All of us need to take vitamin, mineral, and other supplements to ensure good nutrition and to aid our bodies’ natural detoxification efforts. If you decide to purchase supplements, make sure you’re buying safe, effective varieties. Otherwise, you’re throwing your money away.
Here are some questions to ask when considering which supplements to purchase:
Are the products made in the United States? Standards for purity are generally higher in the United States than in many other countries. Stick with supplements made in the United States whenever possible.
Does the supplement company make its own products? Sometimes the company on the label is simply repackaging supplements that are made elsewhere. Buy from companies that make their own products.
Does the company have a research department? The answer you’re looking for is “yes.” You want to buy from a company that conducts thorough in-house research on its products and makes that research available to consumers.
Are the supplements made in a facility that follows Good Manufacturing Practice regulations (which are specified by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration)? If not, look elsewhere!
In a mineral product, is clay one of the ingredients? If so (which is often the case), don’t buy the product.
In a mineral product, are the minerals chelated? You want chelated minerals whenever you can get them.
Does the company test every batch of its supplements? Does it use an outside, independent lab for the tests? Can it provide you with the test results? You want a resounding “yes” to all three questions. When you find a company that answers “yes,” buy all your products from it.
In a calcium product, are you getting calcium hydroxylapatite, calcium citrate, or calcium carbonate? Hydroxylapatite is the best, citrate will do, and carbonate is not worth your money.
