One of my first introductions to the supplement industry was when I transitioned to a vegetarian diet. Concerned family members asked me to consider what vitamins I was lacking without meat products and to include them through supplements. As I learned more about health and what was truly necessary to maintain it, I realized that there were more lies than truth about supplementation.

As plant-based researcher T. Colin Campbell states, vitamin supplementation comes from a reductionist perspective; this focuses excessively on the benefits of certain nutrients rather than seeing the larger picture of nutrient interaction in whole foods and their absorption in the body[1]. Put simply, a reductionist perspective addresses symptoms while a holistic perspective addresses the root cause. I witness a reductionist perspective often and used to practice it myself. For example, eating oranges for vitamin C when sick or blueberries for antioxidants when I wanted clearer skin. However, I learned that my sicknesses and skin issues were attributed to many more reasons than a simple vitamin C or antioxidant boost could fix.

Establishing a nourishing diet will provide you with the nutrition you need. As I have discussed in past blog posts, a diet comprised of raw and whole plant foods will achieve this. It is equally important to remember that we must allow the body to absorb these nutrients. When we focus more on calories than nutrients (read more in Nutrients vs. Calories), are constantly eating, and not giving our digestive system time to rest, we hinder the body’s ability to properly utilize the nutrients its given. It is at this point that we typically turn to a reductionist perspective, expecting certain supplements or vitamins to cure our problem. Instead, I suggest you analyze yourself first, deciding whether you practice any diet and lifestyle habits that hinders your body’s natural ability to heal.

Supplement industries profit off our reductionist perspective, currently valued to be a $70 billion industry[2]. This high monetary value is achieved despite the under-regulation of the ingredients and claims of supplement companies[1]. Store aisles are stocked with various pills that promise stronger nails, hair, etc., luring consumers with false claims that their company’s product is a definite cure for any problem. On the same note, we as consumers are easily convinced because we want easy fix for our health, one that does not require much sacrifice. This results in a medication-like list of supplements that only addresses symptoms and allows the root cause of your problem to continue to grow.

As I have reiterated multiple times across my blog, look inward before turning to external solutions for your health. Raw and whole plant foods provide the body with more than sufficient nutrition while fasting improves nutrient absorption. There is no such as “magic pill” in health; all good things take patience, time, and hard work. For those willing, you will surely be rewarded with peace and security in health we all strive for.

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[1] “To Supplement or Not to Supplement?”, Center for Nutrition Studies. T. Colin Campbell Center for Nutrition Studies,  April 26. 2024, https://nutritionstudies.org/vitamins-supplements/

[2] Cantone, Gonzalez, Black, hosts, Planet Money, podcast, “Why is there a supplement craze if they don’t even work?”, npr, June 5, 2026, https://www.npr.org/transcripts/nx-s1-5847893