What will you choose? Supplement or whole food.
If this is a debate, no one would win because both supplements and whole foods lead to the same goal of supporting health.
Supplement and whole food seem distinct but both share several common elements that help overall health.
What are whole foods and supplements?
- Whole food:
Whole food is a natural food that is unprocessed or bit processed that we consume in its natural state or close to it. Whole Foods prioritizes natural forms of food that are rich in vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and fiber. Whole foods are in the form of vegetables, fruits, nuts, seeds, whole grains, and legumes.
- Supplements:
Supplements are designed with nutrients and bioactive compounds intended for the diet and provide additional health benefits. Most dietary supplements are available in powder, liquids, pills, capsules, or gummies. They provide nutrients like amino acids, fatty acids, and vitamins.
What is the difference between whole food and supplements?
|
Supplements |
Whole food |
|
|
How handy |
Easily can be incorporated into the diet or daily routine. |
Need time and effort to prepare. |
|
Enhancement |
Supplements repair, recover and improve the performance of the body which help athletes and bodybuilders. |
Whole food provides a natural source of energy, nutrients, and minerals to sustain a natural lifestyle. |
|
Nutrient value |
The supplement provides specific nutrients in exact amounts according to the individual's needs |
Whole food provides a different range of nutrients in their natural form. |
|
Customization |
The supplement can be consumed based on the individual needs and goals. |
It can be personalized by a balanced diet tailored to individual needs. |
|
Nutritional support |
Supplements fill the nutrient gap and intake of essential vitamins and minerals. |
Whole food is naturally rich in nutrients fiber and phytonutrients. |
Which is more beneficial? Supplement or whole food.
This question would be a debate. Supplement and whole food both have their unique benefits. Using both offers several advantages for overall health.
Despite our best efforts, it’s still challenging to obtain all the nutrients around whole food. In this busy lifestyle and limited access to certain food supplements would help to fill the gap that the whole food left to fill and offer targeted support for specific health goals or lifestyle needs.
Still in Oscillation! To come to a conclusion let’s end with an example. You need around 100 gm of protein a day and if you choose whole food as a protein source you should spend around Rs. 100-200. Coming to supplements you can get 1kg protein at Rs. 1500 where you get Approx 24 grams of protein per scoop. On the other hand if you need a protein source and you pick whole foods it will not only have protein but also carbs, but in supplements you can get pure protein. Protein powder still has carbs but there are protein powders like Isolate that provide a pure form of protein with no carbs.