Nutrition Labels: What To Avoid at All Costs

Let’s Dive In,

It’s extremely important to be mindful about the ingredients in our supplements, so the question becomes: What are the common things to look for on the back of the label, which should make you put these things right back on the shelf?

Avoid Cyanocobalamin

We've raised concerns regarding the use of Cyanocobalamin, a synthetic, cyanide-based form of vitamin B12 in dietary supplements. Our caution against this compound is based on several key factors:

• Synthetic Origin: Cyanocobalamin (cyanide-based form of vitamin B12) is synthesized by combining cobalt metal (cobalamin) with a hydrogen cyanide molecule, resulting in a compound that behaves differently in our bodies compared to the naturally occurring forms of vitamin B12

• Body's Conversion Process: It requires conversion by our bodies into active forms like hydroxycobalamin or methylcobalamin, an unnecessary step when these forms can be directly consumed.

• Health and Environmental Hazards: Classified as an acute toxic hazard, Cyanocobalamin poses potential risks, not just to individual health but also to the environment.

• Long-term Toxicity Concerns: Continuous exposure to small doses could lead to accumulation and subsequent adverse health effects, akin to the mechanism by which mercury and other heavy metals cause toxicity.

• Advocacy for Natural Alternatives: Given its synthetic nature and associated risks, we advocate for choosing supplements with natural or more bioavailable forms of vitamin B12, such as hydroxycobalamin or methylcobalamin, to ensure safety and efficacy.

Avoid Folic Acid

Our discussion extends to the synthetic form of folate, known as folic acid, commonly found in supplements and fortified foods. We advise caution and suggest alternatives for the following reasons:

• Non-Natural Occurrence: Folic acid does not naturally occur in foods and is produced synthetically, which raises concerns about its bioavailability and utility in the human body.

• Metabolic Conversion Issues: A significant portion of the population has difficulty converting folic acid to its active form, methylfolate, potentially leading to suboptimal folate levels despite intake.

• Better Alternatives Available: Natural forms of folate or supplements containing 5-MTHF (methylfolate) are preferred for their direct usability by the body, bypassing the conversion issue associated with folic acid.

• Risk of Masking Deficiencies: High levels of unmetabolized folic acid could mask vitamin B12 deficiencies, leading to delayed diagnosis and treatment of such conditions.

• Emphasis on Bioavailability: By selecting supplements with bioavailable forms of folate, we aim to support our health more effectively, ensuring that we receive the full benefits of this essential nutrient without the drawbacks of its synthetic counterpart.

Other Common Questions

• What is the best methylated multivitamin? Any multivitamin that comes in the converted form like a methylfolate, and this is true for several of the ingredients in these multivitamins.

• Why methyfolate vs folic acid? Folic acid must first be converted into the usable form in order for your body to use it (methylfolate). If your body CAN’T make this conversion, it won’t be able to make methylated transactions that the body uses to create neurotransmitters, to digest food, to create motility in our gut, to create our mood, our emotional state, to rebuild muscle, to rid the body of toxins, to repair, regenerate, detoxify.

Warm regards,

10x Health