Extracts vs. The Real Thing?

[Green Thumb]

For instance, you could mix a few drops of Garlic extract in your drink or eat the real thing. I could get Turmeric powder as a supplement or get turmeric extract which One serving (1/4 tsp) of liquid turmeric extract is equivalent to 550mg of raw turmeric root.

Are extracts all that their cracked up to be? Do they still contain all the great qualities of its raw original form?

[lisapodolsky]

I think that the main bebfit you recieve from extracts is that they are more concentrated, as you noted. In addition, I think it is easier for the body to absorb the extracts. However, in terms of their qualities, I'm not really sure whether they contain exactly the same active ingredients, or perhaps loose some qualities while preparing them.

[PureRight]

Real Extracts with right formula is very rare ...

[Solstice Goat]

Often the co-factors responsible for proper adoption, or sometimes they are responsible for the effectiveness of the supplement. White willow bark is one such example.

[PureRight]

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/m...-fake-herbals/

[larryz]

Originally Posted by PureRight

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/m...-fake-herbals/

Just another way of Big Pharma and their buddies in the FTC to discredit the general safeness and effectiveness of herbal supplements. Anything that threatens profits of Big Pharma is taken seriously.

Sure some supplement companies are better than others, but this is the beginning of yet another attack on natural health.

[Solstice Goat]

Originally Posted by larryz

Just another way of Big Pharma and their buddies in the FTC to discredit the general safeness and effectiveness of herbal supplements. Anything that threatens profits of Big Pharma is taken seriously.

Sure some supplement companies are better than others, but this is the beginning of yet another attack on natural health.

DING DING DING!!!!

In the NYT article there is the typical Left-Right hoax pointing fingers to the point of poking an eye out, neither interested in solving a problem, but more interested in stripping freedom from the consumer.

[Jnutra]

It depends on what the matter is extracted with. For example, from a medicinal point of view, if an herb is extracted with alcohol, then that will drive it more into the bloodstream. If it's extracted with apple cider vinegar, it will target the gut more. Also, an extract is easier for your body to process if you're trying to gain medical benefits, since it doesn't have to break anything down before it can access the nutrients. However, eating "the real thing" serves many purposes on its own, like cleaning the gut with fiber, etc. In conclusion, whether one or the other is better really depends on what it's extracted with and what you're trying to accomplish.