If you've stumbled across the New Chapter range of whole food multivitamins and organic vitamins, you are probably also wondering about the "Supercritical" label that many of them have. Many people take it to mean that the supplement is one of the most critical elements of their diet … and while this can be true of the nutrients these little pills contain, it isn’t the intended meaning! Today we take a look at exactly what supercriticality is, and some of the products that utilize this technology and extraction method.
What is a supercritical fluid?
Rather like the superheroes of old, who were not quite man, not quite monster, supercritical fluids are stuck between two physical states. The critical point represents that highest pressure and highest temperature at which a substance can exist as a liquid and vapor in equilibrium. Above a certain pressure things trend towards being solid, while above a certain temperature they trend towards becoming liquid, then vapour -- think water turning to steam as it heats up.
However, there is a magical point at which something can be a solid, liquid and gas all at once. There is also a temperature and pressure range above which a substance is considered supercritical, and has the properties of both liquids and gases, both dissolving other materials and diffusing through solids.
What does supercritical mean with supplements?
It doesn’t actually mean that the organic vitamins exist in a supercritical state, partway between solid and gas … although that would be a neat trick! It means that their ingredients are obtained by supercritical extraction -- that a herb is taken to its supercritical zone to distill a substance from it.
What are the benefits of supercritical extraction?
It is the gentlest way to extract vitamins and minerals from a herb, and means that chemical solvents don't have to be used in the process.
What are some examples of supercritical supplements?
New Chapter has the market in supercritical supplements pretty much tied up! Check out some of their products if you want to see what difference taking supercritical, rather than ordinary, supplements could make to how you feel. Their range includes:
- Supercritical DHA 100
- Supercritical DHA 100
- Supercritical Holy Basil
- Supercritical Omega
- Supercritical Stress Advantage Stress Take Care
- Supercritical Antioxidants
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