You know that Manna Liposomal supplements are packed with super-potent vitamins, minerals and phytonutrients (that’s plant nutrients for us non-science nerds) from the purest ingredients on the planet.
But if you look at the supplement facts label on the back of the package, you might notice a list of Other or “Inactive Ingredients.”
If you’re not already familiar with the science that goes into formulating vitamins and supplements, seeing these extra ingredients can raise a lot of questions.
They might have strange names like “glycerin” and “lecithin” and leave you wondering just how necessary these ingredients really are.
The truth is that every supplement contains a mix of active and inactive ingredients. These ingredients work together to ensure your supplements are easy to take, absorb and store.
Every inactive ingredient in our products serves a specific purpose, and are expertly blended with a specific ratio of active and inactive ingredients, so you can confidently enjoy the maximum benefits from your wellness routine.
We’ll go into more detail below on what are other ingredients in vitamins – manna edition.
What are “Inactive” or “Other” Ingredients?
“Inactive” or “other” ingredients listed on your vitamin label are ingredients that don’t contribute directly to the nutritional value of your supplements. However, they’re still just as important! In fact, these ingredients play a critical role in delivering, optimizing and preserving the active ingredients (aka, the nutrition) in your supplements.
For example, Manna uses an inactive ingredient called sunflower oil lecithin in all of our supplements. This ingredient forms the liposomes in our liposomal delivery system. On its own, sunflower oil lecithin doesn’t do much. But when paired with Manna’s active ingredients, it helps your body absorb up to 10x more nutrition per dose.
Inactive? We think not!
Manna’s Inactive Ingredients (and Why We Chose Them)
At Manna, we select our inactive ingredients very carefully.
Each has a purpose—to optimize nutrition, boost flavor and extend shelf life. Our inactive ingredients are held to the same standards as our active vitamins and mineral sources.
That means that they meet FDA safety standards and have long histories of safe use in human nutrition.
Here’s a quick look at the inactive ingredients you’ll find in our products.
Non-GMO Sunflower Oil Lecithin
Lecithin is a natural phospholipid source found in both plant and animal products. Sunflower oil lecithin is one of the healthiest and most beneficial forms of lecithin. It’s high in choline as well as other vitamins and minerals, and it contributes to healthy skin, low cholesterol, brain health and more [1].
Manna uses Non-GMO sunflower oil lecithin as the phospholipid provider in our liposomal delivery system.
Liposomes, made of these phospholipids, form a protective barrier around Manna’s vitamins and minerals to protect them from the destructive acids in your digestive tract. Phospholipids are also much easier for your cells to absorb.
Why?
Because cell membranes are made of them! So, vitamins with a lecithin-sourced chauffeur are super easy for your cells to usher in.
MCT Oil
MCT oil is a natural oil derived from coconuts. It works hand-in-hand with sunflower lecithin to form the liposomes that make Manna vitamins so effective.
The beneficial aspect of MCT oil is that it’s a medium-chain triglyceride. In other words, it provides energy to your cells just like carbs but without the insulin release or sugar crash.
Pretty awesome, right?
Just kidding. Sometimes we forget not everyone is a nutrition nerd like us….
Basically, it means that MCT oil is much easier to digest and absorb into your bloodstream than other triglycerides.
Oleic Acid
Oleic acid is a monounsaturated fatty acid that occurs naturally in the fats and oils of both animals and vegetables. The oleic acid found in Manna supplements is sourced from organic olive oil. Its name literally means “derived from oil or olive.”
Oleic acid is utilized as a manufacturing aid to support the proper mixing and blending of some Manna supplements.
As an added bonus, it is a great source of omega-9 fatty acids, which serves as a vital source of energy for the cells in our bodies.
Stevia
You may have heard of Stevia before. You might have even put it in your coffee! Stevia is a natural, zero-calorie sweetener. It’s what Manna uses in some of our products to give them their great taste.
Some people are wary about sugar substitutes, and they’re not wrong. Most no-calorie sweeteners are artificial, (NOT natural) and considered questionable with regards to their safety.
But not Stevia.
Stevia is plant-based and safe to add to food and drinks. South Americans have been using it as a natural sweetener for ages. It’s even a good source of antioxidants!
Citric Acid
Citric acid is a naturally occurring compound found in citrus fruits. It’s commonly used in the natural products industry due to its antimicrobial properties.
