Nutrition from food.
Nothing less.
Your body was designed to be nourished by real food — not lab-made fragments. That conviction is why NHIC has built its practice on Standard Process whole food supplements, and why we're proud to welcome Food Research by Doctors' Research to our shelves. Two pioneers. One whole food philosophy.
Why we believe in whole food — without compromise
A vitamin in nature never travels alone. In an orange, a carrot, or a calf's liver, it arrives surrounded by co-factors, enzymes, minerals, and trace compounds that work as a team. Isolate one piece in a lab and you get a fragment — not the full nutritional picture.
“Nutrition from food. What a concept!” — Doctors' Research motto, echoing the whole food principle Dr. Royal Lee championed when he founded Standard Process in 1929
Grown with intention
Nutrient quality starts with how a plant is grown. Certified organic soil in Wisconsin and controlled, pesticide-free hydroponics in California are two different paths to the same goal: clean, nutrient-dense raw material.
Kept whole
Rather than stripping a single isolated chemical out of food, whole food formulas preserve the natural complex — the vitamin together with the co-factors it naturally travels with.
Handled gently
Heat is the enemy of delicate enzymes and food factors. Both companies favor low-temperature methods — from on-farm juicing and drying to freeze-drying of glandular tissues.
One philosophy. Two trusted sources.
Standard Process remains the foundation of the NHIC dispensary. Food Research by Doctors' Research joins it as a complementary line — giving us more whole food tools to match each client's unique needs.
Standard Process
Founded by Dr. Royal Lee, the pioneer of whole food nutrition, and still family-owned. Most plant ingredients are grown on the company's own certified organic farm in Palmyra, Wisconsin, then processed just down the road — true seed-to-supplement integrity.
Shop Standard Process →Food Research by Doctors' Research
Founded by Dr. Robert Thiel in California, built on the conviction that supplements should be 100% food. Nutrient foods are grown hydroponically in stainless steel vats, and glandulars come from pasture-raised animals in New Zealand and other BSE-free regions.
Shop Food Research →Why we added Food Research to our whole food dispensary
Gerald explains what makes these formulas different, how PMGs and EMGs compare, and how NHIC uses both lines together.
Two pioneers, two paths, one destination
Each company has its own way of turning food into formulas. Here's how their approaches line up — and where they meet.
| Our foundationStandard Process | New at NHICFood Research by Doctors' Research | |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 1929, by Dr. Royal Lee — the father of whole food nutrition. Family-owned for three generations. | 1998, by Dr. Robert Thiel, a natural health clinician and researcher. |
| Home base | Palmyra, Wisconsin | San Luis Obispo County, California |
| How plants are grown | Certified organic farm (MOSA-certified since 2002) of 850+ acres just west of Palmyra. Grows 25+ crops — including alfalfa, barley grass, beets, Brussels sprouts, buckwheat, kale, oats, pea vine, and Spanish black radish. | Hydroponic cultivation in stainless steel vats — no PVC or plastics touching the nutrients — free of pesticides and herbicides. Foods such as acerola cherry, carrots, kelp, mushrooms, nutritional yeast, pumpkin seed, rice, and spinach. Soil-grown foods are mostly organic or wild-crafted. |
| From harvest to formula | Crops are chopped and taken straight to an on-farm processing center for juicing and drying. At least 75% of raw plant material comes from the company's own farm. | A low-temperature “cold fusion” process designed to preserve naturally occurring enzymes and other food factors. |
| Animal & glandular sourcing | Tissues and specialized protein isolates from USDA-inspected facilities. | Pasture-raised cattle from New Zealand and other nations free of BSE (“mad cow”), plus goat and wild-fish sources. Most glandulars are freeze-dried to retain natural enzymes and peptides. |
| Signature glandular technology | Protomorphogen™ (PMG™) extracts — developed by Dr. Lee in the 1940s; first introduced in 1952. | Enzomorphogen (EMG™) extracts — Doctors' Research's own specialized glandular extracts. |
| Quality testing | In-house scientists run as many as 2,000 tests every week. | HPLC-validated batch potency plus third-party testing for purity and heavy metals; non-GMO. |
| Where to buy | Through healthcare practitioners | Exclusively through healthcare professionals |
| Common ground: nutrition from whole food · clean sourcing · gentle processing · practitioner guidance | ||
Information compiled from each company's published materials and third-party sources. Details may change; see the manufacturers' websites for the latest.
