09. Problematic Supplements Self-Reflection
If you are taking a supplement it better be serving your greatest good, if not, it's draining your energy and money! There are numerous supplements out there that are intended to help you but in reality could be hurting you. Take the self-reflection score and look at why these supplements fall into this problematic list below. Learning why these are detrimental helps you eliminate toxins and align with supportive clean supplements.
It’s also important to be aware of any fillers or preservatives in your supplements such as citric acid, natural flavors, aspartame, MSG (monosodium glutamate), alcohol, guar gum, carrageenan and other possibilities.
This self-reflection exercise helps you determine if your supplements are actually benefitting you. Approach this exercise with honesty, curiosity and without judgment. You are ultimately doing this to serve your health!
Reflect for ~8 min or more with the next 1-3 days on your supplements. *Unless otherwise directed.
- Optionally use the Problematic Supplements calculator below.
- Log your Problematic Supplements Self-Reflection in your journal at the bottom of the page for later reference.
- Make adjustments to your supplements based on the recommendations below within the next 1-3 days.
- Perform this self-reflection again in about 2 weeks to assess your progress and to gather any new information to continue to support you and your greatest good.
- Ideally this reflects your daily intake although you may reflect over a week or month-long period as desired.
Problematic Supplements Recommendations
- Review why each supplement is a problem to better understand the need to eliminate them from your healing approach.
- In general, it is recommended to have no problematic supplements at all, especially if you have a chronic illness.
- Optionally, use your testing technique to determine which problematic supplements to eliminate first or learn about.
Why are they so bad?
Browse the following 55 problematic supplements from each category below, or use your testing technique to determine which ones are priority for you eliminate or learn about:
Categories:
- Significantly Problematic and Damaging (27 total)
- Mildly Problematic (12 total)
- Overrated or Overused (10 total)
- Quality Concerning (7 total)
Significantly Problematic and Damaging Supplements 1-10
1. Alkaline Ionizer Water Machines
- Metal inside machines oxidizes over times leaching toxic metals into water, disrupts natural electrical properties of water.
2. Apple Cider Vinegar
- Harsh on glial cells and neurotransmitters in the brain, increases oxidation of any heavy metals in body, creates acidity in body leaching calcium out of bones and teeth (osteoporosis and tooth decay), dehydrates cells
3. Bentonite Clay
- Not effective at removing toxic heavy metals, harsh on intestinal lining, removes oxygen in gut which can suffocate good bacteria and allow bad to proliferate
4. Caffeine-based energy supplements
- Lowers immune system, weakens the adrenals and the excess adrenaline produced from the caffeine is toxic to the brain and body.
- Creates acidity facilitating mineral loss in bones and teeth.
5. Charcoal
- Not effective at removing toxic heavy metals but can keep them buried in the intestines and body.
- Suffocates intestinal linings negatively impacting nutrient absorption, suffocates good bacteria.
- Ok to use on occasion in toothpaste but don’t swallow.
6. Chlorella
- Not effective at removing toxic heavy metals as it tends to drop them and they become displaced vs excreted.
- Not anti-pathogenic but typically has bad bacteria.
7. Chlorine Dioxide (sodium chlorite)
- Irritates intestinal tract, kills good bacteria, toxic to brain.
8. Cod or Shark Liver Oil
- Contains high concentrations of toxin including mercury.
9. Colostrum
- Dairy derived which feeds pathogens.
- Unless an infant
10. Deer Antler (aka deer velvet/antler velvet)
- The hormones can disrupt your endocrine system.
Significantly Problematic and Damaging Supplements 11-20
11. Diatomaceous Earth
- Adheres to intestinal lining and irritates the stomach and intestinal nerves.
12. Digestive Bitters
- Normally contain alcohol which is damaging and dehydrating to the body.
13. Essential Oils taken internally
- High amounts can trigger vagus nerve spasms resulting in anxiety, burning sensations and hypersensitivities.
- Avoid getting on upholstery as it can create an environment for mold to grow.
