How can light damage herbs or vitamins? - Vitamins & Supplements Message Board

dextar · 05-10-2007, 09:11 AM

On the bottles of some herbal and vitamin supplements it says, "Keep away from heat, light, and moisture." Why light? And it's always dark inside the bottle anyway, right?

FromSqueaky · 05-10-2007, 09:43 AM

Heat from the light , heat in general and moisture can destroy the chemicals in the herbs, vitamins and medicines. Meaning it won't work in the body they way it should or it can make you sick. Not protecting them just wastes your money.

dextar · 05-10-2007, 07:56 PM

What if it's an artificial light on the ceiling. If you left some vitamins on the counter that didn't have any sunlight shining on it but it was under some light on ur ceiling that doesn't heat anything up, would it still destroy the chemicals in the supplement?

FromSqueaky · 05-10-2007, 08:05 PM

Hmmm I would think it would be ok. I'm not 100% though

CWKaiser · 05-11-2007, 12:26 AM

I think the reason to keep them away from light is because light is a form of energy, which then speeds up the chemical reactions that breakdown the substances in the supplements. Any form of light, from the sun or lightbulb, will speed up these reactions. Most bottles are made of white plastic, which is not light proof, which may be why it says to keep them away from light sources.