Magnesium Stearate

[little monkey]

I have just read that Magnesium Stearate is in fact hydrogenated oil, usually cottonseed oil - I had no idea, although maybe the clue "stearate" should have made me realise it's a fat, I just didn't put 2 and 2 together

Also, that when it is used in the manufacturing process, it coats the particles of the supplements, for free-flow through the machines - but has the side effect of making the supplement not so well absorbed by the body!

The information is here:
http://www.drrons.com/why-no-additives.htm

They say that at an average of 8 capsules a day containing stearate, over a year you would consume over 3 ounces of hydrogenated fat a year.

I think this is too much, considering us healthy people go out of our way to AVOID hydrogenated fat - surely we don't want it in our supplements?

I think the absorption thing could be a non-issue though, as we should have enough stomach acids to break through.

What do you think Shelley? Sometimes when I take large amounts of herbal capsules they contain stearate.