Balance of Nature is a popular line of nutritional fruit and vegetable supplements. The company claims their products contain over 90 different whole foods and are better absorbed than traditional multivitamins. However, many people wonder if Balance of Nature is truly the best nutritional supplement on the market. There are several other products that may provide similar or better nutritional benefits. This article will compare Balance of Nature to some of its top competitors to help determine what product is better.
How Balance of Nature Works
The philosophy behind Balance of Nature is that the body absorbs nutrients best from whole foods rather than synthetic vitamins. Their supplements are made by juicing fruits and vegetables and then dehydrating the juice into powdered concentrates. According to the company, this preserves much of the nutritional integrity of the whole produce.
Balance of Nature has two main product lines: Fruit & Veggie capsules and Fruits & Veggies powders. The capsules contain fruit and vegetable concentrates along with vegetable extracts. There are separate blends called Balance of Nature Plus that also contain fish oil, probiotics, and digestive enzymes. The powders can be mixed into water or smoothies to make a concentrated drink. Both formats aim to provide a wide spectrum of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants from whole foods.
Factors to Consider When Comparing Supplements
When evaluating nutritional supplements, here are some key factors to consider:
– Ingredients – What fruits, vegetables, vitamins, minerals and other ingredients are included and in what forms/amounts? More diverse ingredients usually provide broader nutritional support.
– Absorption – How well the nutrients are utilized and absorbed by the body. Natural forms often absorb better than synthetic vitamins.
– Convenience – How easy the supplement is to take. Capsules, powders, gummies each have pros and cons for convenience.
– Taste – Important for powdered drink mixes. Better taste improves compliance with taking it.
– Quality – Rigorous quality control and good manufacturing processes ensure purity and potency.
– Cost – Pricing per serving relative to ingredients, absorption, and quality. Good value for money improves adherence.
– Company reputation – Established companies with transparency around ingredients and manufacturing build trust.
Juice Plus+
One popular alternative to Balance of Nature is Juice Plus+. Here is how the two products compare:
| Factor | Juice Plus+ | Balance of Nature |
|---|---|---|
| Ingredients | 30 fruits, vegetables, berries. Added vitamins A-E. | 90+ fruits, vegetables, mushrooms, probiotics, enzymes. |
| Absorption | Juiced then dehydrated into powdered concentrates. | Juiced then dehydrated into powdered concentrates. |
| Convenience | Capsules, chewables, shakes. | Capsules, powders. |
| Taste | Good | OK |
| Quality | Manufactured in USA in NSF certified facility | Manufactured in USA in GMP certified facility |
| Cost | $1.50/day | $2.50/day |
| Reputation | Established in 1993. Over 2 million customers. | Established in 1995. Hundreds of thousands of customers. |
Juice Plus+ has similar ingredient diversity and absorption to Balance of Nature since both are made from dehydrated fruit and vegetable juices. Juice Plus+ offers better convenience with capsules, chewables and shakes, while Balance of Nature has powders that may appeal to some customers. In terms of cost, Juice Plus+ is more affordable at only $1.50 per day compared to $2.50 for Balance of Nature. However, Balance of Nature has more ingredients and higher nutrient diversity. Both companies have excellent reputations, but Juice Plus+ has a longer history with over 2 million customers compared to Balance of Nature’s hundreds of thousands of customers.
Overall, Juice Plus+ beats Balance of Nature in terms of convenience, taste, cost, and company reputation. However, Balance of Nature may be a better choice for those wanting maximum ingredient diversity.
Garden of Life Vitamin Code
Garden of Life Vitamin Code is another top whole food vitamins product. Here is how it stacks up to Balance of Nature:
| Factor | Garden of Life Vitamin Code | Balance of Nature |
|---|---|---|
| Ingredients | 23 fruits and vegetables | 90+ fruits, vegetables, mushrooms, probiotics, enzymes |
| Absorption | Raw food created nutrients bound to whole foods | Juiced then dehydrated into powdered concentrates |
| Convenience | Capsules, chewables | Capsules, powders |
| Taste | N/A (capsules) | OK |
| Quality | Certified USDA Organic, Non-GMO Project Verified, NSF Certified for Sport | Manufactured in USA in GMP certified facility |
| Cost | $1.50/day | $2.50/day |
| Reputation | Established in 1986. Popular whole food brand. | Established in 1995. Hundreds of thousands of customers. |
Garden of Life uses a unique process of binding synthetic vitamins to probiotics and food extracts to enhance absorption, while Balance of Nature relies on dehydrated juice concentrates. Garden of Life also has certifications like USDA Organic and Non-GMO Project Verified that Balance of Nature lacks. However, Balance of Nature offers more diverse fruit, vegetable, and mushroom ingredients for broader nutritional support. For cost, Garden of Life again wins at just $1.50 per day compared to $2.50 for Balance of Nature. Garden of Life is also an established whole food vitamin brand since 1986.
In summary, Garden of Life beats Balance of Nature in absorption technology, quality certifications, cost, and reputation but has fewer overall ingredients. Those seeking certified organic, Non-GMO ingredients may prefer Garden of Life, while Balance of Nature offers more diverse nutrition.
