How to Choose High Quality Supplements
Knowing what supplements you should take for your optimal health can be incredibly complicating, especially with all of the different types of products out there. But not only do you have to worry about what nutrients to take, you must also be extremely inquisitive about the quality of your supplements. Unfortunately, there are many poor quality supplement on the market today. These products may be ineffective, contain toxic ingredients, may potentially contribute or exacerbate your conditions instead of help them, and ultimately they will be a waste of your money.
So how do you choose what is right for you? Consult a qualified health care practitioner who can recommend what types of nutrients specific to your body and your current health conditions to get the best value out of your supplementation. Only then will you be able to benefit from the healing power of nutritional supplements. This article will highlight some important factors to consider when choosing your supplements.
But first, why are there such low quality products available? Dietary supplements sold in the US do not have to be registered with any state or federal government agency. Anyone can produce and sell supplements and there is a great deal of leeway in how these products are manufactured, in the quality of the ingredients, and how the products are labeled.
Synthetic raw materials are produced en-mass from large pharmaceutical companies like Merck and Bristol-Myers-Squibb. The manufacturers purchase these raw ingredients and chemically process them, adding toxic preservatives and other additives such as binders, fillers, excipients, colorants, sweeteners, flavorings, and coatings. And then they market and sell these supplements as health-supportive products!
Moreover, the label is not required to list binders, fillers, or excipients that are used! A reputable company will clearly identify any of these additives that have been used as well as list commonly allergenic ingredients that the product is free of, such as “free of wheat, corn, yeast, soy, eggs, and dairy.”
Capsule, Tablet, or Liquid?
Tablets cannot be made without excipients and are therefore less than ideal.
Capsules are your best choice. They can be made without excipients, but some brands do add them anyways. As long as the raw ingredients are from high quality sources, certain excipients are inert and therefore ok.
Liquid supplementation is recommended for vitamin D and A. And this form can be good for children, elderly, and those who cannot swallow pills. However, liquids commonly have artificial flavors and preservatives and should therefore be carefully selected and used only in certain cases.
What Additives are in Your Supplements?
Non-food grade fillers such as talc and silicon are not meant to be eaten and can often lead to digestive problems.
Common food-grade fillers are corn starch, lactose (milk sugar), cellulose, and sorbitol. These can be GMO ingredients and can also cause allergies or digestive issues.
Cellulose, gum arabic, lecithin, and sorbitol are common binders. Acacia, or gum Arabic, can cause asthma attacks, rashes, or allergies in some individuals. Lecithin is an extract of soy and unless using an organic source that has been properly extracted, lecithin will be GMO and can potentially cause GI upset, infertility, and a wide range of health conditions.
Some capsules use gelatin coatings that are hard to digest in individuals with low hydrochloric acid or pancreatic enzymes. Therefore the nutrients will not be absorbed and the product will be excreted without any benefit to the individual.
Synthetic vs. Natural
Your body can tell the difference! The molecular structure of synthetic nutrients differs slightly from natural nutrients. For example, natural vitamin E is three times more absorbable than the synthetic form.
Food-based supplements are made by adding purified synthetic vitamins to a base of food such as wheat grass, spirulina, or herbs.
Food Grown and Food Formed are made by “feeding” synthetic vitamins and inorganic materials to a base of yeast. The yeast ferment the nutrients, supposedly enhancing their bioavailability. However, the yeast can be a problem for many, especially those with candida infections or food allergies. You can achieve high absorption by taking vitamins with meals.
Whole Food Concentrates are freeze dried encapsulations of fruits, vegetables, green foods, and other whole foods. Flash or low heat pasteurization is used to dry the product. This method is highly beneficial because it guarantees all of the phytonutrients, in their natural combinations, and not just one or two isolated nutrients from the particular food of choice. As long as it is a high quality product, preferably a healthcare practitioner brand, whole food concentrates are great nutritional supplements.
Packaging & Labeling
Nutrients are highly reactive with light, heat, and oxygen and should therefore be stored in cool, dark places with the cap securely tightened.
Look for bottles that are opaque or dark-colored to protect from light damage. It should also contain a silica packet to prevent moisture damage as well.
Also look for expiration dates on the bottle to ensure the company is aware of the shelf-life of their products. Put back any bottle that has a shelf-life longer than 2 years, as it most likely has added preservatives to artificially extend the shelf-life.
In regards to the nutrition label, is it descriptive? An incomplete label is a red flag that guarantees the manufacturer has something to hide! The nutrients should be listed as specific products. For example, “calcium” does not tell you what type of calcium it is. Look for “calcium citrate” or “calcium malate” and make sure the product lists the amount of each nutrient. It is important to speak with a health care professional about the type of nutrients you are obtaining in your supplements because some forms are better absorbed and some forms are better for certain conditions. For example, “calcium carbonate” is a common form of calcium but is poorly absorbed and usually comes from low-quality sources. And magnesium chelated to taurine would be great for someone with heart disease.
Knowing Your Supplements are High Quality
The product should also give you confidence that what is listed on the label is actually in the supplements! Look for the Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) Certified logo to ensure that the company had their products tested for purity and potency. GMPs entail all aspects of manufacture: personnel training, physical make-up of the plant, sanitation of buildings and facilities, equipment used in the manufacturing, production and processing, warehousing, and distribution of the products. This high-standard certification will guarantee that the supplements are safe and contain the levels of nutrients stated on the nutrition facts label.
When in doubt, ask a qualified health care practitioner what nutrients you can benefit from. A high quality multivitamin, cod liver or fish oil product, and a high-potency probiotic will be the foundation of powerful supplements that will help you find your optimal health. And depending on any health conditions you may have, additional supplements may be recommended in order to better support your body as it heals and recovers from the underlying health issues.
Tags: excipients, food-based supplements, high quality supplements, ineffective supplements, toxins, unsafe supplements
