TOXIC VITAMIN & MINERAL SUPPLEMENTS ?

Cara Wiseroots
Feb 25
9 min read

Updated: Mar 14

is taking vitamins and supplements really a healthy choice?

Vitamin and mineral supplements can play a crucial role in maintaining optimal nutrient stores in the body. Around half of the adult population take at least one dietary supplement to prevent nutrient deficiencies and promote optimal health. are you one of these people? i know i was. The quality of dietary supplements varies widely, and it’s important to know which vitamin and mineral brands to avoid and what is safe

not all vitamins and dietary supplements are created equal! thank you for finding my blog, i’m passionate about health and wellbeing and sharing this knowledge with you

cara has a video on vitamins . visit wiseroots youtube

Unfortunately in todays commercial mass produced world factories are now producing Synthetic vitamins available on every supermarket and drugstore shelf, usually made to help increase the supply of nutrients for the public in a very cheap way.

While the intentions are good, the results aren’t always the same as their natural found counterparts in nature and not everyone’s body appreciates synthetic substitutes well.

NATURAL VITAMINS & SUPPLEMENTS

Natural vitamin and supplement brands contain essential vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, or other health-promoting nutrients naturally occurring in whole food and are typically extracted from food sources such as plants, herb dehydration to powder and are also made from cultures of probiotics such as Saccharomyces cerevisiae, usually incorporated into ‘vitamin’ pills or capsules. Extracting vitamins from natural food sources is a laborious and expensive process, which is why supplement brands containing natural ingredients are often considerably more expensive.

It is essential you Opt for natural vitamins derived from whole food sources for better absorption and health benefits.

Natural vitamins are:

potent and essential part of a natural diet with good natural nutrient balance that can be synthesised by the body
Synergy: Vitamins from whole foods typically work in harmony with other nutrients, enhancing their effects and ensuring proper functioning of bodily processes and well absorbed natural counterparts
dont pose potential health risks if taken in the right dose
good bioavailability: Natural vitamins are bound to other compounds, such as proteins or enzymes, which enhance their absorption and utilization in the body.

Vitamins and dietary supplements can provide health benefits when combined with a healthy diet & lifestyle, it is also crucial to choose a natural organic diet and choose high-quality supplement products containing natural nutrients over synthetic

SYNTHETIC VITAMINS & SUPPLEMENTS

are cheap to produce and almost all multivitamin and mineral supplements available in drug stores and supermarkets are made with synthetic ingredients, especially the ‘gummy’ kind.

Don’t fall for names of brands that start with “nature” or “natural.” The ingredients will specify if it contains quality vitamins.

Often made with chemical synthesis in laboratories using chemicals processes and solvents, such as crude oil (petroleum) and formaldehyde (which are usually deemed unsafe for human consumption), to produce artificial compounds that mimic chemical compounds of naturally occurring nutrients which are definitely not natural. Some synthetic vitamins are safe and other undesirable ones may cause problems these synthetic nutrients could be poorly absorbed and may increase the risk of adverse health effects.

Synthetic vitamins are:

less potent
not as well absorbed as their natural counterparts: they tend to have lower absorption rates than naturally occurring vitamins. As a result, synthetic supplements are often formulated and available with extremely high concentrations of up to 400 percent of the recommended daily allowance (RDA) to compensate, avoid all ‘mega-dose’ synthetic vitamin supplements
may cause Nutrient Imbalance: often containing isolated, high doses of specific nutrients may disrupt the delicate balance of nutrients in your body, which may lead to deficiencies in absorption and utilisation of other essential vitamins and minerals
Poor Bioavailability: often derived from isolated chemicals that are not well recognized or utilized by the body leading to significantly lower effectiveness.
Incomplete Nutrient Profile: Synthetic vitamins provide a fraction of the nutrients found in their natural counterparts. Whole foods contain a complex natural synergy of phytochemicals, enzymes, and co-factors that work to support optimal health.
Lack of synergy: Synthetic vitamins lack natural synergy and may not provide the same benefits as whole foods. eg: vitamin C from oranges is accompanied by flavonoids that increase its antioxidant capacity, while synthetic ascorbic acid lacks this compound.
may contain harmful chemical residues due to their manufacturing methods.
may also pose potential health risks if taken for prolonged periods. Prolonged low-dose exposure to synthetic contaminants have been connected to various health issues, such as neurological issues, hormonal issues, liver problems and even an increased risk of cancer.
Unknown Side Effects: Synthetic vitamins are often produced through chemical processes, using substances that are not naturally in the body. Long-term effects of consuming synthetic compounds are not understood, with a possibility of unforeseen side effects or interactions with medications. Natural vitamins, on the other hand, have a long history of safe use in human diets.
may show Inaccurate dosing in their labels: Research published in the Journal of the American Medical Association found that doses can be inaccurate, products tested contained between 17 and 470 percent of the dosage stated on the product label.
unnecessary fillers: avoid any supplement containing unnecessary fillers, flavourings, dyes or preservatives as these ingredients may cause allergic reactions, gastrointestinal issues, and long-term health effects. Avoid: GMO, Cornstarch, Hydrogenated oils, soybean oil, High-fructose corn syrup. Artificial sweeteners, Artificial food dyes, Magnesium stearate, Sodium benzoate and Titanium dioxide
avoid synthetic vitamins especially during pregnancy

