by Kripa Watts

As a nutritional consultant I often get asked, “I looked at your web site and I’m really confused about which products to take.  What should I do?”  Generally I will respond by asking the person what they are hoping to accomplish by taking a supplement.  The answer from many is that they simply want to feel energized, be sure that their immune system is getting what it needs to function well and generally support overall well-being.

Of course there are many factors to consider when designing a supplement program, but, if you are looking for a convenient, budget healthy option one of the simplest first steps is to commit to taking a daily multi-vitamin and mineral supplement.  Most companies offer choices that make your job of choosing easy if you ask yourself the following questions:

1. Do you want to take 1 tablet per day or are you okay with multiple tablets?  With MegaFood whole food supplements more tablets means more concentrated food.  One daily formulations will give you a moderate potency of a broad range of nutrients. If you are ok with formulas that require say 3-6 tablets you’ll get a higher dose of certain nutrients, especially some of the larger minerals like calcium and magnesium.
2. Do you want a formulation with or without herbs?  Generally herbs and botanicals are what differentiate products designed specifically for men from those designed for women.  MegaFood Men’s multi vitamins contain herbs that support healthy prostate function for example; while our Women’s formulations have botanicals that support balanced hormone function.

If you prefer to have a product without herbs look for those which are simply concentrated whole                    foods such as One Daily or Optimum Foods

1. Easy question – how old are you?  Many formulas are age specific.  MegaFood offers formulations appropriate for Children, Teen’s, Adults under the age of 40 and those Over 40.

1. Have you chosen or been told to avoid certain specific nutrients?  Many customers prefer a supplement without iron – in this case Iron Free One Daily would be the best option.  Certain medications require limiting or avoidance of other vitamins or minerals such as Iodine, Vitamin K and Vitamin E.  If you have been told to limit these specific nutrients an excellent option would be to choose a tailor made formula such as Medi-Safe.

The simple act of taking a quality whole food multi-vitamin will ensure that your body gets a daily dose of concentrated nutrients.  In fact you will receive, not only those vitamins and minerals with which most of us are familiar, but a vast array of micro-nutrients such as flavonoids, amino acids, glutathione and beta-glucans to name a few.  It’s an easy and inexpensive step toward good health that will support your goals of sustained energy, healthy immunity and overall well-being.  Let us know about your experience with multi-vitamins and don’t hesitate to let us know if you have questions.

by Amritakripa Watts-Robb

Britannica online describes art as "the use of skill and imagination in the creation of aesthetic objects, environments, or experiences that can be shared with others."  An artisan is one who has developed such a skill, and the idea of skill itself suggests a proficiency that has been developed through training or experience over time.  Clearly to become an artisan, skilled enough to create a product of quality, has required a valuable investment of time and energy.

MegaFood Artisan Powders

What does it mean to be an artisan or a company dedicated to quality?  How do artisans thrive given our current obsession as consumers with getting more for less?  As a company committed to making whole food supplements, from scratch in small batches, MegaFood has always been an artisan company ahead of its time!   Supplements which are made purely with isolated vitamins are a lot easier and a lot cheaper to make than those using concentrated whole foods.  That makes them undeniably more attractive to companies as a business proposition.

So what is it that drives companies to break out of the mold, and to go beyond the lowest common denominator of expectation?  What is it that distinguishes the artisan from the manufacturer?  I like to think that the seeking and producing of quality goods reflects our essential need to express beauty;  stemming from a true desire to be of service and an inherent need to be at ease with ourselves – the desire to go to sleep at night knowing that we have truly done our best to create real value.  In the health food industry that feels like an especially appropriate aim – after all, to be at ease implies the absence of disease.

No doubt there are challenges associated with producing a premium quality product – not least the increased need for education.  As an individual or a smaller company, how does one’s voice get heard in the vast marketplace, especially when time and resources are limited?  Fortunately, one of the great blessings of this time is that we now have a substantial resource at our disposal – we have the internet.  We have the possibility of connecting with millions of like minded individuals, sharing our information and supporting one another in spreading the word.  This is indeed a wonderful time to be able to communicate and cooperate and we are grateful for our grass roots community on line.

To demonstrate our support for true craftsmanship we will use our blog to feature the words of other artisans.  Elena Ray and Karyn Robinson are two artisans in their own right – each specializing in her own unique form of creativity and business – they will be contributing their thoughts and inspiring ways to nourish your life. We hope that sharing the ideas and poetry of others who are lovers of craftsmanship will bring you food for thought.  We encourage you to check out the work that they are doing and draw inspiration from them to stimulate your own inner artisan.