With health drinks and shakes popping up on every store shelf, it’s easy to believe they’re the ticket to better health. But beneath the shiny labels and enticing promises, many of these products aren’t as nutritious as they seem. In fact, the way they’re manufactured often makes them far less beneficial—and even potentially harmful. 

𝐒𝐭𝐞𝐩-𝐛𝐲-𝐒𝐭𝐞𝐩 𝐌𝐚𝐧𝐮𝐟𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠: 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐋𝐨𝐬𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐑𝐞𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐍𝐮𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬 

Most health drinks go through an intensive manufacturing process that begins by breaking down fruits, vegetables, proteins, and other ingredients under high heat or chemical treatments. This processing is done to ensure a long shelf life and consistent taste and texture, but it also destroys or significantly degrades the natural vitamins, minerals, and enzymes within the ingredients. 

To make up for this loss, manufacturers add synthetic nutrients back into the final product. These “fortified” nutrients are often produced chemically in labs, and they lack the natural co-factors and complexity found in whole foods. This substitution may help products meet nutrition labels, but the added nutrients don’t function in the body as well as those found in natural sources. They’re often less bioavailable, meaning the body can’t absorb and use them as effectively. 

𝐒𝐲𝐧𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐭𝐢𝐜 𝐕𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐬: 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐓𝐫𝐮𝐭𝐡, 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐖𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐞 𝐓𝐫𝐮𝐭𝐡 & 𝐍𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐁𝐮𝐭 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐓𝐫𝐮𝐭𝐡 

For example, one common additive is ascorbic acid which manufacturers label as “vitamin C.” However, ascorbic acid is only a fraction of the full vitamin C complex, which naturally includes enzymes, co-factors, and bioflavonoids. In whole foods, all these components work together to allow the body to properly utilize vitamin C, supporting immune function and providing antioxidant protection. But ascorbic acid, in most cases is derived from black mold in a laboratory setting, which is just a single component of this complex. Without the full spectrum of elements found in real vitamin C, ascorbic acid doesn’t offer the same benefits and is not processed by the body in the same way. As a result, relying on ascorbic acid alone may give consumers a false sense of nutrient adequacy, when in reality, the body’s vitamin C needs are not truly met. 

Our next example being “Vitamin” D which is another nutrient commonly added to health products, but it’s far from straightforward. You’ll see I put the word “vitamin” in quotations for a reason, because vitamin D is not actually a vitamin; it’s a hormone with complex roles in the body. There are roughly anywhere from 60-70 different forms of this hormone, and the body is capable of producing the specific types it needs, mainly through exposure to sunlight. Adding “vitamin” D to drinks and supplements is often ineffective at best, since the body has to convert it into the necessary forms on its own. 

In addition, many commercial forms of “vitamin” D are synthesized in ways that raise questions. Vitamin D2 and D3, the most common forms added to supplements and drinks, are often derived from industrial sources that contain harmful by-products, with many being linked to elements found in rat poison. While these sources make the product cheaper to manufacture, they introduce unwanted substances into the body. 

Moreover, even lab testing for hormone D can be misleading. Most standard tests don’t accurately measure the active forms of hormone D that the body relies on. Instead, they measure inactive forms that don’t fully reflect the body’s real status, giving an incomplete picture of health and potentially leading to misguided supplementation. 

“𝐍𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐚𝐥 𝐅𝐥𝐚𝐯𝐨𝐫𝐬” 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐄𝐧𝐳𝐲𝐦𝐞𝐬: 𝐌𝐚𝐬𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐌𝐚𝐧𝐮𝐟𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐜𝐞𝐬𝐬 

Manufacturers often add “natural flavors” to health drinks to enhance taste, but the term is misleading. “Natural flavors” can legally include a wide range of synthetic or heavily processed compounds. They may start from natural sources, but by the time they reach the product, they’re highly processed and bear little resemblance to the original ingredient. 

Enzymes added to health drinks and supplements are another example. In real, whole foods, enzymes are naturally present in balanced proportions that support digestion and metabolic function. But the enzymes found in health products are often synthetic or derived from animal sources. They don’t provide the same level of support as naturally occurring enzymes and may even disrupt normal digestion in some cases. The body is best served by obtaining these enzymes through whole foods, which offer all the necessary co-factors and balance. 

𝐖𝐡𝐲 𝐏𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐌𝐚𝐲 𝐅𝐞𝐞𝐥 𝐁𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐈𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 

I hear people say often when taking some of these products how much better they feel, well, many people do notice a temporary boost when they start consuming health drinks, shakes and supplements, and this can happen for a few reasons:

1. 𝐈𝐧𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐍𝐮𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐤𝐞: For those whose diets lack essential nutrients, the synthetic vitamins and minerals added to these products may initially fill in some nutritional gaps, leading to an improvement in energy or mood. However, these synthetic forms don’t work in the body as effectively as nutrients from whole foods. 

2. 𝐂𝐚𝐥𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐞 𝐁𝐨𝐨𝐬𝐭: Often, these products provide a quick, convenient calorie source, which can make people feel more energized, especially if they were previously skipping meals or lacking calories. 

3. 𝐒𝐮𝐠𝐚𝐫 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐒𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐮𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐬: Many health drinks are high in sugars or include added stimulants like caffeine, which provide a temporary energy boost but ultimately wear off. 

