Toxic Supplements and Food Additives

China is in the news again. Recently, some 13,000 Chinese babies have become ill because of drug-tainted milk. Melamine is back. That has prompted me to check into other popular foods/supplements that may contain Chinese ingredients.

Few consumers know it, but China has cornered the market on several synthetic ingredients, among them folic acid, used to make health supplements sold around the world. Folic acid, which naturally occurs in fresh fruits and vegetables, is highly recommended to help prevent cancers and protect the heart.

Over 60 articles (found at: http://www.nutraingredients-usa.com/content/search?SearchText=synthetic+vitamins)
detail some of the most popular supplements that often contain synthetic ingredients. Natural sources of, for example, vitamin E are expensive. So many manufacturers opt for less expensive synthetic ingredients. Among most popular synthetic vitamin and mineral supplements are forms of:

Vitamins E and K
Folate–a form of Vitamin B
Folic acid
Synthetic fertilizers,
Synthetic growth hormones
Synthetic lycopene used against skin reddening from UV induced damage
What is the food industry doing about it?

Some companies are looking into natural additives like sedge extract to boost antioxidants and reduce food spoilage. Healthy Alternatives to food additives article - honey, fruits such as plums, grapes, raspberry, dried tomato, sea buckthorn berry, and microalgea.

What can we do?

Read labels, urge food producers and sellers to do the same. As much as possible use natural food sources of vitamins and minerals instead of pills. Many of our most valuable sources of vitamins and minerals are fresh fruits and vegetables, seaweeds, nuts and seeds.

Grow and Eat Local. Urge local farmers to avoid synthetic pesticides. Tell them about neem spray. Neem spray, made from the East Indian neem tree, does not allow pest eggs to mature. A few farmers are now growing neem trees south of Miami, Florida. Neem spray is easily available, for home and industrial use, online.

For health news and information, see www.asianhealthsecrets.com