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What's in Your Multiple Vitamin? Detecting Real Quality. Part 1 – Minerals

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What's in Your Multiple Vitamin? Detecting Real Quality. Part 1 – Minerals

_http://www.naturalnews.com/023170.html_

(http://www.naturalnews.com/023170.html)

 

by Byron Richards

 

Junky vitamins are often passed off as quality, and many times are endorsed

by a physician or celebrity. There are many tricks that low quality

supplement companies use to hide their poor quality, spending more money on

marketing

than on what is under the hood.

 

As a leading nutritional expert and owner of a dietary supplement company

(Wellness Resources) I am often asked to explain the subject of quality.

Because so much is out of view of the consumer, including the details of the

raw

materials used in any product, the best way to get a handle on the subject is

to look at a company's multiple vitamin and mineral products. This can help

you see through the spin and understand that company's actual production

philosophy. _http://www.wellnessresources.com/tips/a..._

(http://www.wellnessresources.com/tips/articles/get_health_tips_from_the_expert/\

)

 

When I plan what goes into a _dietary supplement_

(http://www.naturalnews.com/dietary_supplement.html) I can purchase almost any

nutrient ingredient in

various shades of quality, ranging from the low end to the very high end.

Because my company evolved over 23 years by helping people who had lost their

health and my priority as a health professional was fixing their health, I

focus

on the high end in my products – a _philosophy_

(http://www.naturalnews.com/philosophy.html) represented by about 1% of the

dietary supplement industry.

Since 99% of the industry touts its quality, there is a major discrepancy

between marketing hype and reality.

 

 

Beware of Really Cheap Minerals

Minerals are vital nutrients for health, required for numerous enzymes in

your body to work properly. Minerals in food are at low levels due to excessive

processing of food, poor farming that depletes our soils, as well as the use

of _pesticides_ (http://www.naturalnews.com/pesticides.html) that interfere

with the natural sulfur cycle – leaving us not only with chemically

adulterated food but food that has lower nutritional value. It is now common

sense to

supplement fine quality _minerals_ (http://www.naturalnews.com/minerals.html)

, including important _trace minerals_

(http://www.naturalnews.com/trace_minerals.html) .

 

These minerals are in any company's multiple vitamin as well as bone-related

products. Minerals from the ground are referred to as inorganic, whereas

minerals in plants or crops are structured by living cells and thought of as

organic (as different from how the word organic describes food that doesn't

contain pesticides).

 

The cheapest form of _calcium_ (http://www.naturalnews.com/calcium.html) is

gym chalk, otherwise known as inorganic calcium carbonate. Other ground up

rock forms of cheap calcium include bone meal, oyster shell, or dolomite.

Another cheap form is calcium gluconate (9% calcium and 91% sugar glucose).

These

forms of calcium require large amounts of hydrochloric acid to make

bioavailable, thus they have poor absorption (which is why they are used as

over the

counter antacids). Once in your body they are not very biologically useful

and run a risk, depending on your underlying health, of calcifying your

arteries, causing alarming breast lumps, gall stones, or kidney stones. There

is

little chance such poor quality calcium will help your bones.

 

Magnesium oxide is the cheapest form of _magnesium_

(http://www.naturalnews.com/magnesium.html) , often appearing in products using

low quality calcium.

Oxides need _antioxidants_ (http://www.naturalnews.com/antioxidants.html) to

deactivate them once they are absorbed. There is no excuse for using a mineral

form that uses up valuable antioxidants, unless of course you could care

less about the person taking it. Products containing inorganic calcium

carbonate

and magnesium oxide belong in the trash – most likely with any other product

made by such a company.

 

 

Which Minerals are Best?

Minerals for _dietary supplements_

(http://www.naturalnews.com/dietary_supplements.html) are typically bound to

another substance. What they are bound to

has a profound effect on how they are absorbed and even more importantly –

where they go and what they do in your body.

 

Calcium citrate (20% calcium, 80% citric acid) is known to be better

absorbed than inorganic calcium carbonate. However, taking 1000 mg of calcium

citrate gives you 4000 mg of citric acid, like eating a pound of tomatoes. This

much citric acid can conk out your cell engines (mitochondria) by flooding

their

citric acid cycle with too much citrate (like flooding a car with gas).

Individuals who are tired or fatigued often respond poorly to high amounts of

citric acid, making them even more tired or giving them headaches. Since your

cells have no way to efficiently use so much citric acid, calcium citrate is not

a high quality form of the mineral to use on a daily basis. Small amounts

don't matter – large amounts are a definite energy-related problem for too

many

people.

