Before You Buy Another Supplement, Read This!

Health supplements have grown into a massive market. Vitamin and mineral deficiencies have become topics of common knowledge. The supplement industry tries to make you believe you need to take something 24/7. New brands surface in the light of a growing market. But, who can you trust? How can you determine which supplements are of good quality for your health?

Businesses are out to make a profit, so what separates the good from the bad? The good ones actually care about quality supplements for their consumers. Unfortunately, it is not easy to determine motive or ethics by a brand’s labels. And it may surprise you to learn the results of supplements that have already hit the store’s shelves. Gauging quality by what is the cheapest or most expensive is not always the accurate or automatic choice.

First, know that the “FDA is not authorized to review dietary supplement products for safety and effectiveness before they are marketed.” So there is already a false sense of security when you shop for supplements at big box stores. Second, “The FDA can take action against adulterated or misbranded dietary supplements only after the product is on the market.” Unfortunately, it’s after a product hits the market that more side effects and cautions are brought to light.  Thankfully there are resources available to search for information on recalls, market withdrawals and safety alerts at https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts.

Here are a few ways you can set yourself up for success while shopping for health supplements. What to be aware of when looking at supplements:

• Ingredients - are there any added ingredients? Do you know why?
• Type of vitamin - some forms of vitamins are more or less bioavailable or active
• Optimal dosage - supplements may be very low or high in dosage
• Safety profile - how many studies are available? Is there a safety track record?

Get to know the brands a little better by asking some questions. A company who backs their supplements with a satisfaction guarantee and uses a third party testing resource is a good place to start. Beyond standard FDA guidelines, you can look to see if the supplement brand is CGMP (Current Good Manufacturing Practices) certified. This is a step above the basic verification process. This can increase a customer’s confidence in the brand as it assures you’ll be getting exactly what the company claims.

Trustworthy companies will invest in steps to verify product transparency and safety. For example, supplements should be tested to verify all ingredients are accurate and don't contain unnamed fillers. Testing protocols ensure a product is free from contaminants such as molds, bacteria, salmonella etc. Extra testing for heavy metals, after manufacturing, is a step above and ensures product safety from another angle.

Knowledge is power, support your body and mind with research. The deficiencies you discover that you want to supplement, likely took a while to get to their current levels. Give yourself the time you need to properly vet a new supplement and add them into your healing journey. As always, please consult your trusted healthcare provider before adding any new supplements into your regimen.  Our support team is standing by if you have any questions about our supplements or our quality process. 

This blog was written by Meg Ramirez, please click here to learn more about the author.