A study published in Free Radical Research, shows that certain synthetic supplement brands contain residues of heavy metals, pesticides, petroleum, hexane and pharmacologically active ingredients.

“Although synthetic vitamins are structurally similar to natural ones, they typically lack the cofactors and co-nutrients present in natural sources, which are important for optimal nutrient absorption and utilization,” explains Dr. Berg.

TOP DIRTY 8 VITAMIN LIST

The main offending synthetic vitamins to avoid as they are less effective and may pose health risks. It’s best to avoid supplement brands containing synthetic vitamins:

VITAMIN C - Ascorbic acid, sodium‌ ‌ascorbate‌, & ascorbyl palmitate. There isn’t any known harm in taking synthetic vitamin C yet it is often derived from GMO sources the synthetic form of vitamin C, increase uptake of foods rich in vitamin c
VITAMIN E - Dl-alpha-tocopherol, mixed‌ ‌tocopherols & tocotrienols, synthetic forms of vitamin E. Natural Vitamin E is important for gut health because it may help to protect the intestinal barrier from toxins and injury. both synthetic and natural are very similar, but not identical, though the subtle differences may have a big impact in how the body responds to it. Research shows that natural vitamin E is incorporated into our cells at a higher rate than synthetic vitamin E, and synthetic vitamin E is lost much faster in the urine than natural vitamin E, though the worst part is that synthetic vitamin E replaces the natural vitamin E from your foods in cells, and only long term research supports the benefits of natural vitamin E
VITAMIN A - Retinol palmitate, a synthetic form of vitamin A and residual solvents produced in its manufacture
VITAMIN D - Vitamin D2 (ergocalciferol) a synthetic form of vitamin D, the synthetic form is typically made from lanolin which is irradiated to form vitamin D3. For s boost of VitD get out in the sunshine and up your intake of sun exposed mushrooms
VITAMIN K - also known as menadione, a synthetic form of vitamin K
VITAMIN B6 - Pyridoxine hydrochloride, a synthetic form of vitamin B6, research shows that synthetic vitamin B6 reduces the amount of active vitamin B6 in the body and may by linked to neuropathy.
VITAMIN B12 - Cyanocobalaminn is a synthetic form of B12 containing cyanide at a very trace amount. Experts suggest that this amount of cyanide isn’t a concern for health.
VITAMIN B9 - FOLIC ACID - synthetic Folic acid. With the advent of gene testing, research shows that around 40 percent of the population can’t metabolize folic acid effectively.

TOP DIRTY 8 MINERAL LIST

Avoid supplements containing inorganic mineral complexes which can cause nanotoxicity especially in the gut, such as:

Iron oxide (E172) recent research by UC San Diego has suggested that iron oxides might cause toxicity in some cell types
calcium carbonate - no known toxicity however the dye used may also contain aluminum without it being indicated on the label.
Magnesium oxide
Magnesium hydroxide
Magnesium sulfate
Zinc sulfate
Chromium picolinate
Sodium selenite

Let’s talk inorganic chelators! Essential minerals in your supplements such as iron, calcium, magnesium, manganese, and copper must be bound to an organic or inorganic compound known as a chelator to be absorbed into the body.

Unfortunately the majority of cheap mineral supplements use mostly inorganic chelators to bind minerals, including oxides, hydroxides, and phosphates as listed above, these inorganic chelators are not well absorbed by the body, and may cause side effects such as digestive issues. Their organic counterparts Amino acids (including glycine, histidine, cysteine, and glutamic acid) are natural chelators that enhance mineral absorption and are less likely to cause side effects, try to find mineral supplements that use natural

chelators

TOXICITY RISK

Certain synthetic vitamins, particularly fat-soluble vitamins like A, D, E, and K, can accumulate in the body when taken in excess. Unlike natural vitamins, synthetic versions are not accompanied by the same checks and balances that prevent toxicity. Regularly consuming high doses of synthetic vitamins increases the risk of toxicity symptoms, such as nausea, dizziness, and organ damage.

