6 Toxins Hiding in Your Supplements and What to Take Instead
Dr Livingood
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Are you taking expensive, health-harming supplements without knowing it? It’s possible – many popular supplements are loaded with toxins that can damage your body.
In this blog, I will discuss how to identify and avoid these toxic supplements. I’ll also share some safe, healthy alternatives. Keep reading to learn more!
Rancid Oils
The following oils are rancid, and you should avoid having them in your supplements:
Soybean Oil
Safflower Oil
Cottonseed Oil
Vegetable Oil
Canola Oil
Palm Oil
If you’re looking for oils that are better for you, look for supplements that contain any of the following:
Coconut Oil
Avocado Oil
Olive Oil
Macadamia Oil
Borage
Flaxseed
Grapeseed
Fish Oil
As a general rule, avoid oils that are stored in a clear container. The sunlight that hits it makes the oils rancid for your body. This is why it’s better to look for oils that are stored in dark, opaque containers.
Heavy Metals
Finding supplements that test for and reduce heavy metal exposure is crucial. Your supplements should state on the front of the bottle whether the manufacturer tested them for heavy metals.
I would recommend avoiding supplements from overseas. Some other countries don’t have good practices for their machinery and testing, which can cause heavy metals to end up in your body.
Added, Artificial, & Hidden Sugars
In America, we consume 152 pounds of sugar per person per year. Try to stay away from any kind of corn products such as maltodextrin, any form of starch, or any word ending in -ose.
Vitamin C supplements and gummies use ingredients such as sucralose, aspartame, Splenda, and Nutrasweet. These are toxic forms of artificial flavorings that are filled with hidden sugars.
Colorful pills on the white background, top view
Artificial Colorings
You should absolutely avoid a supplement if they contain any of the following artificial colorings:
FD&C Blue No. 1 & 2
FD&C Green No. 3
FD&C Red No. 3 & 40
FD&C Yellow No. 5 & 6
Caramel
These artificial colorings are only to make the supplement look more appealing or “fun” and are typically marketed toward children. The FDA has shown a connection between artificial food dyes and behavior issues, ADHD, and hyperactivity.
Synthetic Vitamins
As a consumer, it can be hard to tell if a supplement is synthetic or not. You should watch out for fat-soluble vitamins (A, D, E & K), which are especially dangerous in a synthetic form. They can build up in your body’s fat tissues and liver.
Synthetic vitamins are a lot cheaper to make, so a lot of them will be found on grocery store shelves.
Toxic Additives
Magnesium Silicate – Anti-caking agent that can cause lung problems when inhaled.
Magnesium Stearate/Stearic Acid – Make sure this comes from a vegetable source and not a rancid oil.
Sodium Benzoate – Benzene chemicals have been linked to cancer, so we should do our best to stay away from them.
Titanium Dioxide – Linked to lung inflammation and compromises the immune system.
Arsenic & Carrageenan – Also potential sources of toxicity
Look For Toxic Free Guarantees
Gluten-Free
Dairy-Free
Soy-Free
Egg-Free
No Yeast
No MSG
No Preservatives
No Artificial Colorings
No Artificial Flavorings
Sourced from Grass-Fed, Free Range, and Wild-Caught
No Heavy Metals
No GMOs
Best Supplements to Take
You take a number of different supplements depending on what you’re dealing with. Here are my recommendations of what supplements you should take for each issue you could have.
Vitamin D3 2,000-20,000 IU per day depending on the case. Take with K2 (MK4 & MK7), Mg, Vitamins A and E, and fat to aid absorption (Livingood Daily Vitamin D)
The most important thing for immune system health is vitamin D3. Still, I would recommend that you stop taking vitamin D3 until you understand how to take it safely without damaging your body.
If you want to learn more about how to take it, I made a video for you that breaks everything down.
If you want a guide, you can get it here, which comes with training and a video of me going around the drugstore.
