Vitamin deficiencies are no joke and present themselves through various internal/external symptoms including fatigue, dizziness, shortness of breath, pale or yellow skin, irregular heartbeats, muscle weakness, mental confusion, unsteady movements, and mental confusion or forgetfulness. For this reason, it is very important that you provide your body with the proper nutrition, and supplement with vitamins where needed.
But not all multivitamins are created equal, and it’s important to do your research and find the one that’s right for you.
For the sake of this article, we’ll look at one of America’s most popular vitamins that have come under scrutiny for containing toxic chemicals, artificial colouring additives, and is largely ineffective.
Last year, Centrum was ranked as the second leading U.S. multivitamin brand, its sales were 189.6 million American dollars. Created by Pfizer, the world’s largest pharmaceutical company dubbed the “manufacturer of fine chemicals,” after a history of health care fraud and illegal marketing scams that began soon after the company launched in 1849.
Here’s a 3 section critical analysis of the ingredients that make up Centrum, and critics’ smoking gun for dismissing the multivitamin as a scam.
- Minerals and Vitamins (with Poor Absorption)
- Ferrous Fumarate – Known to cause constipation which causes an overgrowth of harmful flora. As a result, you may experience gastrointestinal issues, a compromised immune system, and problems with nutrient absorption.
- Calcium Carbonate – Least absorbable forms of calcium available in the market. Only a small percent is ingested into the body.
- DL-Alpha Tocopherol – Synthetic form a vitamin E supplement. Researchers at Oregon State University found that the body excretes this artificial form three times as faster than the natural. Meaning, the benefit is decreased by 3x.
- Talc – Mineral primarily made up of silicon, magnesium, and oxygen. Talc has also been known to contain asbestos, a substance known to cause cancers.
- Nickelous Sulfate and Tin – These would be ideal for anyone that had a nickel or tin deficiency, but no one has this problem. Even so, when minerals are bound to a sulfate, their absorption ability is decreased.
- Fillers and Binders
- Pregelatinized Corn Starch – This is purely a binder with no benefits. It is likely to be made from genetically modified corn which can cause several reactions in the body, especially for those who are sensitive to it.
- BHT – Butylated hydroxyanisole: BHT a preservative that science has found to be toxic to the liver, thyroid, lungs, kidneys, and can affect blood coagulation. It can also promote tumours.
- Gelatin – Unfit for vegetarians and vegans.
- Hydrogenated Palm Oil – Hydrogenating any oil makes the oil rancid, turning it into a strong free radical which promotes cancer and heart disease.
- Sodium Benzoate – Preservative is known to cause organ toxicity.
- Sodium Aluminosilicate – Common food additive for its anti-caking effects. Has been known to cause health organ deterioration. It’s the main contributor to the detrimental properties of table salt.
- Artificial Coloring
- FD&C Yellow No. 6 Aluminum Lake – A multivitamin that contains food colouring? This one does! And what’s more, this one was actually derived from coal tar, a reproductive toxin. Studies found it to cause adrenal tumour in the lab animals.
Steer clear of Centrum!!! The benefits of taking a health supplement should far outweigh the negative effects that go along with it. When shopping for a multivitamin, choose one that comes void of additives and artificial colours, with vitamins that your body can absorb.
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