It’s contradicting to add in harmful ingredients into products that are supposed to promote your health and wellbeing. So before we go into the specific ingredients you should avoid, let’s briefly talk about the reasons why supplement manufacturers add in a variety of fillers, preservatives, ‘flow agents’, flavouring, bulking agents, binding agents, etc:
The problem is though the use of some of these ingredients could negatively impact your health. You’re probably familiar with how processed foods that are loaded with additives, preservatives, filler, etc are bad for you. Similarly, health supplements loaded with these ingredients are also harmful. So what are the 5 that you should avoid?
There’s more awareness around regarding how hydrogenated oils (AKA trans fat) are bad for you. And food manufacturers are slowly switching away from it. However did you know that your health supplements may also have these toxic ingredient?
More often than not, it’ll be partially hydrogenated soybean oil. What’s worse is that, unless the soy is organic, it’s most probably genetically modified.
Trans fats raise your bad (LDL) cholesterol levels and lower your good (HDL) cholesterol levels. Eating trans fats increases your risk of developing heart disease and stroke. It’s also associated with a higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes. [1]
You might be wondering why health supplements need artificial colouring. According to FDA, artificial colours are added to: “Offset colour loss due to exposure to light, air, temperature extremes, moisture and storage conditions; correct natural variations in colour; enhance colours that occur naturally; provide colour to colourless and ‘fun’ foods.”
Artificial colours have been linked to various problems from cancer to hyperactivity in kids. And it serves to purpose other than to make health supplements more appealing to encourage sales. What’s worse, it could actually cover up the fact that the active ingredients in the health supplement/ vitamin has been oxidised or degraded.
Many supplement manufacturers add “flow agents” into their products. This is to keep ingredients from sticking to the equipments during mixing and processing, making manufacturing faster and cheaper.
One of the “flow agents” commonly used is magnesium stearate, though it is potentially harmful. It has a lubricating effect which allows machinery to run faster and smoother, and prevents the vitamin pills from sticking to each other.
However research has found that this compound might suppress your immune system. And that’s not all, it might also prevent your body from absorbing much needed nutrients.
Have a browse through the ingredients in your health supplements, if it contains:
They most probably contain GMOs. Unless it’s specifically stated to be GMO-free. Many GMO additives are derived from soy, corn, cottonseed, canola, etc. Did you know: more than 90% of soy crops from the U.S are genetically modified?
As much as we wish it to be, it simply can’t be true. That said, there is still a need for health supplements. For example certain nutrients that are hard to get enough of from our diet. When it comes to supplements, even if the active ingredients used are the same, their effect upon consumption might differ.
It’s important to do a bit of homework on the company behind the products and to go through their full ingredient list. This might be more hard work compared to just going with whichever brand the sales person recommends, however we feel that when it comes to your health and the health of your loved ones, there should be no compromises.
Immunocal provides your cells with bonded cysteine– the missing ingredient or amino acid in your diet that your body needs to manufacture its own glutathione (GSH). In the past, you might have gotten bonded cysteine from mother’s breast milk, raw cow’s milk, raw meat, etc. However nowadays these are usually processed (or pasteurised) which destroys the bonded cysteine.
Immunocal does not contain any additives, preservatives, fillers, flavouring, colouring or emulsifiers. It is formulated such to maximise its efficacy and bioavailabiliy. So that you can get the most benefit out of it.
One drawback of its purity is that you may find it hard to mix/ dissolve. This is because it is FREE from any emulsifiers which affects the efficacy.
“There are many myths and mysteries about raising glutathione…
Let me be clear – Immunocal is the only natural patented protein proven to raise and sustain glutathione levels and help the immune system.”
Dr Jimmy Gutman
World’s best selling author on Glutathione
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