Often, substandard vitamin d drops are passed off as premium, and they are frequently sponsored by a physician or celebrity. There are a variety of methods low-quality supplement manufacturers employ to conceal their poor quality, spending more money on marketing than on the ingredients.
As a prominent nutritional expert and business owner of a nutritional supplement firm, I am frequently asked to define the concept of quality. Because so much, including the intricacies of the raw materials used in each product, is hidden from the consumer's perspective, the best method to understand the subject is to examine a company's many vitamin and mineral goods. This can help you see past the company's marketing and discover its true production philosophy.
By understanding what's on the label of a multivitamin, you can instantly distinguish between a high-quality and a low-quality product. Examine the minerals in both the multiple vitamin and multiple mineral products of any manufacturer to get started.
Avoid Extremely Low-Priced Minerals
Minerals are essential minerals for health, as they are required for the normal functioning of several enzymes in the body. Due to excessive processing of food, bad farming that depletes our soils, and the use of pesticides that interfere with the natural sulphur cycle, the mineral content of food is low, leaving us with food that is not only chemically contaminated but also of inferior nutritional value. It is now common sense to supplement with high-grade minerals, such as essential trace minerals.
These minerals are present in multivitamins and bone-related products from all companies. Minerals from the ground are considered inorganic, but minerals in plants or crops are structured by living cells and considered organic (as opposed to how the term organic is used to describe food that is free of pesticides).
Gym chalk, also known as inorganic calcium carbonate, is the cheapest source of calcium. Other inexpensive ground crystalline calcium sources include bone meal, oyster shell, and dolomite. Calcium gluconate (9% calcium and 91% sugar glucose) is another inexpensive form. These calcium forms are poorly absorbed because they require substantial amounts of hydrochloric acid to become accessible (which is why they are used as over the counter antacids). Once in the body, they are not very beneficial biologically and, depending on your underlying condition, may cause calcification of the arteries, breast masses, gallstones, or kidney stones. There is little likelihood that calcium of such poor quality will benefit your bones.
Magnesium oxide is the cheapest form of magnesium, and it is frequently found in low-quality calcium-containing products. Antioxidants are required to deactivate absorbed oxygen once it has been oxidised. There is no justification for employing a mineral form that depletes essential antioxidants, unless you have no regard for the individual taking it. Products containing inorganic calcium carbonate and magnesium oxide should be discarded - most likely with the rest of the company's products.
Which Minerals are Best?
Typically, minerals in dietary supplements are linked to another material. What they are bound to has a significant impact on how they are absorbed and, more significantly, where they go and what they do in the body.
Calcium citrate (20% calcium, 80% citric acid) is known to be more readily absorbed than calcium carbonate (inorganic). However, 1000 mg of calcium citrate provides 4000 mg of citric acid, which is equivalent to eating a pound of tomatoes. This amount of citric acid can disable your cell's power plants (mitochondria) by inundating their citric acid cycle with an excess of citrate (like flooding a car with gas). Tired or weary individuals frequently respond negatively to large doses of citric acid, making them even more tired or causing headaches. Due to the inability of your cells to utilise citric acid adequately, calcium citrate is not an optimal form of the mineral for regular consumption. Small amounts don't matter - huge amounts are a definite energy-related concern for too many individuals.
In an effort to get away from magnesium oxide some corporations have gone to another cheap salt form known as magnesium aspartate (20% magnesium, 80% aspartic acid). Aspartic acid is routinely and harmlessly present in foods in minute quantities. In bigger quantities, it stimulates the nerves, which is undesirable if the nerves are already strained (it can act as an excitotoxin if consuming a lot of it). Aspartate should never be used as the major magnesium or calcium component in any dietary supplement.
What you need are minerals in forms that are not only easily absorbed but also beneficial. In my Wellness Resources Daily Energy Multiple Vitamin, for instance, I utilise magnesium malate (and not citrate) since not only is this form well absorbed, but malic acid is also an important vitamin. It enters cells, carrying magnesium with it, and activates the citric acid cycle, which produces energy. This is a completely separate process from citric acid. Malic acid stimulates cell energy generation and is the most deficient nutrient in the Krebs citric acid cycle during exhaustion.
I use a range of calcium forms in the products that I make for Wellness Resources, based on the idea that calcium and whatever it is attached to are both beneficial to the body. As an excellent nerve nutrient, calcium AEP helps strengthen your nerves so that you can withstand stress better. Calcium taurate (Tri Cal) aids in nerve relaxation because taurine is a proven relaxant*.