 

In an effort to get away from magnesium oxide some companies have gone to

another cheap salt form known as magnesium aspartate (20% magnesium, 80%

aspartic acid). Aspartic acid in small amounts is commonly found in food and of

no

harm. In larger amounts it adds to excitement in the nerves – which is not

good if nerves are already stressed (it can act as an excitotoxin if consuming a

lot of it). Aspartate is never a good choice as the primary form of

magnesium or calcium in any dietary supplement.

 

What you really want are minerals in forms that not only absorb well but

also do something useful. For example, in my Daily Energy Multiple Vitamin I

use

magnesium malate (and no citrate), because this form not only absorbs well

but the malic acid is also another valuable nutrient. It goes into cells

(taking the magnesium with it), and actually helps turn on the energy-producing

citric acid cycle. This is a totally different reaction than citric acid. Malic

acid induces cell energy production to go forward and is the most lacking

Krebs citric acid cycle nutrient when there is fatigue.

 

See related products at: _http://www.wellnessresources.com/produc..._

(http://www.wellnessresources.com/products/daily_energy.php)

 

I use a variety of calcium forms in products I design; based on the theme

that not only the calcium but whatever it is bound to can both be useful to your

body. For example, calcium AEP helps strengthen your nerves so you can

tolerate stress better, as the AEP is a great nerve nutrient. Calcium taurate

helps relax your nerves, as taurine is a known relaxant.*

 

In bone formulas I like part of the calcium in the form of microcrystalline

hydroxyappetite (MCHC - small particles of intact bone), as these act as a

true bone food and can readily be absorbed, transported to your bones, and

easily attached to the existing bone matrix.*

 

 

Is Coral Calcium any Good?

Depending on the _coral calcium_

(http://www.naturalnews.com/coral_calcium.html) type, it can be a great dietary

supplement. Coral calcium from ocean

waters has a natural ratio of 2 parts calcium to 1 part magnesium, along with

many other trace minerals found in the ocean. It is typically harvested from

dead _coral reefs_ (http://www.naturalnews.com/coral_reefs.html) in the

pristine waters off the coast of Okinawa (it is not an eco-unfriendly

harvesting

activity). Reputable companies assay the raw material to ensure its quality for

human consumption. Bone health of the citizens of Okinawa is legendary.*

 

These forms of calcium and magnesium are in a carbonate structure, but far

different than the gym chalk described above. They exist in highly organized

geometric structures, organically formed by the living coral reefs (like a

true food form). They are the only form of minerals that are both fat and

_water_ (http://www.naturalnews.com/water.html) soluble and are better absorbed

than citrates. They rapidly produce mineral ions that your body can easily use

in countless metabolic processes.*

 

Beware of companies selling coral calcium that has been harvested from the

land. This form of the mineral has been " weathered " and has the natural

magnesium and trace minerals washed away. In Japan they use this form to make

concrete for their roads. It is sold as a dietary supplement to unsuspecting

customers in the U.S. thinking they are getting real coral calcium. These

companies always add cheap magnesium back into the product and have to list it

on

their label (typically magnesium oxide). Thus, if you have a coral calcium

product with added magnesium oxide – throw it away.

 

 

What Are Amino Acid Chelates?

The ability to bind a mineral to a protein is one of the great advances in

mineral biochemistry and _human nutrition_

(http://www.naturalnews.com/human_nutrition.html) . Quality companies always

disclose the specific amino acid

used in the chelating process – how else will you know what you are taking?

Quality companies like to brag amount their amino acid chelates because the

good

ones not only cost more to put in a product but the _amino acids_

(http://www.naturalnews.com/amino_acids.html) themselves are also useful to

your

health. For example, I use a lot of magnesium glycinate in my products.

Glycine, an

amino acid, is a natural relaxant as well as a great detoxifying nutrient.

Truly high quality amino acid chelates perform double duty in your metabolism.

 

Unfortunately there are a lot of amino acid chelates out there that you have

no idea what you are taking. They are always listed as " amino acid chelate "

on the label, which is a legal description of what they are and a great way

to hide the quality they are not. Any time you see the phrase " amino acid

chelate " used to describe the form of a mineral you know the company has

something to hide. If they were actually proud of what was in their product

they

would tell you what it is.

