Healthy Headlines: Supplements

What’s In Your Supplement?

Over 150 million Americans use supplements on a regular basis. With such a broad selection to choose from, picking the right product can be daunting. Several recent issues regarding the quality and safety of supplements has raised many concerns among consumers. While supplements are technically regulated by the FDA, it does not test over the counter products or provide specific definitions of what is considered appropriate for a given product or process of creating a product.

 Several media outlets have performed their own tests and the results are quite alarming. They were able to find that some supplements contained prescriptions medications, weight loss medications, and even lacked the supplement that they were supposed to be providing altogether. Some manufacturers have taken steps to meet more strict manufacturing practices than what is required by the FDA. They voluntarily submit to rigorous testing by a third-party which verifies the content and quality of the supplements they make. While these products tend to be a bit more expensive due to this extra step, these supplements are the safest and most likely to generate the desired result.

When looking for a supplement, it is always important to consider whether the manufacturer submits to outside testing of its product. Two of the better brands on the market today are Nature Made and Integrative Therapeutics.  Both companies submit their products to manufacturing and onsite audits to verify the purity, potency, amount of ingredients, lack of pesticides or harmful substances, and general safety of their supplements. They two of the best brands on the market at this time and are the most likely to give you the results you desire. 

In closing I will leave you with a final thought. During a convention last year that I attended, I had the privilege of meeting someone who was involved in manufacturing supplements. During the conversation, he came across with a very interesting statement that stuck with me: “We make vitamins that make your wallet feel better, and then we make vitamins that make you feel better.” When it comes to supplements, sometime it pays to skip the “Easy Dollar” brands and pick a company that can guarantee its product.

Your Family Pharmacist,
Samuel Warnell, Pharm. D.

Mention this Ad during the week of Feb 1st-Feb 6th and receive 25% off any Integrative Therapeutics supplements at Edmonson Drug!

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