The citric acid we utilize in our products is sourced from non-GMO yeast. It is created using organic processes and ingredients and produced without the use of synthetic ingredients, including chemical pesticides, herbicides, fertilizers, hormones, antibiotics, bio-engineering, or ionizing radiation.
Glycerin
Glycerin has a name that makes it sound like a supervillain born of a laboratory disaster. But the truth is not nearly as interesting.
Manna’s glycerin comes from vegan-friendly vegetable oil, and we use it as a solvent. Think of it like adding water to thick sauce – it helps everything mix together!
Glycerin helps non-water-soluble ingredients dissolve in liquid. Without glycerin, you’d have chunky bits and sediment in your teaspoon, and nobody wants that.
It is also a healthy alternative for most sweeteners as it doesn’t spike blood sugar levels. Talk about a win, win for glycerin!
Potassium Bicarbonate
Potassium bicarbonate is a form of potassium that is an important mineral and electrolyte. It is used in trace amounts as an inactive ingredient in some Manna formulations because it helps maintain a specific acid to base balance in the formula.
With the help from potassium bicarbonate, product stability can be maintained without the need for preservatives.
Ever taste something really sour, and the entire flavor makes your face scrunch and your mouth pucker? That’s typically because of the tartness profile.
Another fun fact about potassium bicarbonate is that it is also used as a natural method to adjust the tartness in taste of Manna formulations. No puckering here!
Xylitol
Xylitol is a natural sugar alcohol sourced from plants, including many fruits and vegetables! It’s often used as a sugar substitute because it activates taste receptors for sweetness on your tongue. The best part? It may taste like sugar, but it has very fewer calories than its counterpart and doesn’t spike blood sugar levels.
Manna uses xylitol in trace amounts in several supplements as a manufacturing aid for maintaining the formulation’s creaminess and texture.
Natural Flavors
Natural flavors are used to give Manna vitamins their great taste. These flavoring ingredients are made from real-food concentrates or combinations of multiple, naturally-sourced flavoring compounds which can enhance or bring out specific notes in a flavor profile. This is a great example of where science can take what mother nature produced and make it even better, and tastier!
Are Manna’s Inactive Ingredients Different from Other Brands’?
Yes. Manna takes a different approach to inactive ingredients compared to other brands.
Most supplement brands use synthetic or cosmetic-grade ingredients to help their formula “flow” through the manufacturing equipment and fill capsules.
They also use ingredients known as excipients, to help compress and bind the active ingredients into a tablet you can swallow.
Manna’s liquid supplements don’t need to be compressed, artificially colored or shaped into a tablet with a brand printed on the side.
We add fewer inactive ingredients, and each one we include is a “helper” ingredient that plays a direct role in the taste, shelf life and bioavailability of our products.
In other words, you get all of the “helper” ingredients you need and none of the cosmetic ones you don’t.
Inactive Ingredients Still Matter
Manna takes the same care to source our inactive ingredients as we do our active ones. That’s because everything you put in your body matters to us, whether it’s deemed “active” or “inactive”.
Our team of nutritionists and scientists combine each ingredient with purpose in order to optimize the effect you get from our products.
So, whether it’s an active ingredient or an “other ingredient,” you know that every part of Manna plays a role in your good health.
FAQ
Inactive ingredients are substances included in supplements that don’t directly contribute to their nutritional value but help with absorption, stability, and taste.
Sunflower oil lecithin is used to form liposomes, which protect and enhance the absorption of active ingredients, allowing your body to absorb up to 10x more nutrition.
MCT oil, derived from coconuts, aids in forming liposomes and is easily digestible, providing quick energy without insulin spikes or sugar crashes.
Yes, stevia is a natural, zero-calorie sweetener used to improve taste. It’s plant-based and considered safe, with antioxidant benefits and no sugar spike.
Glycerin acts as a solvent, helping to dissolve non-water-soluble ingredients and maintain a smooth, consistent texture in the supplement.
Sources:
- https://www.annalsofrscb.ro/index.php/journal/article/view/8884
- https://www.ams.usda.gov/sites/default/files/media/P%20Sor%20technical%20advisory%20panel%20report.pdf
- https://efsa.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.2903/j.efsa.2014.3792
