[Podcast] What's Really in Your Vitamin D? The Truth About Carrier Oils

On this episode of the Reality of Herbal Therapy with Jim Applegate, the hosts pick up from last week’s conversation with Cherie Calbom and dig into a surprisingly common source of hidden seed oils: dietary supplements. They trace how industrial seed oils became ubiquitous, explain why those processing methods matter for health, and introduce the difference between seed oils and fruit oils like olive, avocado, and coconut.

The episode covers the science behind fat-soluble vitamins and why the carrier oil matters for absorption. Listeners will learn why vitamin D must be delivered with a fat, how the body produces vitamin D from sun exposure, and why D3 (calciferol) is the preferred, bioavailable form. The hosts describe product details of their own formula — a 5,000 IU D3 softgel carried in extra virgin olive oil — and why they chose that formulation over the seed-oil alternatives.

Key practical advice includes how to read supplement labels to find the carrier oil listed under "other ingredients," which oils to prefer (extra virgin olive, avocado, coconut), and which to avoid (sunflower, safflower, canola/rapeseed and other heavily processed seed oils). The show also highlights shelf-life considerations: the risk of rancid oils, the importance of dark sealed bottles, cool storage, and checking expiration dates.

Listeners will also hear dosing guidance and real-life uses from the hosts' experience — daily maintenance dosing versus short-term higher doses to boost immunity during seasonal transitions — plus tips on administration formats (softgels vs. powders) and why powders often require dietary fat to be effective.

The episode references prior guest Cherie Calbom and the teachings of Dr. James as important influences on these recommendations, and it weaves practical pantry-check tips with herbal-therapy context so you can make informed choices about the supplements on your shelf.

Expect clear, actionable takeaways: how to identify hidden seed oils in supplements and foods, why the type and freshness of the carrier oil matters for vitamin D effectiveness, and what to look for when choosing a high-quality D3 product for everyday support.