Today, many of us are trying to be more health conscious. And as part of that, we are familiar with vitamins, herbs and supplements to aid in our personal health journeys.
Most people take multiple supplements daily as part of their health and wellness routine. We think we are doing something good for us. We think we are becoming healthier. But are we? Maybe not. Common supplements include vitamins, minerals and herbal products, also known as botanicals. We are told to take these supplements to make sure we get enough essential nutrients and to maintain or improve our health. But are they actually helping us? And What exactly is in your supplements?
Here in Canada we have been faced with the very real possibility that being able to buy natural health products and supplements rather than prescription medications may soon become a thing of the past. Yes, you read that correctly, Natural Health Products may be 0utlawed for our own **protection.
Now, for a lot of us that very idea is horrifying. How could the government prevent us from buying natural remedies, vitamins and supplements? It doesn't seem like it should be allowed. But then, there's a lot of things happening right now that should not be allowed, but they're doing it anyway.
But what you need to know about your vitamins, herbs and minerals and other nutritional supplements is that in the last few years the drug companies and even the natural supplement companies have reformulated many of their products. They have changed the ingredients. Most, if not all of these companies, even Vitamin companies you have come to know and trust and have been using for years, may now contain toxic additives and chemicals. Most all producers have added these toxic ingredients flavourings, colourings, additives to your supplements. So the fact that Natural Health Products are potentially being outlawed and you may not be able to buy them anymore is not as bad as it sounds. They may actually be protecting you from harm, just not in the way they are suggesting.
But why are they adding toxins to so many 'health' products"? Seems counterintuitive, right? Manufacturers and Google give various reasons for including these so-called additives: to preserve formulas, improve colour and taste, or make supplements esthetically pleasing. Personally I feel there is a much more nefarious agenda at play here. It’s dark and it’s sinister and It doesn’t seem to be getting better over time. The truth is, they want you sick! At least that’s how it seems. They most certainly want you to be life-long pharma customers. They don’t want you taking your health and wellness into your own hands. And they certainly don't want you healing your self! A patient cured is a customer lost after all.
These colourants, fillers, or flavours, may be marketed as harmless, according to the FDA and Health Canada, but long term exposure has been shown to actually harm your health.
Many of these products can be hidden migraine triggers for some people, including me. It was through sheer trial and error and the elimination and reintroduction of all supplements that I was able to discover that these toxins were migraine triggers for me. Many people don’t resort to this rather time consuming and detailed experimentation on themselves and can suffer many years with chronic debilitating migraines or other chronic pain and gut issues with no real clue as to the source. If this is you and you've been suffering like millions of other people due to sensitivities to prolonged and over abundance of toxins in your diet, eliminating the poisons in your supplements is a great first step to healing. {Then fix your diet!!}
So if you are ready to make some changes to feel better and you want to know what's *NOW in your supplements that was never in them before, keep reading
Polysorbate 80
This is an amber coloured viscous liquid. It is made from polyethoxylated sorbitan (chemical compounds derived from the dehydration of sugar alcohol) and oleic acid, a fatty acid found in animal and vegetable fats. Small amounts of undigested polysorbate 80 in meals may promote bacterial translocation, explaining why Crohn’s disease is becoming more common.
Polysorbate 80 also links to a variety of systemic responses such as hypersensitivity, non-allergic anaphylaxis, rash and injection- and infusion-site adverse effects in medication formulations like pain, erythema, thrombophlebitis. Polysorbate 80 may also contribute to liver damage when it leaches DEHP (dioctyl phthalate) from PVC.
Material Safety Data Sheet for polysorbate 80:
• Slightly flammable to flammable in presence of heat
• Slightly hazardous in case of skin contact (irritant), of eye contact (irritant), of ingestion, of inhalation.
• May cause adverse reproductive effects based on animal test data. No human data found.
• May cause cancer based on animal test data. No human data found.
• May affect genetic material (mutagenic)
Dicalcium phosphate
Toxicity from prolonged ingestion of dicalcium phosphate may result in kidney stones, fatigue, muscle weakness, nausea and vomiting, frequent urination, changes in heart rate, confusion, constipation or diarrhea, headaches and coma. Dicalcium phosphate has been known to cause gastrointestinal lesions in poultry when added to the feed.
Croscarmellose sodium
Croscarmellose sodium, or sodium croscarmellose, is a cross-linked polymer of carboxymethylcellulose sodium. It is a white, fibrous powder and is an ingredient used as a super disintegrant in pharmaceutical formulas made from wood pulp or cotton fibers.
