| Terms to know>> - Chelated: Chelated minerals are attached to amino acids that facilitate absorption by the body. Taking minerals with food can have a similar effect, but if you have trouble absorbing minerals, chelated forms are more consistent, reliable sources.
- Natural: Typically, natural supplements don't contain artificial colors, flavors, sweeteners, or preservatives.
- Whole foods: Nutrients have been extracted from natural, unprocessed food, and not made up in the chemistry lab. According to Jennifer Nevels, NMD, "whole-foods" vitamins can be less potent than synthetic supplements, but the body may absorb them more easily. If you choose a whole-foods vitamin, go organic to avoid ingesting concentrated amounts of pesticides and other harmful chemicals.
Ingredients to avoid>> - Added sugars such as glucose, evaporated cane sugar, and fructose.
- Artificial flavors, colors, or preservatives Supplements free of these will typically be labeled as "natural" or say "no artificial flavors, colors, or preservatives."
- Dyes For example, red dye no. 40 and yellow dye no. 6 have been linked to cancer in animal studies.
- Fillers or bulking agents such as cellulose and maltodextrine.
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