Tips for Choosing Supplements Wisely
By Theresa Lawson, FNLP, AFMP
www.HealthyParentsHappyFamilies.com
We all know the vast array of supplements on the market today. It seems that new ones are launched every day and there is more and more marketing lingo that promises to save your health.
But you are a savvy health-conscious consumer. You want to make sure you're making wise choices with your health (and money).
Here are eight expert tips for you when choosing supplements:
Tip #1: If you’re in a country that licenses or pre-approves supplements, then make sure you’re getting the real thing, and not some illegally imported bootleg of a product.
This is your health, and it’s important enough to make sure you’re getting a product that at least meets the minimum requirements in your country. There are always recalls and safety alerts issued for contaminated supplements, or products that don’t even contain what they say they do.
This health authority approval is not a perfect gauge of quality, but it does have some benefits worth considering. In the United States you would want to be sure that the nutritional product met the standards of the Council for Responsible Nutrition, which oversees the supplement industry in the U.S. https://www.crnusa.org/
I personally use and recommend the nutrient dense supplements provided by Reliv, International. Purchasing from an Independent Reliv Distributor means that you will have guidance in choosing which products may be a good choice for you. Learn more about the science behind them by clicking here. You can also contact me through my personal website here in order to purchase product or learn about discounts of anywhere from 10%-40%.
I also encourage you to check out my Functional Nutrition website here in order to learn more about these nutrient-dense supplements, as well as my helpful video workshops on how to make lifestyle changes to benefit you on your health journey.
Tip #2: Read (and heed) the warnings, cautions and contraindications.
Check the label for things like:
To consult a healthcare practitioner if you're pregnant or breastfeeding, or
If you have certain medical conditions (e.g. high blood pressure, auto-immune disease, diabetes, ulcers, etc.), or
If you are taking certain medications (e.g. like blood thinners or immune suppressants, etc.) or
If you are taking other supplements, or
If you shouldn't take it for more than a certain length of time (e.g. 6 or 8 weeks).
Tip #3: Look at the medicinal and non-medicinal ingredients for things you might be allergic to, or have reacted to in the past.
Just as you would do this with foods, do this with supplements. Again, you don't want a reaction, right?
And even if you've used a product before, check it each time you buy it. Manufacturers may make changes to ingredients from time to time. Any credible supplement company will list every active ingredient, as well as the inactive ingredients. The print may be small, but worthwhile.
The products provided by Reliv, International, are patented, offering the assurance of standardized, high quality ingredients, that do not change from batch to batch.
If the info you’re looking for is not on the label give them a call. Most reputable companies have a toll-free number on the bottle, or at the very least their website address.
Tip #4: Read the labelled “Indications” or “Uses” (a.k.a. How can this product help me?).
Ask for scientific studies. Studies on the products produced by Reliv, International (the products my family uses and I recommend) can be found here.
Capsules (preferred over tablets or caplets) are powders placed into tiny, dissolvable capsules. You can get vegan capsules or gelatin capsules. They’re not compressed, so they're more easily absorbed (they're still loose powder), and the capsule itself provides an extra layer of protection from oxidation and contamination from the air.
The front label should mention this loud and clear. Along with how many are in each bottle.
Tip #6: How much/many do you need for a recommended dose?
This is important to keep in mind because you may not want to take several capsules per day in order to get the recommended dose. Plus, many (but not all) bottles contain a 30 day supply. This helps you see how much you need to take, as well as the real cost per serving/dose. This is one reason why I prefer the powdered supplements from Reliv, International…one scoop of product is generally a full day’s recommended amount.
Read carefully.
Is the label information based on one capsule, two...maybe six? The amounts of each nutrient listed on the label may be based on each dose, or the entire daily dose.
For example, if a label recommends you take 2 capsules per day, the active ingredient amounts listed may be the total amount in those 2 capsules, unless it states "per 1 capsule".
Yes, for this one you do need to read carefully.
Tip #7: Check the storage requirements and expiry date.
These two go hand-in-hand because the expiry date is based on how that supplement degrades over time at certain temperatures, humidity and light exposure. (The products from Reliv, International, do not require refrigeration after opening)
If the bottle says that it should be refrigerated, make sure it’s in the fridge at the store, or shipped in a refrigerated truck.
If it says to refrigerate after opening, then make sure once that seal is broken, you keep it in your fridge.
If it says to keep out of sunlight, make sure the store/shipping company is doing that, and that you do that too. This is sometimes why supplements are in dark or opaque bottles – to prevent sunlight from degrading it before the expiry date.
And, of course, I wouldn't recommend taking supplements past their expiry date. After this date the manufacturer does not guarantee the quality or dose of the product.
Tip #8: If you’re trying a new supplement for the first time, start slow.
Keep an eye out for both positive and negative reactions, and act accordingly. I offer my services as a Certified Functional Nutrition and Lifestyle Practitioner to assist people in implementing the use of the Reliv products into their daily nutritional plan.
You don’t have to dive right into a full daily dose on day 1. Try starting with half-doses, or skipping days for a week or two before ramping up to the recommended dose.
I hope these eight tips serve you well!.
For more information about my services in Functional Nutrition and Lifestyle, or to schedule a free 20-minute consultation with me click here.
If you wish to place an order for Reliv products go here.