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10 Dangerous Ingredients in Supplements. Buyer Beware

The AHA! Team — Fri, 07 Jun 2024 08:44:16 +0000

Dr. Don Colbert – For many people, supplements are a necessary addition to a healthy diet. They can deliver key nutrients, even in therapeutic amounts, to support whole-body and system-specific health. For example, most people have a very difficult time getting enough omega-3 fats for a healthy omega-6 to omega-3 ratio without supplements. But, this doesn’t mean you should blindly buy any supplement. Buyer beware: There are often dangerous ingredients in supplements. Sometimes, the dangerous ingredients are easy to spot. Other times, they are listed within words or other ingredients that make them difficult to identify. Or, they are hidden additives you’d never suspect. Luckily, you’ve got a trusted source of supplements in Divine Health. Divine Health supplements never contain these dangerous ingredients, are safe and effective, and are formulated to contain the most beneficial nutrients in highly absorbable forms without extra additives you don’t need. No matter what you’re buying, it’s vital to buy from a source you can trust, and always check the ingredient list. Here’s our guide, and a list of 10 dangerous ingredients in supplements you should avoid. Supplement Claims, Confusion, and Data Like most food packaging, supplements often have confusing labels. On the front, you’ll find marketing. Unless it’s a strict health claim, it’s not well regulated. As the consumer, it’s up to you to investigate beyond these claims. To start, follow the #1 rule for food packaging: Ignore everything you read on the front side of the packaging. It’s marketing. Some marketing is truthful. Some isn’t. Then, go to the ingredients list. Although there is still some ambiguity here, it’s your best place for finding dangerous ingredients in supplements since they are typically additives and thickening agents rather than nutrients. This is very important data. Next, look at the nutrition label. Nutrition labels on supplements can be a bit different than those on foods. On food labels, the nutrition label shows you the macro- and micro-nutrients in the foods, but not the ingredients themselves. However, on supplement nutrition labels, the nutrients are the ingredients. Therefore, you will often find both ingredients (listed as micronutrients) and their amounts, on the nutrition label. This is also important data. How Can Dangerous Ingredients in Supplements Cause Harm? There are a few ways dangerous ingredients can cause harm. These include: Ingredients that cause direct harm or inflammation to the digestive system. Here’s one example of a common over-the-counter medication that causes this type of harm. Ingredients that are suspected carcinogens. Some ingredients in supplements, medications, and manufactured foods are suspected to cause cellular changes, overgrowth, and potentially carcinogenic activity. Ingredients that are not listed, but can be contained within other ingredients, and potentially cause harm. For example, some natural substances contain very high levels of lead or mercury. It’s vital to buy your supplements from a trustworthy source that has been tested for toxins. Ingredients that do not contain as much of a nutrient as they claim, or more of a nutrient than they claim. While this doesn’t seem like a direct harm, if you believe you’re getting 2000 IU of Vitamin D, but are actually only getting 200 IU, or are getting 20,000 IU unknowingly, there is potential for harm. Furthermore, if the nutrient is in a form that’s not absorbable to the human body, you may think you’re getting a healthy supplement, but in reality you’re throwing money away. As you consider this, here are 10 dangerous ingredients in supplements to avoid. 10 Dangerous Ingredients in Supplements Soybean Oil: As we’ve discussed at length, soybean oil is a potent source of processed omega-6 fats. Omega-6 oils actually work against omega-3 oils, and are associated with declines in metabolic health, cardiovascular health, and increased inflammation (1, 2, 3). Aspartame and Saccharin: Man-made artificial sweeteners have been widely used in “diet foods” and “health foods.” Unfortunately, they can have negative effects on gut bacteria. In fact, animal and human studies have shown that aspartame, saccharin, sucralose, and other artificial sweeteners can impair gut bacteria (4). In fact, there is documentation of (5): Saccharin reducing healthy bacteria growth by 40% Sucralose decreasing bacteria by more than 2-fold Aspartame increasing the number of harmful bacteria by 10% Other sugar substitutes, such as the sugar alcohol xylitol, does not seem to affect gut bacteria (6). A good supplement should promote health in your body, including your gut. Fake Flavorings and Colorings: Food dyes are not benign and have no place in a healthy supplement. Several studies have found that food dyes exacerbate hyperactivity in sensitive children (7). While you may be an adult, this finding confirms that food dyes make their way into our systems and can affect our bodies. What’s more, Red 3 is a dye that was banned in the 1990s, and then had the ban retracted. Lab studies have shown tumor concerns with Red 3, and many people anecdotal report intolerances for it (8,9). Titanium Dioxide: Titanium Dioxide is a toxic additive is a colorant used to make tablets and capsules bright white and is typically used in paint, cosmetics, paper, and sunscreen. This filler has no nutritional value and can actually cause inflammation in the respiratory, digestive, and immune systems (10). Sodium Benzoate: Sodium Benzoate is used to prolong the life of supplements. This preservative may become a carcinogen substance known as benzene when mixed with vitamin C (11). Ingesting foods or beverages containing that lead to high levels of systemic benzene can cause issues such as stomach irritation, tiredness, dizziness, and even vomiting and convulsions (12). Moreover, sodium benzoate itself has been linked with migraines (13), and it can increase oxidative stress in the body (14). Sodium Ascorbate, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Cornstarch: Unless it says differently on the label, these ingredients are typically made from genetically modified (GMO) corn. GMO corn is heavily exposed to harmful pesticides which are linked tonegative impacts on human health (15,16,17). Potassium Sorbate: Potassium Sorbate is another additive used to preserve food and supplements. It may lead to migraines and allergic reactions in sensitive people. Sulfites: Sulfites can be especially harmful for those who suffer from asthma, causing an increase in symptoms. They may also cause migraines when consumed (18). Carrageenan: Carrageenan is a natural thickening agent found in many foods and supplements. Unfortunately, it has been linked to blood glucose issues (19), and harmful gastrointestinal effects (20). Added and Hidden Sugars: Supplements that are in a liquid, powdered, chewable, or gummy form often have added or hidden sugars. These sugars can cause blood glucose issues in some people, and if you’re in the Keto Zone, they can kick you right out. What’s more, many of these sugars will be in liquid or gel form, such as high fructose corn syrup, rice syrup, or cane sugar syrup, and travel through the digestive system and into the bloodstream quickly. High sugar intake is linked to poor health, inflammation, cardiovascular disease, and more. It’s associated with brain aging, and may even be linked to degenerative diseases (21). Let’s keep sugar out of healthy supplements! Bottom Line It’s important to find supplements you can trust. If you haven’t already, take a look at Divine Health’s amazing line-up of supplements including Brain Zone, Nano-Particle Hemp Oil, Carb Assist, and more. And we invite you: Take a hard look at the ingredients. You won’t find harmful colorings, chemicals, additives, or fillers. You’ll only find what’s necessary and industry-best ingredients. You can always trust Divine Health supplements. Buyer beware: Always check for dangerous ingredients in your supplements! To read the original article click here.