If used in excess or with continued ingestion over time, it can cause harmful side effects. In 2010, one woman was taken to the hospital for pulmonary edema, congestive heart failure, and extremely high blood pressure. Upon investigation, doctors discovered that she was experiencing an allergic reaction to croscarmellose sodium. She also experienced an enlarged left ventricle, rashes all over the body, and multiple other health concerns. Most people are not allergic but the effects can be cumulative and creep up on you over time.
Because of its ability to absorb surrounding fluids and expand up to 20 times its size for better drug solubility, croscarmellose sodium can put you at risk for intestinal blockages. Many health researchers have found a correlation between croscarmellose sodium and intestinal flora overgrowth. This substance can also lead to mineral mal-absorption.
Maltodextrin is a white powder made from corn, rice, potato starch, or wheat. The process of making it involves cooking the starches and then adding acids or enzymes, such as heat-stable bacterial alpha-amylase, to break it down further.
Maltodextrin has a high glycemic index (GI) value, which means it can cause a spike in your blood sugar, so people with diabetes should be particularly mindful of how much they consume. In most people, it can cause gastrointestinal symptoms. These include gas, gurgling sounds, and diarrhea. Studies show that it can cause allergic reactions like cramping and skin irritations.
Maltodextrin can change the composition of your gut bacteria by suppressing the growth of beneficial probiotics. Polysaccharides like maltodextrin have been linked to bacteria-associated intestinal disorders. Further, because corn maltodextrin is made by processing corn, most of the maltodextrin you eat is a genetically modified food.
Even though all proteins, including gluten are removed during the processing of maltodextrin, there may still be traces of gluten in products that contain it. This can be dangerous for people suffering from celiac disease or a gluten intolerance. Not the least of potential side effects, maltodextrin can be a migraine trigger for many people.
Magnesium Stearate {stearic acid}
Alternate Names: magnesium octadecanoate; octadecanoic acid, magnesium salt; stearic acid, magnesium salt; magnesium distearate; E470b, E572.
This one seems harmless because it sounds like the necessary mineral magnesium, but it is anything but. This substance can prevent absorption of minerals in your gut, so anything you take won’t be absorbed. Not much point, then, is there?
If you ingest too much, it can have a laxative effect. It can irritate the mucosal lining of your bowels. This causes your bowels to spasm, triggering a bowel movement or even diarrhea. This one is also a migraine trigger for many people. In supplements it is used as a lubricant, binder, flow agent, release agent or an anti-caking agent.
Magnesium Silicate {aka Talc}
Commercially used in deodorant and cosmetics, Magnesium silicate also called Talc, is an additive that most white-coated minerals, supplements, and vitamins are laced with. Similar in composition to asbestos, Talc is not currently considered food grade by the FDA and has been known to cause lung problems and stomach diseases.
Scientific researchers have established that over time, applying talcum powder to genitals, underwear, and sanitary napkins increases the risk of developing ovarian cancer by at least 33%. However, despite the evidence of a direct link, Johnson & Johnson has maintained its denial of such a connection, and has kept its product on the shelves for decades without any warning.
There are also 1200 pending lawsuits in the US against Johnson & Johnson. To date Johnson & Johnson has not issued any warning labels on the talcum powder products.
Cellulose Gum
Aka: Croscarmellose sodium
Hydroxypropyl cellulose
Methyl cellulose
Also known as carboxymethyl cellulose, cellulose gum doesn't have any nutritional value or health benefits. Though it is suggested as a possible cause of inflammation of the gut through alteration of the gastrointestinal microbiota and has been suggested as a triggering factor in inflammatory bowel diseases such as ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease.
Xanthan Gum
Xanthan gum is a food additive used as a thickener or stabilizer. It can cause some side effects such as intestinal gas (flatulence) and bloating. People who are exposed to xanthan gum powder might experience flu-like symptoms, nose and throat irritation, and lung problems. Consuming too much may cause digestive issues. In human studies, large doses of xanthan gum were found to have the following effects:
Increased frequency of bowel movements, Increased stool output, softer stools, Increased gas, Altered gut bacteria. Xanthan gum can have a laxative effect if consumed in large amounts.
Hydrogenated Oil
Some supplements also have fillers such as hydrogenated oil from genetically-modified (or non-organic) soya bean. It’s been known to cause cardiovascular problems, diabetes, nervous system problems, and non-absorption of essential fatty acids.
Hydrogenated oil, like trans-fat and solid fat, increases low-density lipoprotein (LDL, or ‘bad’ cholesterol) and decreases high-density lipoprotein (HDL).