In Wellness Resources Daily Bone Xcel, I use a portion of the calcium in the form of microcrystalline hydroxyappetite (MCHC - small particles of intact bone), since these work as a true bone food and are quickly absorbed, transported to the bones, and connected to the existing bone matrix.
Is Coral Calcium Beneficial?
Depending on the type of coral calcium, it can be an excellent nutritional supplement. As used in Wellness Resources products, coral calcium from ocean waters has a natural ratio of 2 parts calcium to 1 part magnesium, along with many other trace minerals present in the ocean. It is typically gathered from dead coral reefs in Okinawa's pristine coastal waters (it is not an eco-unfriendly harvesting activity). Respectable businesses test the quality of the raw material to guarantee that it is fit for human consumption. The residents of Okinawa have legendary bone health.
These calcium and magnesium compounds have a carbonate structure, but are very different from the gym chalk mentioned previously. Formed organically by living coral reefs, they exist as highly ordered geometric structures (like a true food form). They are the only type of minerals that are soluble in both fat and water and are more readily absorbed than citrates. They swiftly generate mineral ions that the body can utilise in a variety of metabolic activities.
Be wary of businesses that offer coral calcium extracted from the land. This mineral has been "weathered" and its magnesium and trace minerals have been washed away. This mould is used to produce concrete for Japan's highways. It is offered as a nutritional supplement to unaware customers in the United States who believe they are receiving genuine coral calcium. These companies must constantly add inexpensive magnesium to their products and list it on the label (typically magnesium oxide). Thus, coral calcium products containing magnesium oxide should be discarded.
What Constitutes Amino Acid Chelates?
One of the greatest advancements in mineral biochemistry and human nutrition is the capacity to bind minerals to proteins. How else would you know what you are ingesting if a company did not reveal the precise amino acid utilised in the chelation process? Quality companies are proud of their amino acid chelates since not only do they cost more to include in a product, but the amino acids themselves are beneficial to one's health. For instance, I utilise magnesium glycinate extensively in my goods. Glycine, an amino acid, is a natural relaxant and an excellent nutrition for detoxification. Truly superior amino acid chelates serve a dual purpose in your metabolism.
Unfortunately, there are numerous amino acid chelates that you have no idea what they are. They are always labelled as "amino acid chelate," which is a legal definition of what they are and a clever strategy to conceal the inferior quality they do not possess. Whenever the term "amino acid chelate" is used to describe the mineral's shape, you can assume the corporation has something to hide. If they were truly proud of the ingredients in their product, they would disclose them.
This amino acid chelate foolishness has been going on for a number of years, but it reached its zenith with the launch of Biokey®, a branded version of these chelates used in one product line marketed by a well-known alternative health specialist. The Biokey website does not list the mineral types or amino acids utilised. When I called the company and asked what they were, I was met with resistance.
Biokey® minerals were utilised in animal nutrition long before they were employed in human nutrition, and it's interesting that the animal website provided significantly more information. All of these minerals are chelated with hydrolyzed soy protein, it turns out. Nowhere on the label of any human product does it state that it contains soy (which is not legal according to current FDA allergy rules for labeling). In addition, unless soy is designated as non-GMO, it is now GMO and has poisons inserted into its proteins genetically.
The animal website also published the precise mineral composition. For instance, the calcium exists as calcium formate. Calcium formate is an acceptable food additive, however the formate component must be detoxified, is difficult for humans to eliminate, and has been linked to methanol poisoning. In industrial, calcium formate is utilised to speed the setting of concrete. Thus, a person consuming calcium believes they are taking a more absorbable type of calcium (calcium - Biokey® amino acid chelate). Yes, it absorbs well and offers a dose of soy containing GMOs, calcium, and formate.
I believe that you should avoid any product that contains amino acid chelates without disclosing their identity.
Tablets vs Capsules
High-quality minerals occupy a great deal of physical space, therefore you must take more capsules of them to achieve ideal mineral levels for bone health. Thus, calcium of poor quality is frequently crushed into tablets. Tablets must be coated and adhered together. They are difficult to digest, and it is typical, particularly with mineral-containing tablets, for them to travel through the digestive tract without being broken down.
