Do you know where your Vitamin D3 comes from? If you have the patience to read all of this to the very bottom, you might be surprised as I was. Obviously, Vitamin D3 is known as the sunshine vitamin.
However, for those of us in the northern states who may not get as much sunshine from November through end of winter, supplemental vitamins are often a consideration. Floridians are fortunate in that it is pretty hard to escape natural Vitamin D3.
We, ourselves, have done nicely without vitamins, thinking that we got plenty from fruits, vegetables, dairy, meat and seafood. However, as we age, I've decided to supplement our whole foods with "Nature's Way" ALIVE 50+ multi vitamin and mineral supplement (Womans and also Mens) which are derived from 26 fruits and vegetables. The womans supports "vitality and bone health"; while the mens "Energy and prostate support".......both have the full B complex, etc., etc.
Both have no gelatin, dairy, yeast, wheat, peanuts, eggs, artificial flavors or preservatives.
They do contain :
Orchard fruits * Garden Veggies Blend * Plum, Pear, Apple, Beet, Strawberry, Cucumber, Tomato, Cranberry, Cherry, Cabbage, Carrot, Cauliflower, Blueberry, Grape, Apricot, Papaya, Orange, Pineapple, Asparagus, Broccoli, Brussel Sprouts, Celery, Green Beans, Spinach, Pomegranate, Acai
Considering they are gummies, they do taste good.....unlike some gummies I've been told about.
So......as some would say, "What is the point?"
After taking them for one week, I began wondering what was the source of the Vitamin D3 . I emailed the company after finding their website.
I almost fell off my chair when she told me that their Vitamin D3 came from SHEEP'S WOOL.
Now, we are not vegans or vegetarians........but sheep's wool???? Yucky.
I immediately emailed her back.....inquiring if that was the same as lanolin as it was the first thing that popped into my mind. My mom always used lanolin on her skin.
Have not received a reply, however.........I did some research and found out the process by which the D3 is extruded from the sheeps' wool and I feel better about it...........it's quite a lengthy process of first boiling, etc. and then separating the lanolin, etc..........then it goes through many many stages of purification and even irradiation............before it becomes D3.
Below is her original email back to me, when I inquired as to the source of their D3. I had also inquired about Omega 3.....
Thank you for contacting Nature's Way(r)<http://www.naturesway.com/Home.aspx>, a Schwabe North America(tm) company. It is great to see that you are taking an interest in healthier living. I am happy to help you with your question regarding the vitamin D3 in the Alive!(r) Once Daily Women's 50+ and if it's the same as fish oil. Also, you were wondering what the difference is between vitamin D2 and vitamin D3 and if there is such a thing as vitamin D. This is Ultra potency, complete & diverse nutrition for women age 50+ in a convenient once daily tablet.
In supplements, vitamin D is available in two forms, D2 (ergocalciferol) and D3 (cholecalciferol). Ergocalciferol is a vegetarian form of vitamin D, cholecalciferol in our product is derived from sheeps' wool.
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Here is what I found about the process of turning sheep's wool into Vitamin D3:
http://blogs.vancouversun.com/2011/02/08/what-do-sheep-have-to-do-with-vitamin-d-supplements-quite-a-bit-actually-mates/
What do sheep have to do with vitamin D supplements? I learned something NEW.
Good article.
