Choosing supplements is not a piece of cake. Firstly, you naturally wonder which vitamins and minerals you need to make you healthier, fitter and more radiant. That varies per person. But did you know that many of those supplements actually contain more fillers than what we actually need?
We are talking about synthetic dyes, gluten, lactose and other additives that we would actually rather avoid. Spoiler alert: we give you a good alternative!
Why fillers?
Why are there fillers in supplements? Well, first of all, they help form those pills, capsules and drops so that we can use them can be taken easily. Secondly, they often contain unnecessary additives such as synthetic colors or flavors, milk solids (lactose), corn starch, gluten and/or sweeteners, so that they have a coherent dosage form to create.
But here’s the thing: those fillers can reduce the effectiveness of the supplement. As a result, you may not experience all the benefits of the actual vitamins and minerals. They can even allergic reactions or cause problems for people with intolerances and may have negative effects on metabolism and digestion.
Which fillers do you want to avoid?
Some supplements contain fillers and other additives that you prefer to avoid for your own good.
Sweeteners (and their pseudonyms)
Supplements sometimes contain ‘shell sugar’ for taste: substances that you may not immediately recognize as sugar or sweetener, but which indeed are. Examples include Aspartame, Acesulfame K, Maltitol, Sucralose, Sucrose, Sucrose and forms of Dextrose.
Are these substances necessary as fillers or flavorings? No. Supplements don’t have to taste good. You swallow them with water without really tasting them. It’s a shame to ingest artificial sweeteners through a product that you take to help your health.
Lactose (in case of vegan diet or intolerance)
Some supplements contain lactose, the sugar naturally present in animal milk (milk sugar). It does not taste sweet, so it is not a form of sugar that is added to a product for flavor. In principle, this substance is not harmful, but if you follow a vegan diet or have an intolerance, it is of course not nice if your supplements contain lactose.
Magnesium stearate
The substance magnesium stearate (E572) is used as an anti-caking agent, brightener and filler, among other things to prevent supplements from sticking to the molds of the machines in the production process of supplements. This obviously speeds up the process and makes it cheaper, which is beneficial for the producer.
Magnesium stearate has been ‘approved’ at European level as an E number, which means that it has been assessed as ‘safe’. But there are theories that assume that adding magnesium stearate reduces the solubility and absorption of supplements, which would of course be a shame.
It is also possible that magnesium stearate is contaminated with small amounts of pesticides because it is made with cottonseed oil. Magnesium stearate is in principle a substance that has been found safe at European level, but because of the uncertainty it is better if it is not included in your supplements.
Sodium benzoate
The substance sodium benzoate is a preservative that is also recognized as an E number (E211) and is therefore considered safe in principle. An upper limit has been set: a maximum of 0.5 percent of the total composition of the product may be sodium benzoate. If that limit is exceeded, it can lead to side effects in the form of nausea and dizziness. In addition, sodium benzoate in combination with vitamin C (ascorbic acid) can be carcinogenic.
Titanium dioxide/titanium dioxide
The substance titanium dioxide (E171) is a white dye that is sometimes used for tablets. Unfortunately, it can have the same side effects as sodium benzoate and can be annoying for people with sensitive intestines and worsen these complaints. Titanium dioxide could also be genotoxic, meaning it can damage DNA in cells.
Whether this is true remains to be determined by further research. The Dutch Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority indicates that it is unclear whether titanium dioxide at all risk-free is. The chance that manufacturers of good quality supplements use this substance is small, but it is best to avoid E171.
Spray supplements
An emerging trend in the world of supplements is the shift towards spray form. These spray supplements are becoming increasingly popular due to their improved absorption and bioavailability.
Unlike traditional supplements taken by mouth and then through the digestive tract are ingested, sprays are directly absorbed through the mucous membranes of the mouth and enter the bloodstream directly. This bypasses the digestive system and ensures that the nutrients are absorbed nine times faster and more efficiently.
Without unnecessary additions
An example of innovative spray supplements are those from The Core We Are. These sprays are designed with consumer health in mind and contain no binders, fillers, anti-caking agents, alcohol, sweeteners or other unnecessary additives.
This not only minimizes the risk of allergic reactions and side effects, but also ensures that the consumer is alone the purest and most effective form of the supplement. The sprays were developed by none other than Louise Lagendijk, a former researcher at Harvard University.
Prevention before intervention
Her time at Harvard gave her an illuminating insight. Louise: “My understanding of health was limited. True health goes beyond just the absence of disease; it encompasses the complicated interplay of mind, body and soul within the context of our environment.
At the same time I could take the pressure off us health care system, characterized by burned-out healthcare professionals, dissatisfied patients, and protocols that are inappropriate for managing chronic diseases. That is why I am introducing a new view of the health system: prevention before intervention.”
So let’s be smart when choosing our supplements. Mind the list of ingredients of vitamins and minerals or consider opting for the fresh, pure power of spray supplements like those from The Core We Are. Your body will thank you!
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