PMGs & EMGs: two unique answers to the same question
Long before “cellular nutrition” was a buzzword, practitioners recognized that animal tissues offer nutrition beyond vitamins and minerals. Each company developed its own proprietary extract to deliver it — and each is found only in that company's line.
PMG™ Extracts
Protomorphogen™ · exclusive to Standard Process- Pioneered by Dr. Royal Lee in the late 1940s; first PMG product released in 1952
- Described by Standard Process as specific materials extracted from organs and specialized protein isolates, containing nucleotides and peptides
- Made with a proprietary low-temperature process
- Available as tissue-specific formulas — e.g., Thytrophin PMG® and Pituitrophin PMG®
paths
EMG™ Extracts
Enzomorphogen · exclusive to Doctors' Research- Doctors' Research's own extracts, uniquely derived to support cellular health
- From glandulars of pasture-raised animals, sourced from BSE-free regions such as New Zealand
- Freeze-drying used to help retain natural enzymes, peptides, and precursors
- Tissue-specific formulas: Hypothalamus, Pituitary, Thymus, and Thyroid EMG™
Where they meet
- Like supports like. Both are built on the traditional principle that a specific tissue nourishes the same tissue in the body.
- Tissue-specific. Both are offered organ by organ, so a practitioner can target exactly what's needed.
- Beyond desiccated glandulars. Both are specialized extracts — not simply dried, powdered tissue.
The right formula for your body
The best whole food supplement is the one your body actually needs. At NHIC we don't guess — we test.
Assess
Nutrition Response Testing helps identify which areas of your body may need nutritional support.
Match
We select from Standard Process, MediHerb, and Food Research formulas to fit your individual needs — often combining lines.
Refine
Follow-up visits track your progress and adjust your program as your body responds.
Start exploring the Food Research line
Frequently asked
Can I take Standard Process and Food Research formulas together?
Many NHIC clients do. Both lines share the same whole food foundation, and we often combine them within a single program. Ask us before adding or changing products so your plan stays coordinated.
Is NHIC still carrying Standard Process?
Absolutely. Standard Process remains the foundation of our dispensary, alongside MediHerb. Food Research expands our whole food toolkit — it doesn't replace anything.
What's the difference between a PMG™ and an EMG™?
Both are specialized, tissue-specific glandular extracts. PMG™ extracts are proprietary to Standard Process; EMG™ extracts are proprietary to Doctors' Research. Each is made with its company's own methods, so they are distinct products rather than substitutes.
Where do the glandulars come from?
Standard Process sources animal tissues and protein isolates from USDA-inspected facilities. Doctors' Research sources bovine glandulars from pasture-raised animals in New Zealand and other BSE-free regions.
Which formula is right for me?
That's exactly what a consultation is for. Book an appointment and we'll build a program around your body's needs.
Shop Here for the Best Food-Based Formulas
Real nutrition from real food — grown with care, processed gently, and recommended by a practitioner who believes in it.
Shop Food Research Formulas*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Consult your healthcare practitioner before starting any supplement program.
Standard Process®, Protomorphogen™, PMG™, Thytrophin PMG®, and Pituitrophin PMG® are trademarks of Standard Process Inc. Food Research™, EMG™, and related product names are trademarks of Doctors' Research, Inc. Natural Health Improvement Center is an independent practice and authorized retailer; this page is not produced or endorsed by either manufacturer.
