Top Six tips for choosing the highest quality supplements
by Mike Bundrant
Americans enjoy the fact that they have many choices in their lives.
Yet, having too many choices when it comes to one's health can be
confusing and daunting.The $27 Billion U.S. dietary supplement industry provides consumers with hundreds of thousands of products to choose from, and it is growing more and more each year. A booming dietary supplement industry is a good thing, but how does someone really know what the best choice is?
Before you spend your hard-earned dollars, here are six simple things to look for that might help you in making your next dietary supplement purchase.
1. Choose additive-free supplements
First, try to find a dietary supplement that is additive-free. Why is this important, and what does it mean to you? It is important because many supplement manufacturers use additives like magnesium stearate and stearic acid during the manufacturing process. These additives help speed up the manufacturing process and production volume (i.e. profit).While these additives may be helpful in speeding up production, they have absolutely no health benefits to you, and they are, in fact, potentially harmful to both the immune system and the cardiovascular system. Try to find a brand that leaves out additives. You can always ask someone in the health food store/market to assist you, as they are typically aware of which products are additive free and which products are not additive free.
2. Choose supplement formulas that have been tested
One should choose supplements with formulas and dosages that are based in human clinical trials or testing. A human clinical trial is considered the gold standard to measure the effectiveness of any dietary supplement. Don't just choose a supplement that you think will help you. Choose one with a formula or ingredients based on real clinical data.There are products created and used in nutritional and medical clinics of doctors who actually follow these studies and choose formulas that benefit their patients. Follow the data of formulas and ingredients, and if they are shown to be effective, then you have a product that you can consider as one of your choices.
3. Choose a manufacturer that only uses the highest quality ingredients
It is important to choose a product whose manufacturer spares no expense in sourcing and testing the raw materials and ingredients for their product. The highest quality ingredients are usually sourced from the United States, Europe, and South America.A good manufacturer will test all of their ingredients in a laboratory for identity, strength, purity, and composition before they use them in their formulations. A product that simply says "pure" or "high quality" is not good enough without documented testing to back it up.
4. Search for a brand that is sold by the manufacturer
Did you know that many supplement companies do not make their own products? Many dietary supplements are actually produced and manufactured by a third-party. It is worth it to search for a brand or product that is manufactured by the same company that is selling it to you. More importantly, a brand or product that is being produced in a G.M.P. (Good Manufacturing Practices) certified facility as outlined by the F.D.A.This process is governed by more than 140 standard operating procedures that are reviewed by the U.S. F.D.A. with an actual site inspection of the manufacturing facility. The bottom line is, try to find a dietary supplement that has a manufacturer that controls every aspect of the quality of the product, as this will set them apart from the rest. A brand or product that is being sold to you by the same company that is manufacturing it will have a higher commitment to quality, as it is their integrity and very name that is at risk, not some third-party.
5. Choose supplements that reveal the source of ingredients
Notice how the ingredients are listed in the Supplement Facts panel of the product and make sure each ingredient is stating its source. The "source" is the information that is listed within the parenthesis after the ingredient.For example, if you are searching for a multivitamin, see if the vitamins and minerals listed are co-enzymated or not. Generally, co-enzymated ingredients have a much higher absorption rate than non-co-enzymated.
6. Choose clearly focused formulas
Superior brands and products that are out in the market will include brands that feature formulas designed to provide nutritional benefits with a clear focus. For example, a complete multivitamin that is specifically designed for men or for women is preferred as different genders have different nutritional needs.Superior brands will also have condition-specific formulas to help their customers deal with specific problems like cardiovascular issues and joint pain. A superior brand or product will not make it complicated for you to understand what you are buying. A clear formula, stating its exact benefits is what you want to be looking for.
Walking down the vitamin aisle shouldn't be a scary thing. There are a lot of choices, but you can put yourself at ease by knowing what to look for. With a little bit of knowledge, you can insure that your choice of supplements will get you the results you are looking for.
