Unlike
the majority of supplements sold in health food stores,
our products are completely additive-free. Additives
include binders, which are glue-like substances used
to form powdered nutrients into tablets; flowing agents
and lubricants, which are used to assist the flow of
nutrients through the manufacturing process; fillers,
which are additives possessing a “fluffy”
quality that make capsules look uniformly full; as well
as coloring agents, coats, glazes and flavors. Additives
generally have little or no nutritive value.
The
simple truth is additives help save manufacturers money,
yet do nothing to improve the efficacy of a dietary
supplement. Because tablets are much cheaper to manufacture
than capsules, manufacturers may compromise the purity
and effectiveness of their products by coating herbs
and nutrients with glue-like binders and then running
the mixture through a tableting press. Since the tableting
process requires placing herbs and nutrients under literally
tons of pressure, the contents of your nutritional supplement
are exposed to heat and subject to damage in the same
way overcooked foods can lose their nutritional value.
Additionally,
capsule manufacturers use lubricants, fillers and flowing
agents to speed up the manufacturing process or improve
the cosmetic appearance of the finished product. Conscientious
manufacturers will try to use nutritive substances,
like amino acids, to serve these functions but non-nutritive
substances, even potential allergens, are more commonly
used.
The
objective of taking a dietary supplement is for the
herbs or nutrients to break down and be utilized by
our bodies. Additives do not facilitate this process.
In fact, they can do the opposite. The best supplements
promote the quick uptake by the body of the nutrients
they possess. They do this by being in a form that the
body can easily assimilate so it can access the herb
or nutrient and expose it to processes that will ultimately
lead to the nutrient taking part in cellular metabolism.
While
some people are sensitive and may react to some of the
additives used by supplement manufacturers, the most
unfortunate fact regarding additives is that they may
inhibit the body’s absorption of the herbs or
nutrients. Additives place an unnecessary burden upon
the body; the burden of excreting a substance that never
had any nutritive value in the first place.
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