What's creeping in your supplements?

Throughout the course, I've told the people who are taking it about various supplements that might be helpful for hormonal balance and digestive issues. I wanted to take time to dive a little deeper into the topic of supplements in a newsletter because I know it’s a really hot topic. 

Today we're going to talk about supplement ingredients and what to avoid so that you can choose high-quality supplements while avoiding the ones that may be ineffective and even dangerous.

I'm here to help give you information so that you can work with your health care provider to choose what's right for you. I want to empower you so that you’re informed so that you can act in the best interest of your own health.

The supplement industry is a big business. They produce an estimated $27 billion in sales every year in the US alone. So it makes sense that everyone wants a piece of that. Unfortunately, many companies are just in it for profit and care very little about quality. Supplements are a very small but very valuable part of a comprehensive wellness plan. But let's face it if you’ve been in the drug stores and searched the shelves you’ve likely noticed that quality varies wide? How can you decipher which are quality and which are a waste of time and money?

Let's start with the basics. What is a supplement exactly? According to the FDA, a dietary supplement is a product that is intended to be taken orally to add further nutritional value to one's diet. Supplements may contain vitamins, minerals, herbs or other botanicals amino acids, supplemental carbohydrates or protein, fiber and concentrates, metabolites, constituents, or extracts.

Now let's talk about some of the characteristics of supplements that should be avoided. Things to avoid when choosing a supplement include:

1. genetically modified organisms such as soybean oil and cornstarch. These are common additives in low-quality supplements.
2. Plastics, some enteric-coated and time-release capsules contain phthalates.
3. Hydrogenated oils, may be found in vitamin D and fish oil capsules as well as in some time-release formulas.
4. Pesticides, lead PCBs, and mercury.
5. Unnecessary ingredients such as sugars and other sweeteners, artificial coloring, flavoring, and preservatives such as sodium lauryl sulfate, propylene glycol, povidone, shellac, chlorine, talc, and titanium dioxide.
6. Fillers that may cause GI distress including lactose, magnesium stearate, sorbitol, and cellulose 
7. Gluten, especially if you have a sensitivity

By avoiding these things that are commonly found in supplements, you will be much better able to navigate what is actually going to work FOR you. In the course, I have an entire section where I discuss what you DO want in a supplement, how to know that it's safe and what supplements to take for thyroid conditions, energy levels, digestive issues, hormonal imbalances and so much more.

I also offer a vitamin guide on my website with all of my favorite supplements!

Sending love,

Kelley