Magnesium Stearate: Is It Bad For You?

If you went to any health store that offers supplements, it would be a challenge to find any that do not contain magnesium stearate. 

What is magnesium stearate, and is it bad for you?

Magnesium stearate is a synthetic additive that is used to lubricate the supplement ingredients to fit into capsules and fill up remaining space within the capsules.

This compound is synthesized by adding magnesium ions to stearic acid. Stearic acid is naturally found in plants such as cottonseed oil, canola oil, and palm oil.

While stearic acid is naturally occurring in nature, magnesium stearate is not. Magnesium stearate is synthesized in laboratories by getting fractioned, bleached, and deodorized. 

The Issue

The biggest issue is that magnesium stearate is synthetic and not found in nature; our bodies do not have a natural mechanism in place for utilizing it. 

This means the body will treat it as a toxin and target it for removal, which may lead to unwanted or unexpected effects in the body. Those who are particularly sensitive have experienced negative reactions, such as:

• Allergic reactions 
• Diarrhea
• Weakened immune system (by suppressing T-Cell function)

The Solution

Magnesium stearate has not been tested for long-term human consumption.

While more research is needed to determine whether it is truly harmful in the long-term, the solution is simple:

Less is more.

Magnesium stearate and steric acid are used solely for the benefit of the manufacturer. They are both cheap additives that increase productivity, speed up manufacturing, and lower manufacturing costs.

When these unnecessary fillers are added, it can burden the body and diminish the benefits of the supplements.

There are zero health benefits to consuming magnesium stearate.

If there is no benefit, we believe it doesn't belong in the body or in the supplements we consume. 

Conclusion

Asking if magnesium stearate is bad for you is fine, but it doesn't look at the whole picture.

A better question could be: "Does magnesium stearate belong in the body?"

Because it has no benefit to our overall wellness, the answer is no.

The supplements you take should not have fillers or additives. When looking for supplements, they should be made of pure, whole foods, and as close to nature as possible.

Simply Pure 

One aspect of wellness simplified is leaving out what doesn't belong in the body.

This is why we've designed our supplements to be free of any fillers, additives, and preservatives - making sure what's in each bottle is as close to nature as possible.