On a daily basis in my practice, I read the labels of vitamins and of supplements that people are consuming. I am astonished at what some companies put in their products! Coatings, preservatives, fillers, coloring agents, artificial flavorings, and on and on. Even misleading ingredients such as ascorbic acid which has been popularized to be synonymous with vitamin C. Although ascorbic acid can be sourced from citrus fruits it is often derived from corn starch, corn sugar, or rice starch. This is counterfeit vitamin C!
What are the dangers of taking counterfeit vitamins? The key factor of whether your vitamins will work for you depends on whether your body can break them down and use them. In the case of counterfeit vitamin C it requires an acidic body in order to even work. Also consider the toxins that are in some vitamins! Counterfeiters may substitute the required ingredients with harmful toxins and other active components which may also result in allergic reactions and confusing adverse effects.
Most people do not have a clue how good or bad their vitamins really are for them. They believe that just because the marketing tells them it is good, the title of the vitamin sounds like it is good, the label is attractive, or because a well-meaning friend, co-worker, neighbor, or family member recommends it, that it must be good. Others choose their supplements based on price.
This could be a big mistake! If our goal is to provide extra nutrients missing from our diets, then our supplements should also be food – not synthetic counterfeits. The list of marketing terminology to be suspicious of, and ingredients to be aware of when looking for healthy vitamins is too long to publish here – in fact, is quite overwhelming.
The best advice I can give is wherever you see a Vitamin listed, by its side should be a food (i.e.: Vitamin A (carrot powder), Vitamin E (wheat germ oil), Vitamin C (acerola cherries). If you want help determining what vitamins would be best for you please email me and I can help you.
To Your Health!