom of nature that allows us to thrive. Organic farming reduces the burden of pesticides, fungicides and herbicides on the environment. New Chapter stands out as the first company to voluntarily have its probiotic multivitamins reviewed and approved as organic by a USDA-accredited, third-party certifier. According to the Organic Trade Association, organically grown plants have shown 30 percent higher levels of antioxidants than conventionally grown. Also, see Gingerforce and Turmericforce.

GENDER-SPECIFIC FORMULAS

Every Woman® and Every Man® multivitamins from New Chapter are formulated with gender-specific nutritional needs in mind, but they share some distinguishing features. For example, both formulas contain a flash freeze-dried 10x concentration of spinach and blueberry. Blueberries are notable for their brain-specific antioxidants, and studies suggest they slow age-related brain deterioration. One study was performed on rats with beta-amyloid plaque, a feature of Alzheimer’s disease. A researcher stated, “Our data indicate that for the first time it may be possible to overcome genetic predisposition to Alzheimer’s disease through diet.”

Spinach is a source of a yellow-orange carotene called lutein, which population studies suggest may protect against macular degeneration, a common cause of blindness in the elderly. There is evidence that lutein may also protect against cataract formation and coronary artery disease because of its antioxidant effects.

I like the fact that the formulas include reishi, shiitake, maitake and cordyceps. These exotic mushrooms have been revered in Asia for centuries for enhancing energy, deterring aging and supporting overall health. They are considered so valuable that at times their use was reserved only for the Emperor and royal families. Research in the last 25 years indicates that the mushrooms are antiviral, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, anti-allergenic and may be the most effective substances on the planet for enhancing cellular immunity.

Every Woman delivers 23 different nutritive and energizing probiotic vitamins and minerals, superfoods and spices and organic cultured herbs, including extracts of chaste tree (Vitex agnus-castus), maca, artichoke, red clover, raspberry and nettle. These herbs are favored for their ability to support hormone balance and digestion. You will also find astragalus, elderberry and tonic mushrooms for immune support. The addition of supercritical ginger and turmeric extracts maximizes bioavailability and efficacy.

Every Man provides nourishing power and protection for men. It delivers 22 probiotic nutrients as well as organic cultured herbal extracts and superfoods and spices. It provides the balancing and energizing benefits of schizandra and maca combined with the digestive support of artichoke and fenugreek. Schizandra is a tonic herb used in China to promote vigor and alertness. Although recommended for both men and women, men will appreciate its traditional use as a sexual tonic, adaptogen and detoxifier.

Ken Babal has a nutrition counseling practice in Los Angeles and is author of several books including Good Digestion: Your Key to Vibrant Health (Alive Books, 2000).