Silicon dioxide
Silicon dioxide used as an ingredient may be labeled as silica, silicon dioxide, synthetic amorphous silica (SAS), or E551. While most people think standard silicon dioxide is generally safe, there are concerns about using silica nanoparticles in food, as there are no long-term safety studies. However, it is hard to differentiate between nano and non-nano silica, and many manufacturers are not clearly stating that there are nanoparticles in their products. The long-term exposure to silica may also affect the kidney and increase the risk of autoimmune diseases.
Sorbitol
Sorbitol is commonly used in the food industry as a sweetener and also to improve the texture and shelf-life of foods. Many chewing gums contain sorbitol and it is also added to sweeten some liquid medications.
Common side effects of sorbitol include:
Excessive bowel activity
Diarrhea
Nausea
Vomiting
Abdominal discomfort
Dehydration
Fluid and electrolyte losses
Dry mouth (xerostomia)
High glucose levels in blood (hyperglycemia)
Swelling (edema)
Lactic acid buildup in blood (lactic acidosis)
Sucralose {Splenda}
Some studies have shown that sucralose can change your gut microbiome by lowering the number of good bacteria by half. Research shows that sucralose can also increase inflammation in the body. Over time, inflammation can lead to problems like obesity and diabetes. Sucralose and one of its metabolic by-products were found to increase genetic mutations at elevated concentrations in several testing methods.
Cooking with sucralose produces compounds called chloropropanols, a potentially toxic class of compounds that are also linked to cancers and other alterations in biological processes.
Sucralose has been shown to negatively impact gut flora and gut health by decreasing the number of healthy bacteria. Sucralose also modifies glucose handling through initiating insulin spikes and affecting glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) levels. This can be a major issue for individuals who are insulin insensitive or glucose intolerant. Recent findings indicate that sucralose is not the biologically inert compound we once thought it was. Most supplement companies are still using chemical sweeteners even though the toxic effects are well know simply because they are exponentially cheaper and easier to flavour products with.
Colouring: Red 40, Blue 2, Yellow 5
Artificial colours are often added to supplements to make them more attractive, especially for children. This, however, comes at the risk of allergies and DNA damage or even cancer. Doctors and scientists have also linked these artificial dyes to children’s hyperactive behavior.
Artificial Flavours
Artificial and “natural” flavours in supplements come in the form of high-fructose corn syrup, hydrolyzed vegetable protein, artificial sweetener, flavor enhancers and other unnecessary ingredients in your vitamins. For instance, they are put in your children’s vitamins to make them palatable to them. However, these ingredients have been linked to diabetes, hypertension among kids and weight gain. You may wonder, though, why they are also putting artificial flavours and colours in adult supplements we will only swallow so will never taste. Especially when we now know there are multiple side effects with long term exposure.
Lead, Mercury and PCBs
Industrial waste such as lead, mercury, and PCBs that are polluting our oceans and seas have been affecting large fishes such as salmon, tuna, and more. This effect is carried over to many fish oil supplements. It is recommended to make sure your fish oil supplements are molecularly distilled and third-party tested to ensure their safety.
Titanium Dioxide
Commonly used in paint, cosmetics, paper, and sunscreen, titanium dioxide has no actual nutrient value and serves only as a filler to whiten products. Although it is FDA approved in very small amounts this colourant causes side-effects such as allergies, stomach cancer, auto immune disorder, and organ toxicity. When inhaled as a dust, titanium dioxide is classified as carcinogenic to human.
Gluten
Products such as prescription or over-the-counter medications, vitamins, and supplements can contain traces of gluten . During the processing of maltodextrin, for example, all proteins are removed, including gluten, but there may still be traces of gluten in products containing maltodextrin. This can be dangerous for people suffering some celiac disease or a gluten intolerance. Heat is often used as a filler in dietary supplements. There are many certified supplements, including multivitamins and prenatal and probiotic vitamins, that contain gluten. The Celiac Disease Center at Columbia University found that more than half of the probiotics tested contained gluten, which can cause gastrointestinal inflammation for those suffering from celiac disease or gluten sensitivity.
Now what?
So what do we do about this? Of course, the simplest solution is to read every label and be on the look out for these toxic ingredients. A better solution though, is to find a good brand that offers supplements that only use carefully selected, highest quality ingredients and no “other ingredients” or “non-medicinal ingredients” . Find smaller suppliers and distributers and look specifically for labels that read: “Other ingredients = none” You may pay a little bit more for the unadulterated version, but you will avoid suffering digestive upset or chronic pain and migraines that you cannot seem to find the source of.
Better yet, get your vitamins and minerals from a high protein, enough fat, minimal plants, whole foods diet, and you’ll never need to read another supplement label again.
For info on the benefits of carnivore diet or low to zero carb eating:
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