Excellent alimentary adsorbent: Since antiquity, clays have been used as adsorbents for toxins and waste material, and bentonite is king of the clays in this regard. Its properties have been found beneficial for internal use, for topical use on the skin, and even in pollution control applications. It works as an adsorbent because the charged platelets in the bentonite colloidal dispersion attract and hold toxins. Since bentonite is not digested as it passes through the alimentary canal, the bentonite and adsorbed toxins are both eliminated together.

Maximum activity: Only Great Plains Bentonite offers maximum activity and maximum purity. Maximum activity is achieved in several ways. First, Yerba Prima uses only purified bentonite USP/NF, which is the highest grade of bentonite. All impurities, such as other minerals and adulterants that do not have the same properties, have been naturally removed. This does not occur with normal bentonite products. Second, Great Plains Bentonite has an enormous surface area for maximum activity. The use of advanced processing methods results in a bentonite surface area of over 960 square yards per serving. To put that in perspective, that is over 12 football fields of surface area per quart bottle! And third, Great Plains Bentonite has the optimum ratio of sodium to calcium ions to give it maximum ability to swell, adsorb and hold toxins.

Maximum purity: Great Plains Bentonite exceeds the highest standards, purified bentonite USP/NF. Using a natural four step purification process, all impurities have been removed. Rigorous testing ensures purity and consistency in every batch.

Great Plains Bentonite is a premium bentonite product that is an excellent alimentary adsorbent, has maximum activity and maximum purity. This background information explains the unique features of our product.

The Origins of Bentonite

Bentonite is a natural clay mineral that exists as discrete deposits in most continents of the world. It was created primarily in volcanic eruptions millions of years ago, when the volcanic ash settled in shallow seas and over time became bentonite clay. Some of the largest deposits in the world exist in the Great Plains area of the United States. Bentonite is also known as montmorillonite, and a number of the research studies refer to it by that name.

Types and Properties of Bentonite

There are two major types of bentonite, identified by the major exchangeable ion present in the clay. Most bentonite deposits around the world have a less beneficial mineral content as the major exchangeable ion. There are a few deposits, some found in North America, that have a unique mineral constituency. This is considered a higher quality bentonite for special uses, as will be described in more detail below.1

Bentonite is an inert clay, free of all contamination in its purified form, that passes through the human body undigested. It has several unique properties that make it of value in products for human use, especially when detoxification is desired.

Bentonite has an enormous surface area when properly hydrated in water. It is composed of numerous microscopic platelets, each with negative charges on the flat surfaces and positive charges on the edges. When properly hydrated, the water molecules cause these platelets to separate into a porous structure containing both negative and positive charges. The swelling caused by this porous structure allows bentonite to absorb substances in the space between the platelets. The ionic charges give bentonite the ability to also adsorb (or bind) toxins and hold them until they are eliminated.

Bentonite has another unusual property. After full hydration, it becomes thick and viscous when it sits for a while. If shaken or stirred, it becomes thin and easy to pour, but will become viscous again if left alone. This is why the direction to "Shake before using" is on Great Plains Bentonite. Great Plains Bentonite - Maximum Purity

There are many grades of bentonite.

After the bentonite is mined from special deposits containing only the more active ion clay, it goes through a natural four step purification process. This includes a proprietary water washing process that removes any non-clay material that is present in the bentonite deposit, and then removes the less effective, non-swelling fraction of the clay. The material is dried, milled, sorted and then tested extensively to ensure that it exceeds the stringent USP/NF purity standards for microbial limits, absence of pathogens, absence of adulteration and product consistency.

Great Plains Bentonite - Maximum Activity

As stated above, there is a big difference in activity depending on the major exchangeable ions present in bentonite. Great Plains Bentonite contains only the more rare naturally occurring high ion form of bentonite, which is the most active.2

Studies have found that maximum swelling and binding activity can be achieved when the ions comprise 65-75% of the total exchangeable ions.3 Great Plains Bentonite is within this range. Attempts have been made to increase activity by artificially increasing the ion content, even close to 100%, but it was found that going higher than the optimum 65-75% began to decrease the activity.4

The use of advanced processing methods results in a bentonite surface area of over 960 square yards per serving. To put that in perspective, that is over 12 football fields of surface area per quart bottle! Its ability to adsorb toxins is truly amazing. Among the toxins it is able to adsorb and bind are pathogenic viruses, pesticides, herbicides such as Paraquat® and Roundup®, and aflatoxin.5

Great Plains Bentonite - Excellent Alimentary Adsorbent

Great Plains Bentonite works entirely through its chemical and mechanical action in the intestinal tract, being able to bind toxins in the stomach, small intestine and colon. It is not digested, nor is it absorbed into the bloodstream. Since the toxins are bound to the bentonite, they are excreted from the body when the bentonite is eliminated through the colon.

Comparison with Other Bentonite Products

Great Plains Bentonite is the highest quality bentonite available. For instance, other bentonite products are not as white as Great Plains Bentonite, indicating that they may contain more impurities. Other products may also not have the optimum proportion of exchangeable ions for maximum activity.

Bentonite is also sold in a powder form. Until it is properly hydrated, bentonite is not very effective at adsorbing toxins. Full hydration requires correct proportions of the bentonite in water, proper agitation and adequate time of agitation. With Great Plains Bentonite, the customer is assured of receiving the purest, most active bentonite.

Summary

Bentonite is one of the best detoxifying substances known. Numerous research studies have shown its ability to bind and remove pathogenic viruses, pesticides, herbicides and other toxins. Great Plains Bentonite is the purest, highest quality bentonite available, in its most active form.