The Natural Way
Ever wonder what's in your vitamin bottle?
Imagine yourself in this scenario: You are standing in a drug store or health food store in front of numerous brands of nutritional and herbal supplements. Do you ever wonder which brand to get? Which combination is better? How do I know if I am getting a quality supplement? There are some significant factors to look for in choosing a high quality product that is right for you.
One of the first things to start with is the form of the supplement: liquid, capsule and tablet. A herbal tincture (liquid form of herb) is generally more potent than a capsule or tablet as it is more concentrated and easier to absorb. Alcohol is used to extract the active ingredients from the herb in order to make the final product. Capsules are made out of gelatin or a vegetable base and are filled with a limited amount of ingredients. Although you may have to take more capsules throughout the day in order to get the recommended dose, they are less likely to contain fillers and binders and easier to breakdown and absorb. Tablets usually contain a greater dosage of ingredients, however they are more likely to contain binders and fillers used to hold the product together.
You may wonder why you have to take so many capsules throughout the day to meet the recommended dose. Why not one pill per day such as a 'One a Day' multivitamin? Your body can only breakdown a limited amount of nutrients at one time, therefore it may be too much to absorb.
Beware of the 'time released' vitamins, as there is a thicker coating on the tablet to prevent it from breaking down at a normal rate. This will require more stomach acid to break down the coating in order to absorb the supplement. Most people are deficient in stomach acid and will therefore not break down or absorb their supplement. Instead, it will pass through your system without even becoming digested. It is very important to read the labels. Make sure the label states each ingredient and its dosage either in milligrams (mg), milliliters (ml) or micrograms (mcg). Herbal supplements should list the actual form of the herb and its standardized dose. Also look on the labels 'other ingredients or non-medicinal ingredients'. This is where you will find a list of binders, fillers, sugar, colourings, and other substances that generally don't need to be included, but are used to fill the tablet so that there is less of the actual product and more fillers to cut down the cost.
There are numerous brands of nutritional and herbal supplements on the market and you want to make sure you're getting the proper form. When you are trying to decide on a product, don't just buy the cheapest item. Remember, you get what you pay for! The cheaper/no name brands are able to cut their cost by using less expensive raw materials. For instance, many calcium supplements use a carbonate form, as it is cheaper and easier to manufacture. Although the dosage on the label may be higher than a citrate form, it is a larger molecule and requires a greater amount of stomach acid to be absorbed. Furthermore, the longer the expiry is from the manufacturing date, the less active the ingredients may be. In order to assure a higher quality product, there should be no more than 3 years from the date of manufacturing to the date of expiry. Other supplements you want to be cautious about are Vitamin E, Flax, Evening primrose, and Fish oils. They are very delicate and the extraction process is crucial to their quality. Oils should be stored in the fridge to prevent rancidity and preferably in a dark glass bottle.
Check your label to make sure the oil is cold pressed, pure and doesn't contain glycerin, soy oil, carob powder, and other fillers. Remember, the more fillers, the less of the actual product you are receiving and the more harm it may be doing. There is no one 'cure' for any condition, and a supplement is only intended to assist your body in receiving the vitamins and minerals it needs. Be cautious and avoid the glossy advertisements, testimonials, promising cures, and products with little information about the active ingredients. Pay more attention to the facts that matter, and it will take you one step closer towards a healthier you.