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Obesity Hits New Milestone Largely Due to Sugar Consumption

AHA Publisher — Thu, 22 Apr 2021 07:00:25 +0000

Lorie Johnson via CBN News – More than 42% of US adults are now obese, making it the first time in history the national rate has passed the 40% mark, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which points out the steep and rapid rise of this serious health condition. In 1999 the obesity rate was a much lower 30%. Obesity in adults is defined as a BMI greater than or equal to 30. BMI stands for body mass index and is a measure of body fat based on height and weight that applies to men and women. A person can calculate their BMI on the National Institutes of Health website. The number of people classified as severely obese has also jumped from 4.7% to 9/2% since 1999. Severe obesity as a BMI of 40 or more. Meanwhile, the number of overweight Americans, those with a BMI between 25 and 29.9, stands at 31.1%. This means in total, almost three out of every four Americans is above what health professionals consider a healthy weight. It’s Likely All That Sugar According to the American Heart Association, men should consume no more than nine teaspoons, or 37 grams, of added sugar a day while women, based on their smaller size, should consume no more than six teaspoons, or 25 grams. However, most Americans consume three times the recommended amount of sugar, perhaps without even realizing it. That adds up to approximately 60 pounds a year for adults and believe it or not, many children consume more sugar than grown-ups, an estimated 65 pounds a year. Sugar-sweetened beverages are the biggest source of added sugar in the American diet. Kids consume about 30 gallons of liquid sugar a year, enough to fill a bathtub! Kids and adults alike consume high sugar sodas as well as deceptively sweet fruit juices, sport, and energy drinks. Even tea and coffee can be loaded with sugars. Some popular coffee shop drinks contain 14 teaspoons of sugar, almost two days’ worth. Aside from beverages, other high sugar items include baked goods, ice cream, and candy. Clinical Psychiatrist Uma Naidoo, M.D., author of the book, This is Your Brain on Food told CBN News said these foods admittedly make people happy when they eat them but many don’t realize in doing so they are consuming an entire day’s allotment of sugar in one small treat. “They do feel that uplifting feeling for a few minutes,” she said, “But the problem is these long-term effects.” These include Type 2 diabetes and heart disease as well as some cancers and brain disorders. “Sugar has been shown in several research studies to worsen depression, to worsen anxiety,” Dr. Naidoo said, “And is associated with brain atrophy and dementia.” Disguised as Healthy Most people realize candy and soda contain sugar, but might be surprised to learn seemingly healthy foods contain just as much if not more. Some examples include protein bars, barbeque sauce, yogurt, ketchup and nutritional drinks aimed at the elderly, baked beans, and much more. In fact, health experts say most processed foods are laden with sugar, including those that don’t seem sweet. Molly Carmel learned that first hand. She told CBN News that after tipping the scale at 325 pounds, she realized she learned to identify and avoid all forms of sugar. “Sugar is a tricky, tricky, tricky little abuser because it really is everywhere,” she said, “I gave up ketchup, I gave up teriyaki sauce, I gave up a lot of salad dressings.” In her book Breaking Up with Sugar, she describes how she dropped the weight and kept it off for more than ten years. Become a Savvy Shopper Carmel says in order to identify whether a product contains sugar don’t just look for the word “sugar” on the list of ingredients. Food manufacturers use dozens of different types of sugar. Many end in the letters “ose” such as fructose and dextrose. Other examples of added sugar include syrup, molasses, cane juice, and fruit juice concentrate. Sometimes to avoid making any particular type of sugar one of the first ingredients listed, they will add small amounts of many different types of sugar to a product. The best way to learn how many added sugars a product contains is to read the Nutrition Facts panel which lists how many grams of added sugar is in each serving. However, read that Nutrition Facts panel closely, paying particular attention to a product’s serving size. Food manufacturers try to make a product seem healthier by reducing the serving size, sometimes to ridiculously small portions, much smaller than a person typically eats. For example, a high-sugar granola producer lists its serving size on the Nutrition Facts panel as one-fourth of a cup, which is only about three bites! The average person actually eats more than one cup of granola at a sitting. Therefore, to get an accurate idea of the product’s sugar content, multiply the amount of sugar in the serving size by four. To read the original article click here. For more articles from CBN News click here.

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