HYPERVITAMINOSIS

In addition nutrient absorption varies from person to person, taking into account naturally occurring vitamins in their diet as well as supplements taken, on top of this taking synthetic supplements can lead to excess vitamin levels, a condition known as hypervitaminosis, linked to various health issues. Anyone with liver or kidney disease can experience impaired elimination and detoxification, leaving them at an increased risk of hypervitaminosis when taking synthetic supplements.

research everything you put in your body . not every supplement is necessarily good for you or even natural

WHAT CAN YOU DO?

the deal at wiseroots is i’m a truth shower, i’m not selling supplements here or influencing as you know so this information has no agenda for sales

i recommend using the money you would of spent on supplements and invest it into a better diet: organic local seasonal produce, also best way is to eat raw fermented foods as they are full of vitamins. most ‘natural vitamins’ are ferments and fermented (that’s the secret, shhhh). I know non synthetic vitamins are super expensive, however fermenting a jar of kimchi or sauerkraut is waaaaayyyy cheaper

check your local health food shop, though most will be synth and the staff may not even have a clue. same as ‘dried fruit health food’ coated in toxic industrial seed oils sold at a health food shop near you, it’s wakey wakey time for the health conscious, if we don’t walk in and ask at health shops they won’t even be aware they are even selling this

Saurkraut is said to contain the following per 100g raw and unpasteurised :

Vitamins

Vitamin C 14.7mg 24% RDA

Vitamin K 13.0 mcg 16% RDA

B6 Pyridoxine 0.1 mcg 6% RDA

Folate 24.0 mcg 6% RDA

Choline 10.4 mg 2% RDA

B5 Pantothenic Acid 0.1 mg 1% RDA

B3 Niacin 0.1 mg 1% RDA

Vitamin E 0.1 mg 1% RDA

Thiamin (B1) 1% RDA

Riboflavin (B2) 1% RDA Minerals

Sodium 661mg 28% RDA

Iron1.5 mg 8% RDA

Manganese0.2 mg 8% RDA

Potassium170mg 5 % RDA

Copper0.1mg 5% RDA

Magnesium13.0 mg 3% RDA

Calcium30.0mg 3% RDA

Phosphorus20.0 mg. 2 % RDA

Selenium0.6 mcg 1 % RDA

Zinc0.2 mg 1%RDA

Omega-3 Fatty Acids 33.0 mg

Omega-6 Fatty Acids 34.0 mg Probiotic strains

Lactobacillus brevis

Lactobacillus curvatus

Lactobacillus plantarum

Lactobacillus sakei

Lactococcus lactis

Leuconostoc citreum

Leuconostoc fallax

Leuconostoc mesenteroide

VITAMINS AND EMOTIONS

There is a deep connection between your mineral status & unprocessed emotions, here is a brief guide:

DEFICIENCY & TOXICITY

D=deficiency T=toxicity

Mineral deficiency & toxicity have polar opposites:

CALCIUM

D: cannot hold things together

T: Cannot let things go

IODINE

D: Needing to make things happen

T: can’t make things happen

IRON - The energy maker

D: Loss of purpose or will

T: too tight on purpose and will

MAGNESIUM

D: Inability to relax, emotional stress

T: emotional detachment, emotional numbness

MANGANESE

D: Needing love

T: rejecting love

PHOSPHORUS

D: Need for insight and enlightenment

T: detached from intuition and wisdom

POTASSIUM

D: Need for balance from extremes

T: extreme behaviour

SODIUM (SALT)

D: Desire to stay young

T: desire to age

FAQ

WHAT TO LOOK FOR WHEN BUYING VITAMINS AND MINERALS

read the label and check whether the ingredients are synthetic or natural, don’t rely on a ‘ natural looking’ label
choose products with transparent labeling, third-party testing, and good manufacturing practices (GMP) certification.
the price may usually reflect the quality

TAKEAWAYS

it is generally recommended to obtain your vitamins and minerals from a varied organic diet rich in whole foods rather than relying solely on supplements.
Consult with a healthcare professional nutrition coach

thank you for reading

cara wiseroots

Cara is a healthcare professional with over 25 years experience in diet, lifestyle and holistic wellbeing, i provide private in-depth holistic healing and training online

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note:

This blog is classified as for information only

the information on this website has not been evaluated by the Food & Drug Administration or any other medical body and is shared for educational purposes only. Consult your doctor or healthcare provider before making changes to your supplement regimen or lifestyle.

Sources

TOXIC VITAMIN & MINERAL SUPPLEMENTS ?

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