Taking vitamins and supplementing our nutrition can enhance our energy levels, improve our overall health and provide us peace of mind that we're meeting our daily nutritional requirements. However, the majority of vitamin and mineral supplements that have put our mind at ease are wreaking havoc on our bodies. Why? Toxicity.

Some vitamins and nutritional supplements found in grocery stores and drug stores across the nation are actually dangerous. Just because a vitamin supplement is marketed as being healthy does not mean it actually is, whether that be intentional shady marketing or out of ignorance to the biological impact of chemicals and synthetic additives. Consumers of these harmful products are typically unaware of the implications of chemical additives and the inherent difference between synthetic vitamins and minerals and whole food nutrients. All vitamin isolates are manmade, as vitamins are never produced in isolated forms by natural foods. Nutrients found in nature work together while isolated vitamins are rendered almost useless without they call on the other nutrients it requires to function from your body's stored supply. Over time, this could lead to a deficiency in those nutrients that may not have been depleted before taking manmade vitamin isolates.

Toxic ingredients commonly found in laboratory cultured synthetic vitamins and mineral tablets, tinctures and capsules include: non-organic GMO Maltodextrin, acorbic acid (vitamin C derived from genetically modified corn), high levels of aluminum, lead, mercury, cadmium, hidden MSG, Fluoride, magnesium stearate, titanium dioxide, sodoim selenite or selenate (found in most selenium supplements), coal tar derivatives, talc and many other ingredients that would make this list too long and daunting to read. “Other ingredients” listed on supplement labels often refer to artificial sweeteners and / or animal animals by products.

While synthetic vitamins are injurious to our health, many “all natural” products contain ingredients contaminated with pesticides and insecticides that have been grown in nutrient deficient soil, irradiated, fumigated, flash frozen or highly heated. Many supplement companies use only the cheapest produce and herbs unfit for selling in the marketplace due to rot and disease. The natural supplement industry has a trusted safety record in contrast to pharmaceutical companies responsible for producing some potentially fatal, side-effect inducing legal drugs, but natural supplements can still contain toxins used in processing methods and hidden toxins of herbs grown in toxic soil. Natural, organic supplement companies such as Quantum Nutrition Labs and Precision Herbs have a reliable and honest standard for their supplies, but there are many companies claiming their products are natural and healthy when they are anything but good for you.

It's difficult to decide on the right vitamin supplement, it's all up to guessing as to which one is healthy and which is toxic. The best we can do is to make an educated guess. Whole food supplements are just that, they are whole foods in a concentrated form. The nutrients in whole food supplements are complex structures that function synergistically, rather than isolated vitamins which depletes the body of vital nutrition. In summary, it is best to purchase minimally processed organic, whole food supplements as close to their natural form as possible. Choose companies that exclusively sell certified organic products and address the care taken in all forms of production including the growing of ingredients, quality control, manufacturing and potency testing to their customers.