Quality over quantity wins every day!!
Reading the INGREDIENT LIST!
Fillers/Bulking agents: these are different ingredients used to reach a certain capsule size or tablet size for the sake of packaging. These are often ingredients the do not react with the vitamins or minerals in the product.
Okay so what should you avoid?
Titanium dioxide: known to be toxic to our cells and our DNA. Still under investigation for potential to cause cancer
Magnesium silicate: "study found evidence of carcinogenicity in exposed laboratory animals;" limited data in humans
Partially Hydrogenated oils: inflammation and calcification of arterial walls
The aesthetically pleasing supplements... probably not your friend.
Artificial colors are always a no-go! They have a negative impact on children especially and can lead to allergies, aggression, irritability, hyperactivity & learning impairment. Even for adults, I always suggest a hard pass!
Whenever we purchase supplements, they all have a period of time where they are shelf stable. This is all thanks to stabilizing agents! However, just like the fillers and bulking agents, they are not all created equal.
Stabilizers to avoid:
Butylated Hydroxytoluene aka BHT: negative effect on the lungs, kidneys, myocardial cells, liver metabolism of lipids, and clotting factors
Sodium benzoate: risk for DNA damage, neurological damage and may result in hyperactivity
Check your supplements for allergens! Often times the labels are very clear when they are gluten free, dairy free, nut free, etc. But sometimes they are not so clear! Corn is a common inactive ingredient you will find lurking in products. So always take the time to read the label to avoid this -->
There is a huge variety of different vitamins and minerals out there. So how can we choose what the best options are for us?
Common Vitamins/Minerals:
Vitamin B9: commonly found on labels as folate or folic acid. The more ideal form of this product is 5-MTHF (5-Methyltetrahydrofolate)
Vitamin B12: commonly found on labels as cobalamin or cyanocobalamin. The more ideal forms of this product are hydroxocobalamin or methylcobalamin
Magnesium: comes in a variety of forms, the right form differs based on your health goal! Magnesium citrate is great as a laxative. Magnesium glycinate is great for calming the nervous system. Magnesium taurate is the best choice for blood pressure management. And many more...
It really boils down to knowing what you're looking for! If you are seeking more specific guidance reach out!!
Last but far from least, propriety blends. This is a big thing, especially in the herbal world. The ingredients are listed (by law) from largest quantity to smallest in the list (just like food labels). Some products, I don’t mind this snafu because other ingredients and their quantity are listed but if the whole product is a proprietary blend I am more hesitant to use it because it may not be the right product for you!
There you have it, the basics about supplements!
If you’re looking for more or if you’re interested in someone helping you craft the best protocol for you at this point in your health journey, ☎️ reach out!! I would love to be part of your health care team!
Wishing you the best, friends❣️
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