Know What’s In Your Supplements

For years my wife and I have continually expanded out knowledge on supplements and the ingredients that make up those supplements. Years ago we sought after the notion to improve our health by “eating clean” and to educate our kids on that knowledge gained by our own personal research. Research has been conducted by simply reading studies and basically using our own bodies as lab rats. I, myself, have taken all sorts of supplements over the past 27 years. I started taking supplements when I was 15 years old. The first company I ever ordered from was Anabol Naturals back in high school. My intent was to add some strength and size since I was skinny and weak. Between then and now I’ve taken Animal Pack vitamins, Creatine, glutamine, all types of protein (whey and non-dairy), I’ve shot testosterone Enanthate, taken Exemestane, Ostarine, amino acids, glucose, Methyl 1D, pre-workout drinks, etc. etc. just to name a few. It wasn’t until recent years that I REALLY started to dive into the makeup of those supplements.

        Definition of dietary supplement

:  a product taken orally that contains one or more ingredients (such as vitamins or amino acids) that are intended to supplement one’s diet and are not considered food

There are many ingredients that make up these supplements and it is the responsibility of each and every person to make a decision (educated or not) whether or not those ingredients are good for you. I sell “supplements” now and talk to people all the time about this stuff. People, for the most part, are clueless. So, I’m going to list some of the common ones you will see. It will be up to you to do your due diligence and decide if feel it really is smart to put this stuff in your body. If you are taking supplements now and how health issues this may shed some light on the reason why you are having those issues.

Instead of me typing everything up I’m going to copy and paste from websites and post the source. The intent of me writing this is merely to shed light on what you buy and what you put into your body. DO YOUR RESEARCH!!!

Here is the container label of a protein powder on the market. Let’s look at a couple ingredients. This particular protein powder, due to its ingredients, will make most people pretty gassy. Hence the term “protein farts”.

Fructose: Here’s a good link and 10 reasons to avoid fructose. http://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/is-fructose-bad-for-you-201104262425

10 reasons to limit fructose consumption

1. Fructose can only be metabolized by the liver and can’t be used for energy by your body’s cells. It’s therefore not only completely useless for the body, but is also a toxin in high enough amount because the job of the liver is to get rid of it, mainly by transforming it into fat and sending that fat to our fat cells.
2. Excess fructose damages the liver and leads to insulin resistance in the liver as well as fatty liver disease. In fact, fructose has the same effects on the liver as alcohol (ethanol), which is already well known as a liver toxin.
3. Fructose reacts with proteins and polyunsaturated fats in our bodies 7 times more than glucose. This reaction creates AGEs (advanced glycation end-products), which are compounds that create oxidative damage in our cells and ultimately lead or contribute to inflammation and a host of chronic diseases.
4. Fructose increases uric acid production, which, in excess, can cause gout, kidney stones and precipitate or aggravate hypertension.
5. While most of your body’s cells can’t use fructose as a source of energy, the bacteria in your gut can and excess fructose can create gut flora imbalances, promote bacterial overgrowth and promote the growth of pathogenic bacteria.
6. In part because of the damage done to the liver, chronic excess fructose causes dyslipidemia, which means that your blood lipid markers tend to shift towards numbers that indicate a risk for heart disease.
7. Fructose rapidly causes leptin resistance. Leptin is a hormone that controls appetite and metabolism to maintain a normal weight. Leptin resistant people tend to gain fat and become obese really easily.
8. Excess fructose alone can cause all the problems associated with the metabolic syndrome (diabetes, obesity, heart disease).
9. Cancer cells thrive and proliferate very well with fructose as their energy source.

• Excess fructose also affects brain functioning, especially as it relates to appetite regulation. It has also been shown to impair memory in rats.

https://paleoleap.com/10-reasons-why-fructose-is-bad/

Carrageenan: linked to gastrointestinal inflammation, including higher rates of colon cancer, in laboratory animals. Yet it is still found in many foods, including some certified organic foods. https://www.cornucopia.org/carrageenan-how-a-natural-food-additive-is-making-us-sick/

Maltodextrin: This is the stuff that’ll make you fart.

Regular maltodextrin also has a high glycemic index rating, which means it can spike your blood sugar. While more research is needed in human subjects, studies using laboratory mice found that sugary maltodextrin promoted the growth of unhealthy bacteria, which damaged the intestine and increased the risk of inflammatory disease, according to a review in the journal PLoS One in July 2014. The consumption of maltodextrin has similar side effects and health risks as most food additives. These side effects include allergic reactions, unexplained weight gain, bloating and flatulence. Specific allergic reactions associated with the use of maltodextrin include rash, asthma, itching and difficulty breathing. If you experience any allergic reaction or other side effect after consuming maltodextrin, you should discontinue use and consult with a medical professional. If you’re using maltodextrin supplements, depending on the brand you buy, they may have 200 to 250 calories per serving, plus more calories if you mix it with a caloric beverage such as fruit juice. If you’re not active enough to burn all the calories, maltodextrin supplements can lead to weight gain.

http://www.livestrong.com/article/502241-the-risks-of-maltodextrin/

Xanthum Gum:

Xanthan gum is safe when up to 15 grams per day are taken. It can cause some side effects such as intestinal gas (flatulence) and bloating.

People who are exposed to xanthan gum powder might experience flu-like symptoms, nose and throat irritation, and lung problems.

Special Precautions & Warnings:

Pregnancy and breast-feeding: Not enough is known about the use of xanthan gum during pregnancy and breast-feeding. Stay on the safe side and avoid using amounts larger than those normally found in foods.

Nausea, vomiting, appendicitis, hard stools that are difficult to expel (fecal impaction), narrowing or blockage of the intestine, or undiagnosed stomach pain: Do not use xanthan gum if you have any of these conditions. It is a bulk-forming laxative that could be harmful in these situations.

Surgery: Xanthan gum might lower blood sugar levels. There is a concern that it might interfere with blood sugar control during and after surgery. Stop using xanthan gum at least 2 weeks before a scheduled surgery.

http://www.webmd.com/vitamins-supplements/ingredientmono-340-xanthan%20gum.aspx?activeingredientid=340

Here are a couple more links.

Silicon Dioxide

Manganese Gluconate

People with any type of gut issues should look hard at the ingredient list and do research. Protein powder supplements take most the flack out of them all. I, personally, prefer a plant based protein powder. With traditional whey protein I have to find a toilet pretty quickly after I drink the protein shake. I tried to keep this short in hopes that you would read it to the end. I could write so much more but the intent of this article is to get people to not just take people’s word for it but to actually do some research on what you put into your body. Marketing is the mother of all lies. That’s why there are jokes like “He could sell a glass of water to a drowning man” or “He could sell a popsicle to an Eskimo”. It’s all in the marketing. It’s up to you to make an educated decision. Especially when it comes to our children.

What we use in our home.

Thanks for reading!!