Both synthetic nutrition and whole-food nutrition offer your diet the components you need for good health. While whole foods are sufficient to meet your dietary needs unless you suffer a specific medical condition, such as a vitamin deficiency, they carry drawbacks as well. Similarly, synthetic nutrients offer pros and cons to your health. Seek the advice of a dietitian or your health care provider prior to adding synthetic nutrition to your diet.
Synthetic Nutrition Pros
Synthetic nutrition, whether in the form of meal replacements, protein shakes, power bars or vitamin supplements, can be more convenient than whole foods. They require little preparation, or none at all, saving you the time and trouble of cooking. They might also have a longer shelf life than some whole foods, which can be more economical than discarding spoiled food. Because their nutritional content is clearly delineated on the product label, synthetic nutrients make it easy for you to monitor your intake of specific nutrients as well as overall calories.
Synthetic Nutrition Cons
Nutrients you purchase in synthetic form may be more expensive than their whole-food equivalents. Additionally, synthetic nutrients do not necessarily mimic the full complement of nutrients found in whole foods, and this feature may lead you to consume too much of one nutrient yet too little of another, particularly if you substitute synthetic nutrients for whole-food nutrients. On the other hand, if you incorporate synthetic nutrients into your meal plan in addition to whole foods, you may unwittingly add enough extra calories to result in unintended weight gain. Furthermore, nutritional supplements do not undergo safety testing by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration before they reach the market and may therefore contain hazardous contaminants.
Whole-Food Nutrition Pros
A diet constructed of high-quality protein, complex carbohydrates and heart-healthy fats can easily meet your nutrient needs in an economical fashion. Many whole foods deliver a variety of nutrients rather than the single food component supplied by some synthetic nutritional supplements. For example, salmon contributes essential amino acids, unsaturated fats, vitamins and minerals to your diet, while a protein shake might give you only essential amino acids. Whole foods offer a wider variety of flavors and textures than synthetic nutrients, and you are less likely to consume too much of one specific nutrient from a well-balanced diet than from a diet comprised of synthetic nutrition.
Whole-Food Nutrition Cons
Consuming whole foods requires you plan your meals to encompass essential nutrients, shop for whole-food ingredients and store the foods appropriately prior to preparing them. Whole-food nutrition, therefore, can be less convenient than synthetic nutrition. Whole foods can also be more difficult to carry with you to work or to the gym than, for instance, an energy bar composed of synthetic ingredients that need no refrigeration.
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