Any corporation that combines many vitamins or minerals into a single tablet is not concerned about your health. When you notice a company's multiple vitamin or primary mineral supplement in pill form, run for cover!
Vegetable caps (Vcaps) are safer than gelatin made from beef. Veggie caps are composed of vegetable cellulose and breakdown easily in the digestive tract. They are more expensive and add around $2.00 to the retail price of a product; however, this is a minor price to pay for the certainty that prions from Mad Cow Disease will not consume your brain.
What About Liquids?
The predominant forms of liquid minerals are sulphate or chloride. Not to add that they are inferior forms of the nutrients, they tend to be nauseous and difficult to use when consumed orally. They are relatively water-resistant. Ionic minerals are a wonderful addition to electrolyte drinks, but they are not a good strategy to increase mineral intake.
Vitamin-containing liquid drinks frequently make outlandish claims about increased absorption. In actuality, fine-grade nutrients (particularly B vitamins) rapidly deteriorate and lose their biological function in any liquid form. None of these are likely to retain their potency for more than a few weeks. If the FDA were to crack down on these corporations (and they will one day), it would immediately become apparent that their label claims for potency at the time of expiration are unfounded. Avoid wasting money.
How do B vitamins work?
B vitamins are nutrients that cannot be manufactured by the body in sufficient quantities to maintain health; therefore, they must be consumed. B vitamins are abundant in fresh, unprocessed foods. Numerous foods include B vitamins, including whole grains, animal meats, legumes, vegetables, and fruit. The best method to obtain these nutrients from food is through consuming a varied diet of whole, unprocessed foods. At least half of the American population is deficient in B vitamins, which is detrimental to health.
B vitamins in dietary supplements are produced through microbial fermentation. This is comparable to the concept of beneficial microbes in the digestive tract digesting dietary carbs, protein, and fibre to produce beneficial metabolic byproducts. After the B vitamins have been cultivated under controlled conditions, they are refined and stabilised before being made available for use in dietary supplements.
Variables pertaining to the B vitamins' purity are one of their quality issues. China's foray into the raw material industry for dietary supplements has resulted in the dumping of inexpensive B vitamins onto the consumer market. China's production standards are currently unreliable.
Extremely inexpensive B vitamins have a strong odour. Any B vitamin has a faint odour that will intensify as the substance ages. The inexpensive B vitamins first have a terrible odour. In an effort to reduce the odour, many businesses encase them in tablets and then coat the tablets. Open any box of cereal fortified with B vitamins and inhale deeply to understand what I mean.
In addition to fundamental product purification, the actual final form of the B vitamin produced has a significant impact on its quality. At Wellness Resources, I prioritise the co-enzyme versions of B vitamins since they are easily absorbed and already in the exact form your cells require - a significant metabolic advantage. These high-quality B vitamins are far more expensive than the inactive forms most commonly found in dietary supplements, yet they have a significant impact on your health.
To activate an inactive form of a B vitamin, energy (ATP) must be provided to it. This technique may not function effectively for individuals who are already worried or lacking in energy; hence, they do not feel better after taking their vitamin. In my Daily Energy Multiple Vitamin, I rely on B vitamin coenzyme forms.
You can easily determine the quality of a B vitamin based on the type and amount of B12 it contains. The cheapest type of B12 is cyanacobalamin. In order for your body to utilise this nutrient, you must first remove the cyanide-containing molecule from its front end and then detoxify it. Then you need the energy to convert it to one of the coenzyme forms (methylcobalamin or adenosylcobalamin).
Why do firms include inexpensive B12 in their goods if it requires cyanide detoxification? Answer - it costs one-tenth as much as methylcobalamin. How much cyanide do you want to take? For those with chemical sensitivity, chronic fatigue, or fibromyalgia, the significance of this issue increases significantly.
Because B12 is nearly always the most expensive component in multivitamins, another strategy is to include a negligible amount. This deception is reinforced by the government's unreasonably low Daily Value for vitamin B12 to prevent anaemia (6 mcg). This level of consumption does not account for the importance of B12 to your brain's function, nerve health, stress reduction, protein synthesis, and various chemistry processes in your liver, which are essential for hundreds of enzyme systems to function properly and maintain your health.
Three Daily Energy Multiple Vitamin tablets provide 800 mcg of coenzyme versions of B12 (400 mcg of methylcobalamin for your nerves and liver and 400 mcg of adenosylcobalamin to support structural protein formation).
