Wood And Cotton In Your Supplements Could Be Damaging Your Health

Cellulose and microcrystalline cellulose can be found in nearly every supplement and probiotic available. Unfortunately, these items can be many things.

International Journal of Chemical Sciences, Department of Chemical Engineering, College of Engineering and Technology in India says, “Cellulose is found in plenty in nature in the form of cotton, hemp, jute, flax etc. A good percentage of wood also consists of cellulose.”

They go on to say, “Garment and hosiery industries are having the abundant waste of the cotton rags, cuttings etc. during the manufacturing of garments. As cotton is having highest percentages (87 to 96 %) of cellulose, it can be used for manufacturing of value added products like microcrystalline cellulose (MCC). Microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) is very important product in pharmaceutical, food, cosmetic and other industries.”

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The Journal of Advanced Pharmaceutical Technology and Research says, “Microcrystalline cellulose (MCCI) has been widely used as an excipient for direct compression due to its good flowability, compressibility, and compactibility. MCCI, (is/was) obtained from agricultural by-products, such as corn cob, sugar cane bagasse, rice husk, and cotton by pursuing acid hydrolysis, neutralization, clarification, and drying steps.”

The Indian Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences says, “Microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) for industrial purposes is usually obtained from wood pulp and purified cotton linters. Each of these is a ‘natural’ source, cotton is a high value-added crop and wood pulp generally originates in some manner from deforestation.”

Drugs.com says, “Microcrystalline cellulose (C6H10O5)n is refined wood pulp. It is a white, free-flowing powder. Chemically, it is an inert substance, is not degraded during digestion and has no appreciable absorption. In large quantities it provides dietary bulk and may lead to a laxative effect.”

They go on to say, “Microcrystalline cellulose is a commonly used excipient in the pharmaceutical industry. It has excellent compressibility properties and is used in solid dose forms, such as tablets. Tablets can be formed that are hard, but dissolve quickly. Microcrystalline cellulose is the same as cellulose, except that it meets USP standards.”

The Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Dhaka, Department of Pharmacy, State University of Bangladesh and the Department of Pharmacy, Primeasia University put forth a report entitled the, “Preparation of Microcrystalline Cellulose from Cotton and its Evaluation as Direct Compressible Excipient in the Formulation of Naproxen Tablets.”

When referencing microcrystalline cellulose they say, “It is one of the mostly used filler-binders in direct tablet compression. Its popularity in direct compression is due to its excellent binding properties when used as a dry binder.In addition to its use in direct compression formulations, MCC is used as a diluent in tablets prepared by wet granulation as well as a filler for capsules and spheres.”

The purpose of their report was, of course, financial for pharmaceuticals. They said, “Traditionally, MCC has been prepared from bamboo, wood pulp, and viscose rayon. 2-4 Attempts have also been made to produce MCC from other sources such as newsprint waste, corncobs, bagasse, rice straw as well as fast-growing plants.”

The USDA ranks cotton in the top three GMO crops. Glyphosate is a patented antibiotic. It is not beneficial to take an antibiotic in your probiotic. 

*Nourishing Plot is written by Becky Plotner, ND, traditional naturopath, CGP, D.PSc. who sees clients in Rossville, Georgia. She works as a Certified GAPS Practitioner who sees clients in her office, Skype and phone. She has been published in Wise Traditions, spoken at two Weston A. Price Conferences, Certified GAPS Practitioner Trainings, has been on many radio shows, television shows and writes for Nourishing Plot. Since her son was delivered from the effects of autism (Asperger’s syndrome), ADHD, bipolar disorder/manic depression, hypoglycemia and dyslexia, through food, she continued her education specializing in Leaky Gut and parasitology through Duke University, finishing with distinction. She is a Chapter Leader for The Weston A. Price Foundation. becky.nourishingplot@hotmail.com

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