Monday 23 November 2015

Bigger Isn't Always Better in the Supplement World: Why Micronization Makes All the Difference!

*Accepting or refusing specific medical care is a personal decision. Please consult your family doctor or other healthcare professional prior to commencing any medical treatment, including taking health supplements.

We often say that size matters, but bigger isn’t always better, especially when it comes to supplements and the body’s ability to absorb them. You might have heard that Americans are considered to have the most expensive urine. Why? Well, if your body is unable to absorb the vitamins and minerals you swallow every morning, then your literally flushing all your money down the toilet. So, why can’t we absorb all of the vitamins and minerals on the market? And why does micronization make such a difference?

Why You May Be Pouring Your Supplements Down the Drain
The controversial topic of absorption hit the market years ago. Are all those vitamins and minerals you’re taking really doing you any good? Or are you among those worldwide wasting millions upon millions of pounds each year? It has become common practice over the last few decades to substitute proper eating habits for vitamins and supplements. And let’s be honest, it’s easier to pop a few pills in the morning than to go to the grocery store in search of quality produce. Add to that the growing popularity of health supplements and you’ve got a large section of the population taking pills rather than following a balanced diet.

What’s the big deal about taking pills? Well, the problem lies primarily in the bioavailability of the vitamins and minerals themselves. What does that mean? Bioavailability refers to how well a substance is absorbed into your system. Some products, when taken orally, are not very bioavailable, meaning they are not easily absorbed into your body when passing through the gastrointestinal tract. If these particles are not absorbed into your system then your body either metabolizes them (breaks them down into their component parts) or simply passes them out of your system; either way, your body isn’t benefiting and neither is your wallet. What can be done, then, to improve bioavailability and to ensure our bodies are absorbing the supplements were are taking?

What is Micronization and Why Bother Doing it?
In order for a substance to be more bioavailable, the molecules would need to be smaller. And that is exactly what micronization does. Micronization is the process of making the particles of a substance “micro” or very small. To put it in layman’s terms, this is how micronization works: Imagine trying to sieve rice with a colander. Some rice may fall through the cracks but the majority will remain in the colander. Micronization makes the rice particles the size of salt, so to speak. And salt easily falls through the cracks of the colander. In a similar way, our bodies have a much easier time absorbing particles after micronization.

Micronization isn’t a new technology. In fact, it has been around for about 50 years. Micronization is actually fairly simple. There are several types but one of the most common is the jet mill. This mill uses collision between particles to “grind” the particles into smaller pieces, without the use of heat. When done properly, nearly all of the particles become uniformly smaller. This helps our body to absorb the substance more easily when taken orally.

Why Should I Buy Micronized Health Products?
Quality health products aren’t cheap. In fact, they’re darn expensive! So, why would you pay an arm and a leg for a product that you aren’t sure can even be absorbed by your body? Good question! The truth is that even if a product claims to be easily absorbent, it doesn’t mean that YOUR body will absorb it. If you are in poor health, your system could need extra “help” in order to absorb properly. Many of us eat what we want, when we want. This takes its toll on our bodies and results in poor health. In fact, some of us have treated our bodies so badly that even following a balanced diet isn’t a guarantee that our bodies will be able to absorb the nutrients in the food we eat.

And the Conclusion of the Matter is…
In the end you need to listen to your own body. If you are taking an non-micronized product that seems to be working well, then by all means keep taking it. If, however, you are unhappy or only just satisfied with the results of the products you are taking, then why not try the micronized version of a similar product? There are some pretty amazing testimonial cases of customers who have tried micronized products, such as medicinal mushrooms, and have been blown away by the results.

You, of course, will need to decide for yourself. That said, what’s there to lose? Why not give micronization a try?

by Barak Anderson

Resources/Credits:
“Micronization as a Bioavailability Enhancement Tool”, Adeline Siew, PhD, http://www.pharmtech.com/micronization-bioavailability-enhancement-tool
 “API Mocronization & Nanosizing: Master Particle Size”, Sarhash Davuluri, http://www.neulandlabs.com/blog/2014/06/02/api-micronization-nanosizing-mastering-particle-size/

Did you know that Purica's line of Mushroom products are all micronized for better absorption? Why not try Red Reishi for stress, Chaga for your immune system, or Cordyceps for energy? Buy today at Purica.co.uk!

No comments:

Post a Comment