* You should not have to purchase additional vitamin B12 to maintain your fundamental health; it should be included in your multivitamin.
Natural versus Artificial
If ever there was widespread uncertainty about a topic, it is the distinction between natural and synthetic, which has multiple meanings depending on the vitamin being discussed.
As previously stated, B vitamins utilised in dietary supplements are produced through microbial fermentation. This is similar to farming. Consequently, they are entirely natural and derived from natural sources. The compounds are subsequently refined and stabilised by combining them with another molecule, such as hydrochloride. This new B vitamin molecule is manufactured because it no longer occurs naturally in food. Because the body does not need to extract the vitamin from plant or animal fibres in order to absorb it, such synthetic vitamins are often better absorbed than those found in food.
After ingesting a synthetic B vitamin, the body "digests" it by removing the stabilising molecule and adding energy to convert it into a fully natural coenzyme form before utilising it. People who lack energy may have difficulty activating synthetic B vitamin types.
I prefer to utilise B vitamins in their native coenzyme forms. They are simpler to consume, do not require external energy to function, and do not produce toxic metabolic byproducts that must be eliminated. In my experience, they have a significant impact.
Here are examples of synthetic versus natural labelling:
-Natural Co-Enzyme Forms - Synthetic Co-Enzyme Forms
Thiamine (B1) - Thiamine diphosphate
(B2)-Riboflavin-5-phosphate -Riboflavin HCI
Niacin (B3) - Inositol hexanicotinate - Niacinamide
D-Calcium pantothenate - Pantethine - Pantothenic acid (B5)
Pyridoxal-5-phosphate - Pyridoxine HCI - Pyridoxine (B6)
Folic acid - Folinic acid; calcium folinate - Folic acid
Cobalamin (B12) - Methylcobalamin; Adenosylcobalamin - Cyanacobalamin
When purchasing vitamins, seek for the presence of coenzyme versions of the B vitamins, especially for the most vital B vitamins such as B12 and folic acid. Then, ensure that there are enough B vitamins to truly improve your energy and mood, which is more than the government-mandated Daily Value for preventing B vitamin deficiency disorders. Your objective is to fuel your nerves and energy-generating systems so that you can function better - a difference you can feel!
Natural versus artificial Beta Carotene
Beta carotene is a potent antioxidant linked to long life and health. Large drug firms that produce beta carotene supplements (such as the German company BASF) frequently support studies using their synthetic beta carotene. All negative beta carotene studies have concerned the synthetic version, never the natural type.
When we reach the domain of synthetic beta carotene, the phrase synthetic takes on a whole other connotation. In this instance, beta carotene is synthesised by extracting benzene rings from acetylene gas and then joining the benzene rings to generate 100 percent all-trans beta-carotene.
No dietary source provides 100 percent all-trans beta-carotene. All-trans beta carotene and 9-cis beta carotene are found in food-derived beta carotene. While the trans form is more prevalent in your body's tissues, it appears that the cis form is required for optimal behaviour. The cis form aids in the production of 9-cis retinoic acid, a hormone that regulates cell division and promotes healthy tissue growth. It was discovered that smokers consuming synthetic beta carotene (lacking the cis form) had an increased risk of developing lung cancer. This is in stark contrast to studies with natural beta carotene that demonstrate a preventive and beneficial health benefit, notably for the lungs.
On the label of synthetic beta carotene, the word "beta carotene" is always listed without a source. All items containing natural beta carotene will mention the source of the ingredient. The most prevalent natural source of beta carotene is the sea algae Dunaliella salinas, which Wellness Resources products always contain. It is a blend of 9-cis-beta carotene and trans-beta carotene, together with alpha-carotene, cryptoxanthin, and zeaxanthin. Beta carotene derived from natural sources has a potent nutritional combination that is absent in manufactured beta carotene*.
The concentration of beta carotene in the blood of mammals is directly proportional to their lifetime. Both alpha and cis versions of beta carotenes are stored in the liver, adrenal glands, kidneys, testes, ovaries, and adipose tissue. They work synergistically with vitamin E and other antioxidants to safeguard your health. Take only dietary supplements containing natural beta carotene from a clearly defined food source; discard any items containing synthetic beta carotene, together with all other products manufactured by the same manufacturer (as its unlikely they give two hoots about your health).
