What to take instead of vitamin supplements

Questions are being asked about the manufacture of vitamins

You may have noticed some substack authors writing posts questioning the wisdom of taking vitamin supplements. True enough, some of the manufacturing processes look questionable, and not at all likely to induce good health. But the original reason for people taking additional supplements remains. Intensive farming methods deplete the soil, and the food subsequently grown contains far fewer nutrients than it used to.

One of the largest scientific studies to draw attention to this issue was published in the U.S., via the December 2004 issue of the Journal of the American College of Nutrition. Using USDA nutrient data published in 1950 and 1999, researchers at the University of Texas at Austin noted declines in nutrients in 43 different garden crops.

As a herbalist, I would like to share a solution: herbal tonics that can be made by anyone at home. It’s as easy as making a cup of tea.

I am not talking about buying fancy herbal teabags. I am talking about using an ounce of dried herb to a quart mason jar of boiled water. I pour the boiled water on the herbs just before I go to bed. I close the lid and leave it to infuse overnight, as it needs a long time steeping to pull all the vitamins and minerals out of the plant material. Then I strain it (it’s easiest to do this by pouring it into a cafetiere, but putting it through a large sieve works too) and drink it throughout the following day.

Most often I do this with nettle. It is high in chromium, cobalt, iron, phosphorous, potassium, zinc, copper, sulphur, B vitamins and carotenes. Also, protein, manganese, selenium, silicon, vitamin C, D and K.

It always makes me feel so well. My nails, hair, and skin feel wonderful when I have had a glass of nettle tonic.

Other times I make herbal tonics with oatstraw or red clover which are similarly nutritive. These herbal tonics can be re-heated if you prefer to drink them warm, or chilled. Mint or honey can be added if preferred, but most often I drink them plain and chilled. I like the silky smooth taste of the oatstraw and the tannin taste of the red clover. The nettle just tastes so amazingly green.

If you have time to forage and dry your herbs, that would be a good frugal strategy. Most often I buy my herbs, organic and foraged, in bulk 500g bags from herbalist suppliers such as the organic herb trading company. A half kilo of wild organic dried nettles can be had for around £15, which will last for ages and is a bargain compared to the price of supplements.

My other advice to people looking for an alternative to supplements would be to regularly include full fat dairy and organ meat in your diet. Old fashioned supplements such as brewer’s yeast and rosehip syrup should also be fine.