While these initial effects may feel positive, they are often short-lived because they don’t address the body’s underlying nutritional needs in a balanced, sustainable way.

𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐇𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐋𝐨𝐧𝐠 𝐓𝐞𝐫𝐦 

1. 𝐍𝐮𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐈𝐦𝐛𝐚𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐓𝐨𝐱𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐭𝐲: Synthetic nutrients, such as those we discussed earlier; ascorbic acid (labeled as vitamin C) and lab-created vitamin D, do not provide the same benefits as nutrients from whole foods. Again ascorbic acid is only one component of the vitamin C complex and when taking it in supplement form not from whole foods it’s typically derived from black mold. Think of ascorbic acid as the “envelope” of vitamin C; while it’s often labeled as vitamin C, it’s only one part of the full vitamin C complex. Without the complete array of natural co-factors inside this “envelope,” the body can’t fully absorb or benefit from synthetic vitamin C, limiting its immune and antioxidant support. If you want the full complex of vitamin C go eat a kiwi, citrus fruits or strawberries (there’s quite a few more options, but kiwi is the most bioavailable source of C once consumed) Similarly, synthetic vitamin D, often industrially produced and containing potentially toxic by-products, may not be metabolized effectively, leading to potential buildup and toxicity in the body.

2. 𝐃𝐢𝐠𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐈𝐬𝐬𝐮𝐞𝐬: Manufactured “health” products containing enzymes that don’t function like natural enzymes from whole foods. Over time, this can disrupt normal digestive processes. Additionally, “natural flavors,” which are often highly processed and derived from unknown sources, can irritate the gut and may even introduce harmful chemicals into the digestive system. 

3. 𝐎𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐥𝐨𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐋𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐊𝐢𝐝𝐧𝐞𝐲𝐬: Because synthetic nutrients lack the natural co-factors found in whole foods, they place an extra burden on the liver and kidneys, which must work harder to filter out and process these artificial compounds. Long-term, this can strain these organs and potentially lead to damage, especially if the body accumulates synthetic compounds that it cannot easily eliminate. 

4. 𝐌𝐚𝐬𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐟 𝐔𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐥𝐲𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐡 𝐈𝐬𝐬𝐮𝐞𝐬: By providing a quick but temporary boost, health drinks and other health marketed products may mask underlying health problems without addressing the root causes. This can lead people to rely on these products as a “band-aid” solution rather than making real, sustained changes in their diet and lifestyle. 

5. 𝐌𝐢𝐬𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐋𝐚𝐛𝐬: Vitamins and minerals operate at highly complex levels in the body, often working in groups rather than in isolation. Many nutrients rely on each other for proper absorption, activation, and function. For example, hormone D requires magnesium for activation, while vitamin C enhances the absorption of non-heme iron by converting it into a more bioavailable form. Likewise, if someone is dealing with iron issues, it’s important to consider copper levels, as copper is essential for mobilizing iron and enabling its proper use in the body. These interactions highlight how nutrients are interdependent, with one deficiency or imbalance often affecting others.

Lab results may highlight a single deficiency while missing these subtle, interconnected relationships. For instance, magnesium, calcium, and potassium are closely linked; a shortage in one can often reflect or even cause issues with the others. Additionally, deficiencies may remain undetected if the body compensates by drawing from other nutrient reserves, masking symptoms until the imbalance becomes more severe. This complex interplay of nutrients means that relying solely on lab results without considering these relationships can lead to incomplete or misleading assessments of the body’s true needs.

This is why health drinks and supplements often fail to address vitamin and nutrient deficiencies effectively. By supplying synthetic or isolated nutrients, these products overlook the root cause of imbalances and fail to provide the necessary co-factors that allow nutrients to work together as they do in whole foods. They may offer temporary boosts or mask symptoms but don’t tackle underlying issues.

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐁𝐨𝐭𝐭𝐨𝐦 𝐋𝐢𝐧𝐞: 𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐢𝐬 𝐧𝐨 𝐒𝐮𝐩𝐩𝐥𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐎𝐫𝐠𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐜 𝐖𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐞 𝐅𝐨𝐨𝐝 

While health drinks, shakes and supplements may seem like a convenient solution, their long-term effects often undermine real health goals. The synthetic nutrients, artificial flavors, and incomplete vitamins they contain don’t offer the same bioavailable, balanced nutrition as whole foods. Instead, they introduce potentially harmful compounds and encourage nutrient imbalances that the body may struggle to correct over time. 

For genuine health benefits that last, choose fresh, unprocessed foods. Real fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, grains and pasture raised meat contain a complete spectrum of vitamins, minerals, and enzymes that support the body’s natural processes without placing a burden on the liver, kidneys, or digestive system. Nature provides all the nutrients our bodies need, making real food the best choice for long-term wellness—no manufactured substitute comes close. 

While we may all need to supplement at times with items such as trace minerals, or other forms of bio-available vitamins/minerals, it’s essential to research the manufacturer, their process and the product thoroughly before making a decision.

But the reality that we all know to be true subconsciously and often don’t want to admit to ourselves when we buy all of these products is that there is no supplement that can replace the power of real, organic food. Nourish your body with a variety of whole foods—it’s really that simple!