I’d love to set up a camera to watch people walking into a nutrition or supplement store. It’s like taking your first step ever into New York City, and you don’t know what flashy advertisement to look at first. Now even Facebook has become the new supplement market, with “friends” sharing their products for their multi-level marketing company. How do we decipher through the madness?!
If you have already fallen into the supplement hole, you’re probably on a workout cocktail of pre, post, during, to take on Thursdays at 3pm when it’s raining regimen…do we really need all this stuff? Do we really need all these “healthy” things coursing through our bodies, to perform the best, or help us reach our health goals?
In my expert opinion, we can make this a whole lot simpler and safer. First step, is reading the label of ingredients. If your supplements don’t have an ingredients label (or try to hide it), that should be the first red flag to NOT take it. Supplements are not regulated, so you can’t 100% trust what the label says, is actually in the product. See what safe supplements I recommend. If you’re still fairly loyal to your supps, here are 3 things to definitely look out for:
1. Synthetic Vitamins
Synthetic vitamins are created in a lab, isolating an element to try and imitate a benefit or function of a natural vitamin found in whole food sources, i.e. plants. Synthetic vitamins are usully labeled by their isolated names — ascorbic acid (vitamin C), riboflavin (vitamin B2), and dl-alpha tocopherol acetate (vitamin E) are all examples of synthetics commonly added to vitamins and supplements, including multivitamins.
Synthetic vitamins are fakes. They’re missing substance and most important – synergy! Whole foods naturally contain vitamins that work together in the body, versus serving one purpose. Vitamins in whole foods are also bioavailable, meaning that your body can actually absorb it. Whole foods work FOR your body, and synthetics do things TO your body. I think we’ve got the point, right? Let’s move on.
2. Magnesium Stearate
Magnesium stearate is a white, water-insoluble powder. It is an additive that over time, can actually block the absorption of nutrients into your body. Wait, what?! Oh, one more thing, it isn’t derived from magnesium at all. Why do supplement companies use it? It helps their products move through manufacturing equipment easier. Hmmm…one more to go….
3. Artificial Colors
Artificial colors are an additive like a dye, pigment or substance, that gives color to a supplement. These coloring agents are toxic! Definitely look out for the commonly used ones like Blue No. 2 Aluminum Lake and FD&C Red No. 40 Aluminum Lake, both of which are potential neurotoxins. Remember those Flintstones vitamins? Yep, those and lots of others, are guilty of harmful and toxic artificial coloring!
Whew. Yuck! I personally recommend getting the nutrients and minerals your body is craving through whole food sources. If your supplement has a nutrition label, legally what the label says, is what’s inside. Also, do we really need to mess with Mother Nature? Check out the whole food supplements I recommend.
Take this knowledge and do some investigating on what you’re putting in your body. You deserve bether health, not crazy stimulants and chemicals with adverse side affects. Be you. Be whole. Do your research.
Author: Kandice Powell from Healthy Living Y’All
Sources:
http://www.naturalnews.com/039271_vitamins_supplements_magnesium_stearate.html