The following are two of the most trustworthy companies that make whole food supplements:
GOL products are very clean and free from GMOs, harmful synthetics, and unnecessary fillers and additives. They offer two main lines of vitamin formulas: Vitamin Code and MyKind Organics.
The Vitamin Code selection uses fermented synthetic vitamins, which are combined with different natural ingredients, enzymes, probiotics, etc.
The MyKind Organics selection only uses food-sourced vitamins from a blend of organic fruits and vegetables without any synthetic ingredients, according to the company’s claim. This line includes some of the best multivitamins on the market in terms of quality and cleanness. They are certified organic and vegan, and are as close to natural as a dietary supplement can get.
This popular brand is a good example of the misconception that many consumers have about whole food supplements. Yes, New Chapter does make whole food vitamins, and yes, they do use synthetic vitamins (we explained this above).
The main difference between New Chapter’s synthetic vitamins and the ones found in most other products is that this company ferments the nutrients in a growth medium (yeast culture). Fermented vitamins are “predigested” by microorganisms and contain additional nutrients and enzymes that can have added benefits.
The main claimed advantage is that fermented nutrients are more efficiently digested and absorbed by the body than non-fermented ones, however, there doesn’t seem to be much scientific data to support this claim.
After they ferment the essential nutrients (vitamins and minerals), they add in a blend of herbs and whole foods to create the final formula. But if you check the labels of their whole food products, you’ll notice that most of them only contain minimal dosages (trace amounts) of those whole foods, which probably won’t have much of an effect anyway.
Nevertheless, it is reasonable to say that New Chapter’s formulas are a better choice than those with plain synthetic vitamins. The company has outstanding quality standards, but it’s important that you understand what exactly you’re buying.