What is Magnesium Stearate?
Magnesium stearate is a synthetic additive that is used to lubricate finely ground herbs to fit into capsules or tablets and to fill up remaining space within the capsules. It is synthesized by adding magnesium ions to stearic acid. Stearic acid is naturally found in plants such as cottonseed oil, canola oil, and palm oil. Although stearic acid is naturally occurring in nature, magnesium stearate is not. It is synthesized in laboratories by getting fractioned, bleached, and deodorized.
Among magnesium stearate, there are other excipients used by the industry such as carrageenan which may cause inflammation and digestive problems and titanium dioxide which has been classified by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) to be possibly carcinogenic to humans.
Why We Don't Use MAGNESIUM STEARATE & STEARIC ACID
The following are the reasons why we believe magnesium stearate should not be used in herbal supplements:
#1: Contrary to manufacturers’ misinformation about stearic acid and magnesium stearate having health benefits, these synthetic additives confer zero health benefits.
#2: Magnesium stearate is a synthetic additive and due to this fact, the body does not have a natural mechanism in place for utilizing it. Consequently, the body will treat it as a toxin and target it for removal; this can produce unwanted, unexpected, or worse, harmful effects in the body.
#3: There is no such thing as an inert additive. Everything we consume has to be metabolized by the body. By adding unnecessary additives, it can burden the body and diminish the overall benefits of the supplements they are added to.
#4: Magnesium stearate is not essential to ensuring product integrity during manufacturing. Inserting the herb and only the herb claimed on the label is the only ethical practice when manufacturing herbal supplements to the public.
#5: There are valid concerns over the negative effects of long-term consumption of magnesium stearate and stearic acid from supplements. According to WebMD, magnesium stearate can have a laxative effect when too much is consumed, it affects the absorption of the supplement, and can negatively affect T-Cell function in your immune system. We feel that the only ethical thing is to avoid their use in our supplements altogether.
In Conclusion
Stearic acid and magnesium stearate are used solely for the benefit of the manufacturer because they are cheap additives that increase productivity, lower manufacturing costs, and boost the manufacturer’s profitability. There is no benefit to the consumer.
There are several issues with magnesium stearate and reasons why Nature’s Health does not use magnesium stearate, or any synthetic additive for that matter, in our products. Each of our items are backed by our Pure Promise. We do not use fillers, additives, artificial coloring, flavoring, or preservatives. It is our mission to provide to you only the best nature has to offer.
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