 Everything begins with truly Natural ingredients. Never synthetic and never tampered with. You can read more about why natural is important Here.
Toxic additives have absolutely no role to play in this healthy foundation.
Recently, we noticed a well known brand declaring "free from mustard". Yet on the same page, they list talcum powder (and others) as an ingredient. We were initially incredulous, but on investigation, found that a tiny percentage of people do have a mustard allergy.
But what about the talcum powder?
Many others make liberal claims about "purity" and their uncompromising stance on quality, but time and time again, we see the talcum powder and other additives that have no place in a health supplement.
There are 323 EU approved additives. And countless questions about the long term effects and interactions.
What we do know, is that the huge array of additives in ordinary supplements, reduce their effectiveness, and for some people, they are potential allergens.
We are the only company in the UK to supply a full range of own brand health supplements that are totally natural (no synthetics) with absolutely no additives.
You can see for yourself how pure our products are HERE
Is "free from artificial additives" good enough?
We don't think so.
Let's take Magnesium stearate (stearic acid), generally described as a "natural". This is one of the most widely used additives; it is made by hydrogenating plant and animal fats; hydrogenated fats are neither natural nor healthy.
Safety data sheets for this substance list numerous health hazards including skin irritation, nausea and vomiting.
Some might say that the amounts of such additives found in supplements are so small, that they are inconsequential. But when there is an additive free alternative available, it's a simple choice.
Additive Free Means up to 65% Better Absorption
It is not unusual to see the advice “take with food” with many supplements as the enzymes in your food helps your body to digest them. The additives used to bind these supplements, actually slow down the absorption and the product can pass through the system before your body can do the work it needs to. In other words, much of the nutritional value may never even reach your system.
In the most famous study of its kind, published in Pharmaceutical Technology, the dissolution of capsules without stearates was 90% after 20 minutes compared to 25% with stearates. (1). In another study in 1995, Lee et al. also found that increasing the concentration of magnesium stearate decreased the dissolution rates (2).
So Why Do Companies Still Insist on Using Additives?
The reason these additives are there? Quite simply to bulk out products, and to ensure that products move through manufacturing equipment at the quickest (and most cost effective) speed. They also ensure a uniform and "attractive" look. What they don't do is make any contribution to the effectiveness and absorption of your supplements.
Innovative Research and Developement Makes Additive Free Supplements Possible
Working hand in hand with a leading manufacturer with over 30 years of experience, (accredited GMP - Good Manufacturing Practice factory), we insist on 100% pure and natural. With innovative research and development, and a commitment to the principles of natural health, it is absolutely possible to produce products without the array of additives found in ordinary supplements.
In the few cases where products genuinely need a carrier to make it through the machinery, we only select 100% natural carriers. Two examples include Wild Rosehips and Colloidal Minerals (natural source, broad spectrum minerals); these natural carriers can even have their own health benefits!
With the exception of Fish Oil, all products are supplied in easily digestible vegetable cellulose capsules. The only product we supply is tablet form is Chlorella which can be pressed to tablet form naturally without the use of the chemicals and additives normally used to create tablets.
Additives Cause Complex Reactions
Furthermore, it would seem that the more additives there are in supplements, the greater the reactions that may take place in the body.
In the study "The influence of additives on the presentation of a drug in hard gelatin capsule", it was found that large changes in response occured by the addition of a third factor (3). Itt is not uncommon to see multiple additives in a single product; here's an example from a leading brand of Glucosamine:
Glucosamine Sulphate DiPotassium Chloride, Chondroitin Sulphate Sodium, Microcrystalline Cellulose, Ascorbic Acid, Methyl Sulphonyl Methane, Polyvinylpyrrolidone, Croscarmellose Sodium, Magnesium Stearate, Hydroxypropylmethyl Cellulose, Titanium Dioxide, Talc, Hydroxpropyl Cellulose, Propylene Glycol, Iron Oxide (Red), Iron Oxide (Yellow)
The Potential Health Risks of Commonly used Additives
The additives and excipients used are not bio-available and most are potential allergens, in particular in sensitive individuals and those with a compromised digestive system. (4) Some research even shows that certain additives may be immunosuppresive in some individuals. (5)
Just as your food should be additive free, so should your health supplements.
Labelling laws allow what at best be called creative approaches to informing the consumer, at worst, many companies are misleading. It is also common not to state ingredients on websites and promotional material. You can be sure that if the full ingredients aren’t listed, and there is no declaration of being additive free, that there will be many undesirables present. There is no requirement to state the quantities of certain additives on labels.
And let’s not forget that you are paying for these additives when you buy these inferior products. When you choose 100% additive free, your money is spent only on the product you want, not the unnecessary ingredients!
The developments in genetically modified goods and nano technology are going to play a role in the supplements of the future, rest assured you will also never find these at Seventh Wave.
