This page may contain affiliate links. Read our disclosure here.
Top 5 Synthetic Supplements I’d NEVER Use
Synthetic supplements are cheaply made for mass production (sometimes they are made from things like GMO corn or petroleum- no thanks!).
They never address the real issues going on underneath it all. Ask WHY you are dealing with so many deficiencies instead of just adding even more synthetic supplements to your plan.
I get that it’s super easy to just take a pill for each thing, but our obsession with instant gratification can’t spill over into health, especially when this mentality doesn’t actually help us to truly heal.
1- Iron
Iron needs a lot of other minerals to be utilized correctly, plus we need a healthy gut and liver. Taking synthetic iron will never solve the root issues of low iron.
What I’d do instead:
- Gut Healing
- Liver support
- Whole food vitamin C
- Desiccated beef liver
- Nettle infusions: a strong herbal tea. Click here to read more.
- Whole iron post here
2- Vitamin D
This one creates a massive cascade of changes in the body. It lowers vitamin A, which lowers potassium, which increases calcium absorption, which then slows down your metabolism. This influences the *entire body*.
What I’d do instead:
- Gut Healing
- Liver support
- Cod liver oil (Earthley’s is great)
- Healthy sun exposure
- Foods like eggs, shiitake mushrooms, sardines, etc.
- Whole post on vitamin D here.
3- Vitamin C
Synthetic ascorbic acid is one of the biggest copper antagonists. Copper is already a pain to balance as it is! Ascorbic acid is usually made from GMO corn too- yuck.
What I’d do instead:
- Whole food vitamin C (Earthley and Perfect Supplements have great options)
- Adrenal support (sodium/potassium balancing especially). We don’t store much vitamin C in the body, but most of what we do store is in the adrenals. When we’re stressed, we can burn through those stores.
- Foods like pineapple, kiwi, bell peppers, lemons, oranges
- My whole post on vitamin C
4- Copper
Just like iron, a LOT goes into proper copper utilization. Taking it on its own won’t fix a deficiency. This is the most common imbalance I see on HTMAs, and it’s one of the hardest to fully fix. BUT you can fix it!
What I’d do instead:
- Bioray Liver Life
- Dandelion root tea
- Vitamin C from whole food forms like Earthley’s or Perfect Supplements Acerola
- Cod liver Oil
- Earthley’s Oyster Min (once you are ready for a good food based zinc source)
- Foods like eggs, organ meats (especially grass fed beef liver!), poultry, beans, nuts
- My whole post on copper
5- Zinc
Some say that the longer you supplement with zinc, the less you absorb. Since it’s also a copper antagonist, I wouldn’t recommend it in synthetic form. Zinc really depends on healthy stomach acid levels so it’s important to work on gut healing for absorption.
What I’d do instead:
- Gut healing, especially increasing stomach acid
- Foods like lamb, beef, pumpkin seeds, hemp seeds, chickpeas, lentils, cashews, kefir, avocado, oyster.
- Earthley’s Oystermin: If oysters are a safe food for you, these capsules can help with a lot of nutrient deficiencies. This is a great source of zinc, copper, B12, selenium, and iron.
- Perfect’s ZinCerola is a great zinc/whole food vitamin C supplement. It is plant based, but it has an entire 11mg of zinc per 2 capsules (men need 15mg, women need 8mg) and 100% Daily Value of vitamin C.
- My whole post on zinc
If you are ordering from Perfect Supplements you can use the code SASSY for 10% off everything for every order.
If you have never ordered from Earthley before they have a one-time code for 10% off: SASSY10 or if it’s been over 1-2 months since your order you can try the code REVIVE10
The body is a whole and we must treat it as such! I have my Bachelor of Science in Natural Health Sciences, certificates in Herbal Studies from Herbal Academy, and I am constantly learning more about health to help my clients and followers.
My goal is to help you unleash your own inner healer! You already hold the power to heal inside you. My role is as a guide to help you realize this potential.