MegaFood Whole Food Supplements
MegaFood is another established whole food vitamin brand. Let’s see how it measures up against Balance of Nature:
| Factor | MegaFood Whole Food Supplements | Balance of Nature |
|---|---|---|
| Ingredients | 23+ fruits and vegetables | 90+ fruits, vegetables, mushrooms, probiotics, enzymes |
| Absorption | Bound to whole foods through enzymatic process | Juiced then dehydrated into powdered concentrates |
| Convenience | Tablets, gummies | Capsules, powders |
| Taste | N/A | OK |
| Quality | Non-GMO Project Verified, Glyphosate Residue Free, Certified B Corp | Manufactured in USA in GMP certified facility |
| Cost | $1.50/day | $2.50/day |
| Reputation | Established in 1973. Industry leader. | Established in 1995. Hundreds of thousands of customers. |
MegaFood uses a fermentation process to bind synthetic nutrients to whole foods rather than Balance of Nature’s dehydrated juice method. MegaFood touts quality certifications like Non-GMO Project Verified, glyphosate-free and Certified B Corp that Balance of Nature lacks. MegaFood is also significantly cheaper at just $1.50 per day compared to Balance of Nature’s $2.50 cost. And MegaFood has the longest reputation, being an industry leader since 1973. However, Balance of Nature does have more diverse fruit, vegetable and mushroom ingredients.
Overall, MegaFood is superior to Balance of Nature in absorption technology, quality certifications, cost, and reputation. But Balance of Nature offers broader nutritional diversity. Customers seeking certified, clean ingredients may prefer MegaFood, while Balance of Nature provides more complete nutrition.
New Chapter Whole Food Vitamins
New Chapter is another established whole food supplements brand. Here’s a comparison:
| Factor | New Chapter Whole Food Vitamins | Balance of Nature |
|---|---|---|
| Ingredients | 23+ whole foods | 90+ fruits, vegetables, mushrooms, probiotics, enzymes |
| Absorption | Fermented with probiotics and whole foods | Juiced then dehydrated into powdered concentrates |
| Convenience | Tablets, gummies, oils | Capsules, powders |
| Taste | N/A | OK |
| Quality | Non-GMO Project Verified, USDA Organic, Certified B Corp | Manufactured in USA in GMP certified facility |
| Cost | $1.25/day | $2.50/day |
| Reputation | Established in 1982. Trusted whole food brand. | Established in 1995. Hundreds of thousands of customers. |
New Chapter uses fermented whole foods and added probiotics to enhance absorption, while Balance of Nature relies on dehydrated fruit and vegetable juices. New Chapter has noteworthy quality certifications like Non-GMO Project Verified, USDA Organic and B Corp that Balance of Nature lacks. At just $1.25 per day, New Chapter is half the price of Balance of Nature’s $2.50 cost. And New Chapter has built trust since 1982 as a pioneer in whole food nutrition. However, Balance of Nature offers more diverse fruit, vegetable and mushroom ingredients.
In summary, New Chapter is superior to Balance of Nature in absorption methods, certifications, cost, and reputation but has slightly fewer ingredients. Consumers who value certified, clean nutrition may prefer New Chapter, while Balance of Nature provides broader, more diverse nutrition.
Rainbow Light Nutritional Systems
Rainbow Light is a popular food-based supplement brand. Let’s compare it to Balance of Nature:
| Factor | Rainbow Light Nutritional Systems | Balance of Nature |
|---|---|---|
| Ingredients | Fruits, veggies, herbs, probiotics, enzymes | 90+ fruits, vegetables, mushrooms, probiotics, enzymes |
| Absorption | Plant-source enzymes and probiotics | Juiced then dehydrated into powdered concentrates |
| Convenience | Tablets, gummies, powder sticks | Capsules, powders |
| Taste | Good | OK |
| Quality | EcoGuard seal, Certified Purity, Potency, Performance | Manufactured in USA in GMP certified facility |
| Cost | $1.50/day | $2.50/day |
| Reputation | Established in 1981. Millions of customers. | Established in 1995. Hundreds of thousands of customers. |
Rainbow Light uses added probiotics and enzymes to enhance absorption, while Balance of Nature relies on dehydrated fruit and vegetable juices. Rainbow Light touts a number of quality certifications that Balance of Nature lacks. At $1.50 per day, Rainbow Light is far more affordable than Balance of Nature’s $2.50 daily cost. And Rainbow Light has over 35 years of reputation and millions of customers compared to Balance of Nature’s 25 years and hundreds of thousands of customers. However, Balance of Nature offers more diverse fruit, vegetable and mushroom ingredients.
In summary, Rainbow Light beats Balance of Nature in absorption technology, certifications, cost, and reputation but provides slightly fewer nutrients from ingredients. Those seeking certified, quality supplements may prefer Rainbow Light, while Balance of Nature offers broader nutritional diversity.
Conclusion
Based on this detailed comparison, there are several whole food vitamin brands that appear to beat Balance of Nature in certain areas:
– Juice Plus+ has better convenience, taste, cost and reputation.
– Garden of Life offers enhanced absorption and noteworthy quality certifications.
– MegaFood touts superior absorption technology and certifications.
– New Chapter provides better absorption, certifications, cost and reputation.
– Rainbow Light has added probiotics/enzymes, certifications and excellent reputation.
However, Balance of Nature does stand out for offering one of the most diverse profiles of whole food ingredients, with 90+ fruits, vegetables, mushrooms and more. This extensive nutritional diversity is a key advantage compared to supplements with just 20-30 food sources.
So while other brands may be better than Balance of Nature in certain specific factors like certification, cost, or reputation, Balance of Nature still provides one of the most complete nutritional profiles from whole food ingredients. This makes it uniquely beneficial for consumers seeking the broadest range of natural vitamins, minerals and antioxidants from fruits, vegetables and mushrooms.
In conclusion, Balance of Nature is not definitively “better” than all other whole food supplements across every criterion. But it does stand out for exceptionally diverse nutrition from a vast array of natural plant foods. For those seeking maximum ingredient variety and completeness, Balance of Nature delivers strong nutritional benefits that may rival or exceed some competing products. It offers a one-stop shop for comprehensive fruit and vegetable nutrition in supplement form.