Quality Supplements
With so many supplements on the market it is always a challenge figuring out which ones might be right for your own particular health needs. It is not uncommon for individuals to self medicate and then to later find that they have spend hundreds of dollars yet still no results. Or even worse, a decline in health!
Low quality, highly processes vitamins and minerals line the shelves at our local drugstores, Costco, vitamin specific shops like GNC or even our health food stores. It is important to select top quality, well respected brand names. Unfortunately most consumers lack this basic knowledge and make their purchase based on price of marketing.
Popular multi-vitamins are often poorly manufactured and can be extremely harsh on the liver, kidneys and GI tract. Some individuals discover to their dismay that these vitamins just pass through their system without even dissolving. In fact, septic tank plumbers have been known to find literally hundreds of un-dissolved vitamin pills in waste matter!
In addition, many companies use cheap fillers so that the cost of raw materials is less expensive which in turn creates a higher profit margin. In order to get so much “stuff” into such a small pill companies may load their pills up with synthetic binders and inorganic salts that take up less space compared to superior organic chelated minerals. Often the consumer thinks he/she is purchasing something worthwhile when in fact the product itself lacks quality and absorption.
Adverse reactions like diarrhea may be experienced when something like this is difficult to assimilate. When a product claims that it is highly absorbed, this does not always mean the portion that is being absorbed will necessarily benefit you. One must be careful to understand when, where and how the nutrients are being absorbed. Food-based supplements can sometimes be better absorbed by the system but do not always contain therapeutic doses.
If one is not careful, nutrient interaction can occur as well as imbalances within the body (too much of too little of certain nutrients). There are many different reasons for this but mainly because the products used were not formulated in a synergistic manner or combinations of several different products were used.
Finally be sure to investigate when the nutrients within the powder, capsule or tablet are sourced. Many raw materials are being synthesized at labs in China. Ingredients should be sourced from pure resources otherwise you risk being contaminated with heavy metals or other toxic substances. These can put a horrendous burden on your liver and other organs leading to future health problems.
So what is the solution? When choosing any supplement protocol, it is wise to seek out a qualified health professional. It is also important to evaluate your protocol from time to time to make sure the supplements are still effective. Our diet, exercise program, relationships, career and other lifestyle factors change over time and so should your supplement intake. When doing your own research, look into the companies’ reputation and ethics. What is their approach in creating supplements?
The companies that I personally select for myself and my clients put science first; are of therapeutic grade; can prove through extensive third party research that they have the best formulas out there; source the purest raw materials in the world; use extensive quality control methods (testing raw materials, monitoring production, and testing all finished products thoroughly); and are willing to share all this extensive and important information with the practitioner and consumer.