Since you are reading this blog, you have undoubtedly made some very specific lifestyle choices and changes.
CONGRATULATIONS!!
One of those changes probably has to do with the kind of and quality of food that you eat. In making those changes you have probably started to read food labels.
However, have you ever read your supplement label? Keep reading to find out WHY this may be something you want to do today!
About Those Supplements
After WWII, when the food manufacturing industry discovered synthetics that could replace food, they also started manufacturing vitamins and minerals- from synthetics. The assumption was that if the chemical formula for a synthetic vitamin is the same as the chemical formula for a food-sourced vitamin, it is the same. However, synthetic molecules are symmetrical, food molecules are asymmetrical. They are not the same- and the body knows the difference!
Synthetic vitamins
Mannatech literature states, “Synthetic vitamins are produced chemically in a laboratory and may be made from petroleum or coal tar; they’re not in a food form. Because they are less expensive, most minerals used for supplementation are mined from the ground or manufactured from chemical processes. Tests have shown that these minerals do not dissolve well (they are not soluble) in either the stomach or small intestine. “
What does this mean for your body? Your body does not see a synthetic vitamin/mineral supplement as food, and it will typically pass right through your system. You are producing expensive urine, which is what the medical profession has said for decades. However, in 2002, JAMA (Journal of the American Medical Association) made the statement that ‘it seems prudent for all adults to take a vitamin supplement.’
What should you do?
READ THE LABEL
There are certain names for synthetic vitamins, and a company will simply list that name in the box about the supplement facts. On the other hand, if a company has food-sourced vitamins and minerals, it will list the source of the vitamin/mineral. If the product has been certified by a third-party organization, i.e. NSF, that information will also be on the label.
NSF certification
A third-party verification indicates that the product has been tested so that what is on the label is in the product…AND what is in the product is on the label. A number of Mannatech products have been NSF-certified and the NSF logo is proudly displayed so that the customer has peace of mind about the contents of the bottle or canister.
In light of recent action by the New York Attorney General, (read that story here), a customer’s peace of mind should be a top corporate priority. After all, it’s good business for customers to have total confidence in the company providing nutrients they are eating.
If you are in an experimental mode, put your supplement on a baking sheet and put it in the oven at 325 degrees for 15 minutes. What does it look like? Send me your photo and let’s talk about it!
If it’s in a jpeg format, I’ll post it!
A Plant-sourced Vitamin/Mineral/Phytonutrient Supplement
If you are looking for a plant-sourced vitamin-mineral supplement, ask me for our complementary two-page report “How Real is Your Vitamin?” which includes information about how to read a supplement label, a great starting point if you want to evaluate what you are currently taking.
Mannatech’s PhytoMatrix Vitamin/Mineral/PhytoNutrient supplement, as well as several other products with Real Food Technology, can be purchased here. Each product also has additional sources of information, whether pdf or video.
BTW, Recently, Mannatech introduced PhytoBurst Nutritional Chews! They are individually wrapped so they can easily be carried in your purse, briefcase or gym bag. PhytoBurst chews provide a great burst of energy (the nutrients are plant-sourced!) and they taste GREAT- nutrition with a kick!
If you have any questions at all, please don’t hesitate to contact me via phone, text or email. If you are in Phoenix and want to sample one, give me a call and let’s get together for a chocolate-tasting!
Bottom line: the reason you need to read your supplement label is because everything you put into your body IS important…and it’s your responsibility!
What are your thoughts? Feel free to leave a comment below.
