If you consume nutritional supplements, you are not alone.
According to the Council for Responsible Nutrition, 79% of adult female Americans take nutritional supplements, the most common of which are vitamins and minerals. A 2017 survey found that women are most likely to take supplements to improve their overall health and wellbeing, followed by vitamin and bone health support.
Do supplements actually enhance our health? The supplement market is predicted to reach $230.7 billion by 2027.
We are aware that nature provides a wide range of nutrients, from the vitamin D found in sunlight to the vitamin C found in citrus fruits, that are essential for maintaining our health. The frequent and/or enough consumption of other nutrients, however, can have a therapeutic effect on balancing our hormones and boosting immune function. We can benefit from adding more of these naturally occurring substances to our diets, particularly when using herbal health supplements. According to the Council for Responsible Nutrition, 79% of adult female Americans take nutritional supplements, the most common of which are vitamins and minerals. A 2017 survey found that women are most likely to take supplements to improve their overall health and wellbeing, followed by vitamin and bone health support.
5 Traits of Natural Supplements
The same cannot be said for all herbal supplements. Here, we’ve listed 5 requirements to take into account before incorporating a supplement into your wellness routine.
Exists a formulation strategy that has clinical backing? Learn how much testing and investigation was done to confirm that the mentioned chemicals do what they are supposed to. Use ingredients that are secure and efficient in lowering inflammation, balancing hormones, and promoting menstruation and immune health.
Does the supplement company have sourcing policies in place to ensure that they begin with high-quality raw materials? The terms “Organic,” “Non-GMO,” and “Tested for Purity and Potency” should be found on product information labels.
Do they use the whole plant? Cutting shortcuts by employing excessive heat, chemicals, or additives can reduce a herb’s effectiveness or perhaps eliminate all of its therapeutic characteristics.
How are dietary supplements created? Ascertain that the extraction procedure is safe, devoid of damaging chemicals or solvents, and performed in a facility that has been granted FDA approval.
Make sure once more that your medicine cabinet does not contain any of the chemicals on the “no no” ingredients list: Say no to hydrogenated oil, sodium benzoate, artificial colors, and magnesium stearate.
The benefits of liquid tinctures over tablets and powders
Bioavailability and form factor are important considerations when choosing a supplement. Liquid nutrients break down more quickly and are easier to digest, so they disperse into our systems more efficiently. Additionally, liquids make dosage control easier. We note that when these supplements are mixed into tablets and powders, not all of the ingredients are adequately extracted, that high temperature boiling might harm crucial nutrients, and that they commonly contain fillers that prevent proper absorption.
How exactly supplements are regulated
If you decide that supplementing is the right course for you, it’s imperative that you understand this uncontrolled market.
This is true since the FDA’s involvement in the supplement industry is somewhat limited. According to the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act (DSHEA), the FDA is not allowed to evaluate dietary supplements for efficacy and safety before releasing them into retail outlets.
The FDA is only reacting when anything happens. If a large portion of customers voice concerns about negative effects, the business will merely discontinue selling the product. Even worse, the DSHEA enables ambiguous verbiage on packaging, such as “supports immune health” or “works better than a prescription drug,” which simply helps to further muddle the waters.
As a result, shopping carefully is more important than ever.
Check the ingredients in a product before buying it, and look for supplements that have undergone independent testing. Another helpful list of supplement ingredients to avoid is offered by Consumer Reports, and it includes elements like coltsfoot, germander, kava, and other substances that you would often find on ingredient lists.