14. Fat Burners
- Typically have unhealthy fillers, preservatives, MSG or caffeine. Not effective at burning fat.
- Increase load on liver and usually include stimulants that stress adrenals.
15. Fish Oil/Krill Oil
- Even if you have been distilled to remove mercury the vibrational/homeopathic imprint is still present and toxic to the brain. Other toxins are also typically present.
- Use an algae based supplement instead.
16. Gut Powder Blends
- Irritate gut and disrupt microbiome creating increased sensitivity, bloating and anxiety.
17. Herbal Tinctures in alcohol
- Alcohol impairs the vitality and effectiveness of the herb in addition to putting additional strain on the liver.
18. Hydrochloric (HCL/HCI) Supplements
- Irritate stomach and intestinal linings and tend to weaken stomach glands vs strengthen them. Does not mimic our true stomach acid and thus does not appropriately break down proteins as intended.
19. L-Carnitine/L-Arginine
- Tend to feed viral pathogens, particularly in high amounts, because these amino acids comprise eggs which were used in labs to raise viruses.
20. Mineral Oil
- Derived from petroleum and often contain industrial toxins.
- Do not use internally or externally.
Significantly Problematic and Damaging Supplements 21-27
21. Mushroom Coffee (with caffeine)
- The mushrooms by themselves can be beneficial. The caffeine stresses the adrenals, produces excessive adrenaline which is corrosive to the body. Also can lead to addiction.
22. Oyster Supplements
- Often contain toxic heavy metals and petrochemicals. Are not a good source of zinc as claimed.
23. Pearl Powder
- Irritates intestinal linings and vagus nerve creating anxiety.
- Takes a while to leave the gut.
- Has traces of mercury.
24. Sodium Bicarbonate (baking soda)
- Ok to use in small amounts for baking but taken in large amounts internally can irritate the gut and vagus nerve causing spasms and anxiety.
25. Turpentine Oil
- Very abrasive to the intestinal tract killing off beneficial bacteria, toxic the body.
26. Whey Protein Powder
- Feeds pathogens and thus promotes inflammation. Difficult for humans to break down and utilize it.
27. Zeolites
- Neither edible or inedible are recommended as they can create imbalances in the gut. Do not discern between a toxic heavy metal and a healthy trace mineral which can lead to deficiencies. Stays in the gut and does not get into the bloodstream or cross the blood brain barrier.
Mildly Problematic Supplements 1-10
1. Amino Acid Combination Supplements
- Often contain a mixture of both beneficial and unproductive amino acids which can feed pathogens.
2. Chicken Cartilage
- Increases acidity in the body which can leach calcium from bones and teeth weakening them.
3. Desiccated animal organs and glandular supplements
- Contain toxic heavy metals, adrenaline, foreign hormones and pathogen debris.
4. Electrolyte Powders and Beverages
- Poor quality sodium and minerals increase dehydration.
- Do not replicate naturally occurring electrolytes found in fruits, greens and veggies.
5. Herbal Combination Powders
- Often contain harmful additives, toxic heavy metals and not high enough dosages to be effective.
6. Chlorella
- Not effective at removing toxic heavy metals as it tends to drop them and they become displaced vs excreted.
- Not anti-pathogenic but typically has bad bacteria.
7. Iron Supplements (non-plant based)
- Do not address the real reason you are low in iron which is due to pathogens.
- Best to use plant based supplement or increase consumption of iron rich foods such as spinach, barley grass, parsley, wild blueberries, red/purple/black grapes, blackberries, cilantro, juiced burdock root, potatoes with skins, kale, sprouts, squash, asparagus, sulfur-free dried apricots, raisins or small amounts of pumpkin seeds.
8. Neem Oil (taken internally)
- Irritates stomach, intestines and vagus nerve.
9. Oil Pulling
- Oil will coat and protect bad bacteria in and around gums, decreasing oxygen and allowing them to proliferate.
10. Pine Needle Tea
- Irritates intestines, vagus nerve and thus increases anxiety.