There is a significant distinction between synthetic B vitamins and synthetic beta carotene. The synthetic B vitamins have a natural origin. They are not the best forms of B vitamins since they require energy to activate and energy to eliminate cyanide (in the case of synthetic B12). If your body cannot use them, they are eliminated through urine (they are water soluble). However, they are capable of functioning regularly in your metabolism. Chemicals are the source of synthetic beta carotene, which lacks the essential cis form of beta carotene, which is very protective to human organs and cells and helps control proper cell division. The tissues of your body will store the synthetic beta carotene (which is fat soluble) without the natural cis form to guarantee that it behaves appropriately. Because it lacks the essential cis form of the nutrient, no one should consume synthetic beta carotene.
The Vitamin E Narrative
The broad media assault on vitamin E is based on a hoax manufactured by the American Heart Association to promote harmful medicines and discredit vitamin E. This story is recorded in detail in my article The Statin Scam Continues. Vitamin E is one of the most helpful supplements known to man, particularly for elderly Americans seeking to improve their immunity, memory, and cardiovascular fitness.
The worst type of vitamin E is the synthetic variety, which, like synthetic beta carotene, is derived from chemicals rather than food. Typically, it is generated from coal tar. It is indicated on the label by the presence of a "l" after the letter "d." Therefore, the synthetic form is "dl alpha..." rather than "d alpha..." Any product with the "dl" suffix should likewise be discarded as it is worthless.
The most effective forms of vitamin E are oils, which must be encapsulated in softgel capsules. As a result of vitamin E's susceptibility to oxidation (spoil) and loss of efficacy, it is impractical to include these oils in powders that may be easily combined with multiple vitamin or multiple antioxidant formulations. In order to circumvent this issue, a molecule is linked to vitamin E to stabilise it so that it does not degrade when exposed to oxygen. Upon attachment of a succinate, vitamin E becomes water-soluble. If linked to acetate, vitamin E remains fat-soluble. Other tocopherols (beta, gamma, and delta) are present in items of higher grade, but only the d alpha form is standardised for efficacy.
Succinate, the water-soluble form of vitamin E, is excellent for treating an acute shortage. The fat-soluble form (acetate) gets absorbed into cell membranes, where it can provide antioxidant protection for a longer duration. By removing the succinate or acetate, the body can easily convert these forms of vitamin E into their biologically active forms. Never purchase a product containing the "dl" form, as it is derived from a chemical and has no antioxidant capacity.
The Finest Vitamin E
Vitamin E is a vitamin that I strongly recommend in softgel form, in addition to any vitamin E contained in any multivitamin or antioxidant formulation.
The majority of natural vitamin E on the market today is derived from soy and is either 30% or 50% soy oil (the label does not specify). The other vitamin E forms (beta, gamma, and delta) are frequently transformed to alpha tocopherol through a process known as esterification. This devalues the product, as these additional tocopherols also contribute to health. It is done to increase the alpha content in order to obtain a higher price. Oftentimes, hasty or irresponsible processing procedures result in oxidative damage to soy oil. This implies that when the product stands on the shelf, the anti-oxidant vitamin E is depleted, allowing the rancid soy oil to revert to its original state. Despite the fact that a few companies produce natural, unsterilized vitamin E from soy, they are in the minority. Most soy-derived vitamin E is not of the highest quality.
I used to be one of the only individuals who produced pharmaceutical-grade d alpha tocopherol that was not esterified. About ten years ago, I received a phone call from the manufacturer informing me that they could no longer produce this item due to a lack of high-quality soy (the food supply had deteriorated). Fortunately, this was around the time that tocotrienols became available.
Tocotrienols, a newer type of vitamin E that contains significantly more antioxidant function than regular alpha tocopherol as well as other properties such as naturally supporting healthy cholesterol metabolism - something alpha tocopherol does not do - are currently the best form of natural vitamin E.
Summary
If you rely on dietary supplements to support your health, quality is the most important factor in determining their efficacy. Many of the ingredients in any company's multivitamin are not specified on the label. However, there is sufficient information on the label for you to understand the company's true stance on quality. Other companies are unwilling to invest in the raw materials that will be most beneficial to you.
The types of minerals used, which are typically required to be disclosed on the label, can help the astute consumer determine the bottle's true quality. The majority of businesses are based on the assumption that you will never figure any of this out and will simply listen to their marketing. Check your multivitamin and mineral supplements against the information in this article, and you will quickly see what I mean when I say that only one percent of dietary supplement manufacturers care about your health.
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