_{When people think of vitamins, most of us think about healthy and natural, but vitamin supplements can be artificial, and in fact, many vitamin supplements produced today are artificial.}

_{There are six categories of nutrients used in the manufacturing of vitamin supplements today.}

• _{Natural source – the nutrients come from vegetable, animal or mineral sources. however, the vitamin still undergo processing and refining.}  
• _{Nature-identical synthetic – These nutrients  are manufactured in a lab with the molecular structure identical to the same nutrients in nature.  This process is preferred because of the cost and scarcity of natural resources. Most standard vitamin supplements on the market today are this type.}
•  _{Strictly synthetic – These nutrients are manufactured in a lab , Synthetic vitamins can have the same chemical constituents, but still have a different shape (optical activity). This is important because some of the enzymes in the human body only work properly with a vitamin of the correct shape. When we give the body concentrated forms of synthetic nutrients, it doesn’t always appear to have an appropriate delivery system.}
• _{Food cultured –  Raw material are  grown in yeast or algae; and through the process of culturing – it creates new nutrients.}
• _{Food based extracts which come from whole food sources. This is not a popular method as the nutrients have unstable levels and a limited shelf life.}
• _{Bacterial fermentation –These nutrients are produced by genetically altering bacteria which can produce nutrient by-products.}

_{Supplement manufacturers often add fillers to their vitamins during manufacturing to make the pills or capsules more appealing, and easier to swallow.  Just like processed foods being loaded with additives and fillers, the same goes for vitamins.}

_{Manufacturers put additives into your vitamin tablets for many different reasons:}

• _{Fillers – to add volume to tablets and capsules} 
• _{Bulking agents – to top up the content of the pills or capsules} 
• _{Binders – used to stick ingredients together in a tablet} 
• _{Anti-caking agents – to stop the ingredients clogging up machines} 
• _{Coatings – to make swallowing easy} 
• _{Preservatives – to save ingredients from spoiling} 
• _{Emulsifiers – to bind water to fats} 
• _{Colours – to look more appealing to the consumer} 
• _{Flavours – to alter the taste, even in tablets that are swallowed whole} 
• _{Sweeteners – to make flavour more palatable, again, even for tablets}  

_{Here are a few of the non-essential ingredients that can be added to your vitamins:}

_{Artificial Colors  – These artificial colors are added to compensate for color loss due to exposure to light, air, temperature extremes, moisture and storage conditions.  Blue No. 1, Blue No. 2, Green No. 3, Red No. 3, Red No. 40,  Yellow No. 5,  Yellow No. 6}  

_{Hydrogenated Oils –  are used as fillers, particularly hydrogenated soybean oil. Unless soy is organic, it will be genetically modified.}

_{Magnesium Stearate – This is used as a lubricant so that the vitamins don’t stick together.  One study links this compound to creating a suppressed immune system, by creating a biofilm in the intestines. This biofilm blocks the body from absorbing any nutrients.}

_{Titanium dioxide – this colourant is used to make tablets bright white. It is not an ingredient found in any natural food.}

_{Sodium selenite and selenite – toxic, inorganic chemical sources of selenium.}

_{Always read the ingredients of your vitamin or supplements, and know what you are taking.}