Stearate Additives -
Magnesium Stearate, Stearic Acid
& Calcium Stearate
Stearates in Supplements are Hydrogenated
Oils
Why are Stearates in Supplements?
These stearates, made
by hydrogenating cottonseed or palm oil, are used
throughout the supplements industry as lubricants.
They are added to the raw materials in supplements
so that production machinery will run at maximum
speeds.
These fatty substances coat every particle of the
nutrients, so the particles will flow rapidly. This
ensures that production schedules will meet profit
targets.
Cottonseed oil has the highest content
of pesticide residues of all commercial oils; cotton
crops are heavily
sprayed. In the hydrogenation process, the oil is subjected
to high heat and pressure in the presence of a metal
catalyst for several hours, creating a hydrogenated saturated
fat. Hydrogenated vegetable fats contain altered molecules
derived from fatty acids. The metal
catalyst used in the hydrogenation process may also contaminate
the stearates produced (see Erasmus, Fats and Oils).
In a study published in the
journal Pharmaceutical Technology (April, 1985),
the percent dissolution for capsules after 20 minutes
in solution
went from
90% without stearates to 25% with stearates. In other
words, stearates reduced the rate the capsule dissolved
by 65%! This delays the absorption of nutrients.
Individuals with
impaired digestion may have particular difficulty
absorbing nutrients coated with stearates.
How Much Hydrogenated Lubricant Oils
Are You Getting With Your Supplements?
Up to 5% of the average 1000 mg capsule
or tablet is magnesium stearate. That’s 50 milligrams. Suppose
you take 8 capsules or tablets a day. That’s 250
a month – or 12,500 mg of this hydrogenated
oil, nearly half an ounce. That works out to about
6 ounces
of hydrogenated oils a year, from just 8 pills a
day.
100% Additive-Free
Supplements
Remember, the sole purpose
of using these oils is to make the machines go faster.
Supplements can be made without them – it just
takes more time, care and attention to detail. Our exclusive
process yields absolutely pure supplements – no
lubricants, binders, flowing agents, fillers, dyes or
additives of any kind – only the pure nutrients.
Our Certificates of Analysis Demonstrate the Purity
of Our Products
The raw materials that go into our supplements are independently
analyzed. Here are some typical results:
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