When I tell my no neck friends at the gym they can be stronger and build lean muscle up with a diet of all natural foods, they look at me like I just walked out of the jungle. Let’s take a look at a few of our jungle friends and find out how they got so big and strong on a diet of all natural foods. Then we’ll explain why all natural foods provide adequate, and in many cases, superior nutrition for athletes. Oh, and lastly, we’ll break the bad news to anyone who is still taking “isolated” vitamins about why those vitamins are being flushed down the toilet, along with lots of your money.

First, we have a quick multiple-choice test for you. Which of these animals is a vegetarian?

A) Gorilla

B) Elephant

C) Cow

D) All of the above

If you answered ‘D’, all of the above, you are right! These are three of the largest animals on Earth and two of them are among the strongest animals on Earth. So, as you can see, there is no need to consume pre packaged artificially enhanced vitamin drinks or specially processed diet foods to build muscle up. Just as gorillas and elephants do not require massive amounts of animal protein or isolated vitamins to gain strength, neither do humans. All natural nutrition for athletes is available now to gain an edge over the competition. Fortunately, thanks to modern technology, it is easier than ever to get more of those whole food nutrients in the form of all natural, low carb, high fiber foods and health drink concentrates.

The most effective nutrition for athletes is manufactured by companies that don’t just grind up plants and cram them in a capsule or beat them into a powder, but instead use only the most nutritious parts of the whole food sources for their health drink concentrates. These are not artificially enhanced vitamin water drinks or man-made protein shakes. No, these are all natural foods, high fiber shakes and health drinks produced so carefully that the live enzymes and most powerful nutrients of the plants, herbs, fruits and vegetables are still intact. The formulas are effective because the body immediately recognizes these nutrients from nature, easily absorbs them into the cells and quickly puts them to use as fuel providing the highest quality nutrition for athletes. You will not get that same level of effectiveness and safety from isolated vitamins or man-made protein drinks loaded down with bovine hormones and antibiotics.

Why does the body understand whole food vitamins better than isolated vitamins? When vitamins are not attached to a specific whole food source they may break down before cells can absorb the nutrients. For example, wheat germ oil, flaxseed meal, and rice bran stabilize the fat-soluble vitamins. Without these food oils as a base, the vitamins tend to break down before they can be used. Of course, eating flaxseed, wheat germ and rice bran is not so enjoyable, but you can get their benefits in whole food vitamins and health drink concentrates that are more carefully manufactured to provide serious nutrition for athletes. Wheat germ, by the way, is an abundant source of the entire vitamin E complex. Flaxseed is an outstanding source of omega-3 essential fatty acids, and rice bran contains a wide range of vitamins, minerals, enzymes and amino acids, including over 70 antioxidants. Just be sure to purchase vitamins that are from whole foods, not isolated.

If you want to get the highest quality nutrition for athletes and maximize the value for your dollar, try incorporating all natural food concentrates and health drinks into your diet. You will have a difficult time locating them in a typical health food store. However, thanks to the Internet, you are just a mouse click away from some of the most innovative products currently providing a higher level of nutrition for serious athletes, including 2008 Olympic contenders and sports professionals. Search for all natural health drinks and all natural low carb high fiber foods for an extra edge and to take your game to a new level of excellence.