Mildly Problematic Supplements 11-12
11. Pre-workout Supplements
- Does not benefit your body and often contain MSG and caffeine.
12. Senna Leaf
- Irritates intestinal lining.
Overrated and Overused Supplements 1-10
1. CBD
- Does not address toxins and pathogens, the real reason for pain, inflammation and disease.
- Is now often mixed with other nutrients which are more effective than the CBD itself but the CBD gets the credit.
2. Chlorophyll
- When separating chlorophyll out for a supplement there are crucial co-factors that are missing for it to be effective.
- Needs to be in natural form.
3. Collagen
- Promotes liver stagnation and burden which then makes it harder for the body to create new collagen.
- Consuming collagen does not promote more collagen building.
- You need to consume plants, fruits and herbs for collagen.
- Products are now starting to include these which is what is actually effective, not the collagen.
4. Fruit and Vegetable Powders
- The nutritional benefit of these small amounts of freeze dried and dehydrated products is significantly less than consuming an actual fresh fruit, vegetable or leafy green. If a powder is going to be beneficial needs to be only 1 type of ingredient with good sourcing.
5. Fulvic Minerals, Fulvic Acid, Humic Acid, Humic Minerals and Shilajit
- Are not antiviral or bind to toxic heavy metals, can be dehydrating in large doses, can irritate intestinal lining, sourcing of some are questionable. Are often combined with other herbs which can be what is actually helping.
6. Maca Root
- Can disrupt the endocrine system, particularly if taken daily. Provides a temporary relief of symptoms due to mild steroidal effect.
7. Plant Protein Powder
- Can irritate intestines and vagus nerve. Some have MSG labeled as “natural flavors.”
- Protein is not an essential nutrient for healing illness.
8. Prebiotics
- The best source is raw fruits, leafy greens, herbs, wild foods and veggies vs these processed products.
9. Probiotics
- Can contain harmful additives, do not get rid of bad bacteria nor promote restoration of good bacteria.
- Products are now starting to include other beneficial nutrients to increase effectiveness which is really from the other nutrients and not the probiotics themselves.
10. Vitamin D overuse/megadose
- Is not an anti-pathogenic nutrient, large doses burden the liver.
- Does not absorb or work better in combination with vitamin K (which is very abundant in food and not needed for supplementation).
- 1000-5000 IU is the optimal dosage with occasional short uses of 10,000 if someone is very deficient.
Quality Concerning Supplements 1-7
1. Cyanocobalamin
- This version of B12 is low quality and not a usable form for the body.
- Best to take a combination of methylcobalamin and adenosylcobalamin.
2. Low-quality Colloidal Silver
- Low quality versions can contain copper and nickel and do not have pure silver that is activated or the right size.
3. Low-quality Zinc
- Caution for any additives such as citric acid or preservatives.
- Some can be very irritating to the digestive system and create vomiting. Best to get liquid zinc sulfate.
4. MTC Oil
- Interferes with glucose absorption in cells and brain facilitating insulin resistance.
- Ones derived from palm kernel oil are particularly unhealthy.
5. Multivitamins and Hair-Skin-Nail Supplements
- Often low quality and do not contain high enough dosages to be effective.
6. Oregano Oil
- Best used in cases of acute food poisoning for about 1 week.
- It is not recommended to take essential oil internally. Can use the supplement form of oregano oil to help kill off bad bacteria.
7. Prenatals
- Often low quality with not high enough dosages to be effective nor actually contain the nutrients necessary for reproductive health.
- It is recommended to include:
- spirulina powder, or capsules
- barley grass juice powder,
- wild blueberry (fresh, frozen, liquid or powder),
- methylfolate,
- B12 (adenosyl + methyl)
- and a non-ascorbic acid vitamin C.
Enjoy these other related Master Guide items to Resonate Health:
Disclaimer and Copyright
This nutritional content is being provided for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for medical advice. Some supplements may not interact well with medications. Please consult your medical doctor or professional if you have medical concerns. If you experience any discomfort or adverse effects discontinue.
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