Supplements have become a popular way for people to increase the amount of antioxidants, vitamins, and other nutrients in their bodies. Plant-based supplements have specific advantages over synthetic supplements, such as their increased bioavailability, their natural ingredients, and their ability to support vegans and others with dietary restrictions.

Plant-based supplements can be used for health, particularly for those who have a plant-based diet. In this post, we’ll explore the differences between synthetic and plant-based supplements, as well as where you can find the best supplements for you.

Synthetic Versus Natural Supplements

Nearly half of the population in the US takes supplements like multivitamins, with dietary supplement intake increasing in the late 1980s and early 1990s. This craze kicked off with synthetic supplements, but what’s the difference between synthetic versus plant-based supplements?

Synthetic supplements, which are often referred to as ‘isolated nutrients,’ are nutrients that are artificially produced through an industrial process. Plant-based supplements, on the other hand, are obtained through whole food sources.

Supplements can encompass a wide range of dietary needs, including vitamin intake, antioxidants, minerals, and amino acids. Both synthetic and plant-based supplements can come in liquid, capsule, pill, powder, or tablet form.

Why Do These Differences Matter?

While synthetic nutrients are generally considered nearly chemically identical to natural or plant-based supplements, there are some differences to consider. For example, the production process for synthetic nutrients differs from the way plants create them. This means that although these supplements may have similar structures, your body may have a different reaction to synthetic nutrients in your system.

In fact, there is evidence that suggests synthetic supplements might not be as easily absorbed by your body as plant-based ones. This could mean synthetic supplements are less effective or could introduce artificially-designed supplements into your body without the same positive effects as plant-based ones.

The Benefits of Plant-Based Supplements

Because plant-based supplements are minerals and vitamins derived from fruits and vegetables, taking them regularly can come with a few significant benefits, such as:

Bioavailability

Bioavailability is the ability of a substance to be absorbed and circulate through your body. Improved bioavailability means your body can process it more quickly in your system, allowing for the supplement to have an active effect faster.

Because plant-based supplements are easier for your body to absorb than synthetic ones. A recent study suggests that your body can actually differentiate natural and synthetic nutrients and recognize the natural ones more easily; this means plant-based supplements have better bioavailability.

Natural Nutrients

The problem with synthetic supplements is that you don’t always recognize every ingredient in them. If you look at the ingredients list on a container of synthetic supplements, you might find hard-to-pronounce synthetic fillers, preservatives, and artificial dyes. 

While the European Union mandates that brands using artificial dyes include a warning label on those products, the US does not. Studies suggest that the artificial dyes found in some supplements could have potentially dangerous effects. If you’re afraid to take on that risk, plant-based supplements may be a better alternative.

Supplement a Vegan Diet

People living with a plant-based diet will typically want plant-based vitamins and supplements, too. There are vegans and vegetarians who are prone to some vitamin deficiencies due to a lack of minerals usually found in dairy, meat, and other animal byproducts.

While you can certainly eat plant-based foods that are rich in these critical vitamins and minerals, plant-based supplements can be a quick and easy way to meet your daily vitamin requirements.

Find High Quality Plant-Based Supplements at Sur

Sur Nutrition is a leading provider of plant-based supplements. Our reliable, plant-based supplements are designed to give you the nutritional essentials your body needs to do the things you love.

We create natural supplements by using cutting-edge science. Through generational wisdom, third-party testing, field trials, and clinical research, we create plant-based supplements designed to give you real results. Whether you’re vegan, vegetarian, or looking for an all-natural way to give your body a boost, you can find what you’re looking for at Sur!