 

This amino acid chelate nonsense has been going on for a number of years but

reached a new peak with the introduction of a branded form of these chelates

called Biokey®, which are used in one product line promoted by a well known

alternative health physician. The Biokey website does not disclose the forms

of minerals used or the amino acids used. When I called the company I was

stonewalled when I asked what they were.

 

Biokey® minerals were used in animal _nutrition_ (http://

www.naturalnews.com/nutrition.html) long before human nutrition and it is

interesting that the

animal website was much more forthcoming with information. As it turns out

all of these minerals are chelated using hydrolyzed soy protein. Nowhere on any

human product label does it say they contain soy (which is not legal

according to current FDA allergy rules for labeling). On top of that, unless

soy is

specified as non-GMO it is now _GMO_ (http://www.naturalnews.com/GMO.html)

and contains toxins genetically spliced into the proteins.

 

The animal website also disclosed the actual nature of the minerals used.

For example, the calcium is in the form of calcium formate. Calcium formate is

an approved food additive, but the formate part does have to be detoxified,

is not that easy for human's to clear, and is implicated in methanol

intoxication. In industry calcium formate is used to accelerate concrete

setting.

Thus, someone consuming their calcium thinks they are taking (calcium –

Biokey®

amino acid chelate), a more absorbable form of calcium. Yes, it absorbs nicely

and delivers a package consisting of GMO-containing soy, calcium, and

formate. _http://www.biochem.net/engl/downl/bioke..._

(http://www.biochem.net/engl/downl/biokey/ds_-_bioKey_calcium_engl.pdf)

 

In my opinion you should avoid any product that contains amino acid chelates

that do not disclose what they are.

 

 

Tablets vs Capsules

High quality minerals take up a lot of physical space, meaning you have to

take more capsules of them to reach higher levels of mineral intake that are

optimal for _bone health_ (http://www.naturalnews.com/bone_health.html) . Thus,

low quality calcium is often compressed into a tablet. Tablets have to be

glued together and coated. They are hard to break down and it is common,

especially with mineral-containing tablets, that they pass through your

digestive

tract and never break down.

 

Any company that places multiple _vitamins_

(http://www.naturalnews.com/vitamins.html) or minerals into a tablet does not

have your best quality

interests in mind. As soon as you see any company's multiple vitamin or main

mineral

products in a tablet – run for cover!

 

Capsules are best and veggie caps (Vcaps) are safer than beef gelatin.

Veggie caps are made of vegetable cellulose and are easy for your digestive

system

to dissolve. There is a concern about mad cow disease, which has resulted in

companies that care mostly using veggie caps. They are more expensive and

add about $2.00 to the retail cost of a product – a small price to pay for

the

assurance that prions won't be eating your brain.

 

 

What About Liquids?

Liquid minerals are mostly in the sulfate or chloride forms. Taken orally

they tend to be rather nauseating and very hard to use – not to mention they

are not superior forms of the nutrients. They are fairly stable in water. Ionic

minerals make good electrolyte drinks, but are not a good way to get higher

amounts of needed minerals.

 

Liquid products that contain vitamins often make wild claims about being

more absorbable. The reality is that fine grade nutrients (especially B

vitamins) will rapidly degrade in any liquid form and lose their biological

activity.

It is unlikely that any of them hold their potency for more than a few

weeks. If the FDA clamped down on these companies (and one day they will), it

would quickly be discovered that their label claims for potency at time of

expiration are wishful thinking. Don't waste your money.

 

 

Summary

If you are counting on your dietary supplements to support your health then

quality is the number one issue that determines their effectiveness. Much of

what goes into any company's multiple vitamin is not clear from the label.

However, there is enough information on the label to help you understand how

that company truly views quality.

 

The types of minerals used, which for the most part must be disclosed on the

label, can help the savvy consumer understand the real quality that went

into the bottle. Most companies are banking on the idea that you will never

figure any of this out – and just listen to their hype. Check your multiple

vitamin and mineral products against the information in this article and you

will

quickly see what I mean when I say that only 1% of dietary supplement

companies in the market today really care about your health.

 

In part two of this report I will explain the quality difference in various

vitamins.

 

 

About the author: Byron J. Richards, Board-Certified Clinical Nutritionist,

nationally-renowned nutrition expert, and founder of Wellness Resources is a

leader in advocating the value of dietary supplements as a vital tool to

maintain health. He is an outspoken critic of government and Big Pharma efforts

to deny access to natural health products and has written extensively on the

life-shortening and health-damaging failures of the sickness industry.

_www.wellnessresources.com_ (http://www.wellnessresources.com/)

_askbyron_ (askbyron)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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