Dark Chocolate is a defining feature of Tom & Jerry's Chocolate Tumeries, here's why !

Key Takeaway: Chocolate Tumeries incororating dark chocolate is superior way to take Turmeric versus pills whch commonly use binders, fillers & excipients.

In our effort to provide you with the absolute highest quality Turmeric supplement possible we researched the possibility of manufacturing in a pill form and purposely chose not to go this route. One huge reason was to avoid using any binders, fillers & excipients in the products we provide you. While this might be fine for others, it is not consistent with our approach of providing the absolute highest quality product possible.

Avoid pills if possible. Tom & Jerry’s Chocolate Tumeries incorporate all the health benefits of Turmeric into a dark chocolate treat while avoiding all the potential issues associated with the use of fillers / binders / excipients in our product. Keep in mind the fact that this is a dietary supplement that you may be taking daily over a long time frame.

Dietary supplements are well known sources of unwanted fillers, binders & excipients that are best avoided if at all possible. They are used extensively in the manufacture of pills & capsules to help with manufacturing and stabilization of what is being processed. To avoid them it is best to ask yourself if you can prove whether you have complete faith that the manufacturer of the supplement does not use binders, fillers & excipients rather than looking for hints of them on a product label.

What ‘pray tell’ is an excipient?

• Excipients are used in the pill & capsule manufacturing process to stabilize the active ingredients in the pill so they stay active during extended periods of time (for example; potentially long shelf times often encountered in a retail store).

Why is this dangerous and worth avoiding;

• Manufacturers have no requirement to tell you exactly how much of a filler they are using so it’s hard to discern what you’re really getting.
  • e. Lactose is a common filler, if you are lactose intolerant at all information regarding quantity used in a supplement taken multiple times a day for an extended period of time is vital to know.
• Drug companies are not required to list non-medicinal ingredients on dispensing labels. It is up to you to contact a pharmacist who hopefully has access to a list of ‘non-medicinal ingredients they can reference.
• There is very little research focused on the long term impact of excipients on health. Here are a few examples where research highlights reason for concern. Notice how often you see references to ‘autoimmune disease’ and ‘autoimmune function’.
  • Magnesium stearate: Is a widely used excipient in nutraceutical and pharmaceutical products. Some studies have shown that it suppresses immune function. (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/2379942) Magnesium stearate is naturally produced when soap and hard water mix creating the unwanted “soap scum” ring around bathtubs.
  • Parabens: Are a group of widely used preservative and anti-microbial agent in personal care products and supplements. There is growing concern that parabens can cause hormone disruptions and they have been found in high concentrations in breast cancer tumours. Parabens can be found in supplements as methylparabens, ethylparaben, propylparaben, butylparaben. Choose supplements that avoid this potentially harmful substance (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16021681)
  • Talc: Is a known carcinogenic. Studies have shown that it increases the risk of endometrial cancer in peri-menopausal women when used topically in the peri-anal area. Inhalant or intravenous talc exposure increases the risk of pulmonary toxicity. Intravenous talc can lead to various degrees of granulomatous formation, compromised pulmonary function or death. The use of talc should be strictly avoided in supplements, oral, inhaled and topical.( https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20406962)  

Excipients and fillers are added to pharmaceuticals (drugs) and nutraceuticals (supplements) to help with the manufacturing and stabilization of these products. They are the “glue” which bind and stabilize a supplement. Historically they have been considered inert and without any medicinal benefit or influence. This assumption has allowed their use to be wide-spread with little regard for their actual influence. Excipients, for example have been found to initiate or participate in chemical and physical interactions which can compromise the efficacy of a medication or supplement. Excipients and fillers can influence the efficacy and quality of supplement and drugs and are best avoided when choosing supplements. Here is a quick summary of a few different types of fillers, binders and excipients

• Anti-adherents: the most common anti-adherent used in manufacturing is magnesium stearate. It is used to prevent product from sticking or adhering to machines in the manufacturing plant, thereby decreasing waste and increasing profitability for companies.
• Binders are used to hold ingredients together. They also give weight and allow small active ingredients to be combined into an easy to take capsule or tablet. Binders are typically a sugar derivative and include: lactose, sucrose, microcrystalline cellulose, malitol, sorbitol, xylitol etc.
• Coatings are added to tablets to help make large, difficult to swallow pills easier to take. They also prevent deterioration from water and moisture. Coatings can also allow for breakdown in a specific organ in the body. For example enteric coatings allows for breakdown in the small intestine, preventing breakdown in the acidic environment of the stomach. Examples include: hydroxypropylmethocellulose (HPMC).
• Disintegrants allows for breakdown of a capsule or tablet when wet. This ensures rapid breakdown to facilitate rapid absorption of a product. Examples include: sodium starch glycosylate.
• Fillers and diluents add bulk to products making very small active components easy for consumer to take. Examples include: lactose, sucrose, magnesium stearate, glucose, plant cellulose, calcium carbonate etc.
• Lubricants & flow enhancers prevent the clumping of active ingredients and prevent the sticking of materials to machines in the manufacturing plant. Examples include: silica, talc (often mined in very close physical proximity to asbestos), stearic acid, magnesium stearate etc.
• Preservatives are used to extend the shelf-life of products and prevent degradation, oxidation, bacterial growth etc. Examples include: vitamin A, C, E, selenium, amino acids, methyl paraben, propyl paraben
• Colours are commonly added to pharmaceutical products to help identify drugs. This is of particular concern for individuals on multiple pharmaceutical agents to avoid unnecessary overdose. 

Key take away; you will not find many of these on product labels, ask yourself if you are fully satisfied that the source of your Turmeric supplement does not use any of these ingredients to aid their manufacturing process. We can guarantee to you that Tom & Jerry's Chcoclate Tumeries do not !