Natural Supplements V Synthetic
The complexity deepens when you consider that many products, are also synthetic, although some contain a mix of naturally occurring, botanical nutrients, and isolated compounds.
At Seventh Wave, when we say natural we mean it.
You can read more about the difference between natural and synthetic supplements HERE
How Important is the Milligram Content?
Manufacturers put a lot of emphasis on the milligram content, but this is another misnomer and has no relationship with actual nutritional input.
You will enjoy far greater benefits from broad and balanced amounts as found in Broad Spectrum Supplements that provide a range of vitamins and minerals in a food state form, whole food form.
“Let food be your medicine, and medicine be your food”
Greek physician Hippocrates (460-377 BC), the founding father of natural medicine.
References
-
Effect of magnesium stearate or calcium stearate as additives on dissolution profiles of diltiazem hydrochloride from press-coated tablets with hydroxypropylmethylcellulose acetate succinate in the outer shell. Eiji Fukui, Nobuteru Miyamura and Masao Kobayashi. Product & Technology Development Laboratory, Tanabe Seiyaku Co., Ltd
-
The effect of formulation on I-131 dissolution in vitro from sodium iodide capsules. Lee YY, Shaw SM, Peck GE Drug Dev Ind Pharm 1995;21:663–673
-
The influence of additives on the presentation of a drug in hard gelatin capsules.Newton JM, Razzo FN J Pharm Pharmacol. 1977 May;29(5):294-7
-
Stearic Acid, Magnesium Stearate, Calcium Stearate, Palmitate, and Hydrogenated Vegetable Oils are lubricants which enable manufacturing equipment to run more efficiently but inhibit eventual dissolution of the nutrient. Stearic acid may prevent absorption by individuals with compromised digestive systems. Magnesium stearate and stearic acid also present the problem that delivery of the active ingredient may be considerably further down the intestinal tract than the site originally intended. This may result in the nutrient being delivered away from its optimal absorption site. Not only can this impede absorption, in some cases it might be harmful to the liver.” Czap, AL. Townsend Letter For Doctors and Patients, July 1999, Vol.192; Pg. 117-119
-
Molecular basis for the immunosuppressive action of stearic acid on T cells. P W Tebbey and T M Buttke. Department of Microbiology and Immunology, East Carolina University School of Medicine, Greenville 27858-4354 |
Just some of the commonly used additives...
Calcium Stearate - used as a stabilizer for plastics, in cosmetics and supplements. Also used in lacquers, coatings & inks, and as an additive in concrete, textiles and paper. May cause gastrointestinal irritation. Recommendations if this came into contact with your skin - "flush skin with plenty of soap and water for at least 15 minutes while removing contaminated clothing and shoes"
Carnauba Wax - obtained from palm leaves - highly refined then bleached. Used as an anticaking and coating agent.
Dicalcium Phosphate Dihydrate - widely used in supplements "may be safely consumed in moderate amounts. Ingestion of large quantities may cause nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal cramps"
Glyceryl monostearate - an emulsifier also used in shampoos
Indigo (E132) - A blue synthetic coal tar dye, normally produced by a synthesis of indoxyl by fusion of sodium phenylglycinate in a mixture of caustic soda and sodamide.
Magnesium Stearate - (the magnesium salt of stearic acid), hydrogenated fat used as a lubricant in manufacturing, generally derived from plant sources, but pork is also used. The molecular structure is substantially altered. As much as 5% of many supplements consists of magnesium stearate.
Maltitol - a sugar alcohol made by hydrogenating maltose from corn syrup
Microcrystalline Cellulose - (E460) a binding agent and excipient, starts off as a natural wood pulp, but is subjected to considerable processing to create a free flowing product.
Propylene Glycol - a solvent also used in antifreeze and paints, and many cosmetic products. Regarded as a safe food additive, but excessive exposure is thought to cause metabolic problems.
Polysorbate 80 an emulsifier also used as a food additive, derived from polyoxylated sorbitol and oleic acid, known to be a contact allergen.
Polyvinylpyrrolidone (E1201) PVP - a polymeric material used as coating agent also used in inks, hair products, pesticides, paints and toothpaste.
Sorbitol - a sweetener and thickening agent, found naturally in fruits, but highly processed.
Sodium Benzoate - a preservative shown to have toxic effects in numerous studies, Coca-Cola removed this from their drinks in 2008, yet still found in some "health" supplements.
Talc - filler with similarities to asbestos.
Titanium Dioxide (E171) - also known as titanium (IV) oxide or titania - colourant, although generally considered safe, the International Agency for Research on Cancer believes that it may be a possible carcinogen to humans.
Concerned about additives in foods?
A number of additives, although banned in many European countries, are still present in products marketed to children in the UK; the Action on Additives campaign group is an excellent source of information.
|
