As a practicing Naturopath and as a nutritional, organic, sustainable and ethical health and lifestyle educator, I do not believe in supplementation.  Supplements are vitamins and minerals that are either naturally or synthetically derived, processed superfoods and processed fruit and vegetable products.

These are my reasons very simply:

1. Based on its definition: “Something added to complete a thing, make up for a deficiency, or extend or strengthen the whole”. This does not address the underlying reason of ill health or cause of deficiency.
2. They are made from synthetic ingredients, precisely petroleum coal tar for B vitamins.
3. They are made from natural ingredients such as corn for Vitamin C but it is so highly processed and refined that it is no longer natural. As organic and natural consumers we avoid at all costs processed foods yet we have no problems popping a processed food pill.
4. The binders and other additives are usually from a genetically modified source.
5. Supplement companies are mostly owned by pharmaceutical companies. However I do see a place for medication is acute and surgical/emergency procedures and especially for pain relief.
6. There is no such thing as wonder cure all or super food that is better that other foods. We see the trends of pomegranate, Goji and Noni juices. Anyone can find or create a study and market a food product supplement. All foods have antioxidants and nutrients and are therefore equally valuable.
7. They are not environmental. Note packaging and manufacturing costs plus transportation costs.
8. They are not local. Often ingredients come from China or Taiwan and repackaged under an Australian label.
9. The ingredients do not consider biodiversity but often sourced from modern mono cropped agriculture with fierce soil depleting chemicals used. This contributes to the death of bees and other pollinators as they require biodiversity in nature resulting in unhealthy plants requiring more pesticides.
10. They are sold on the belief that our soil is too depleted of nutrients (yes that old chestnut) but does popping a pill take responsibility of the state of our soil. Are we eventually going to be eating a carrot tablet, a lamb roast pill because we destroyed our soil by modern agriculture methods?
11. Taking a pill does not give the responsibility back to the patient or individual and rather the power in the pockets of your pharmaceutical company, supplement company and practitioner or individual that prescribed it or sold it to you.
12. Taking a supplement does not fit with the ethos of an organic lifestyle. They are processed food products in a pill.
13. Every time you buy a supplement you are supporting a drug company. Vote with your dollar.
14. They are found in most packaged food products as the foods are so industrially processed depleting them of nutrients and fortifying and enriching them with synthetics.
15. Vitamins and minerals or single nutrients do not exist on their own in nature. They require cofactors for absorption. Even if a vitamin supplement has its co factors there are other important unknown natural constituents which also aid in absorption and healing. There is no such a thing as a vitamin C fruit or B3 plant.

Instead of taking supplements I recommend to address the underling reason of ill health. Look at all aspects of lifestyle as it is the way you live and take care of your body that has created how you feel.

Note: regarding herbal medicines. I consider herbs to be part of our food chain. Just like fruit and vegetables they have nutrients and therapeutic properties. I use organic, biodynamic, Australian grown where possible, herbs and spices as tea or in tincture form.