According to the National Institute of Health (NIH), more than half of all Americans take one or more dietary supplements daily or on occasion. “It’s possible to get all of the nutrients you need by eating a variety of healthy foods, so you don’t have to take one,” says Carol Haggans, a registered dietitian and consultant to NIH. “But supplements can be useful for filling in gaps in your diet.” The term supplement can encompass many things; in this article the term supplement refers to:
- Multivitamins
- Herbal supplements
- Muscle and joint recovery supplements
- MCT oil
- Fish oils
- Protein supplements
- Pre-workout and post-workout supplements
We’ve outlined 4 tips to help you choose the highest quality supplements to help you reach your health goals:
- Ensure the supplement has a GMP stamp of approval
Many supplements on the market contain things that are bad for us: additives, fillers, and other chemicals. These lesser quality supplements tout useless claims in order to sell their products and boost profits. Supplements that are manufactured at a Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) facility are up to the same quality levels required by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The International Society for Pharmaceutical Engineering states that GMP is a system for ensuring that products are consistently produced and controlled according to quality standards, designed to minimize the risks involved in any pharmaceutical production that cannot be eliminated through testing the final product.
- Check to see if there’s a Certificate of Analysis for each ingredient
A study of 55 brands of vitamin D supplements made by 12 different manufacturers conducted by Kaiser Permanente found that the vitamin D supplements contained a large amount of variation. Their analysis concluded that the vitamin D supplements ranged from 9-146% of the amount listed on the label, including variations among different pills within the same bottle.
In order to avoid supplements that don’t hold up to their claims, make sure the ingredients listed on their nutrition label have a Certificate of Analysis (COA). A COA document communicates the results of a scientific test, and it lists the chemicals used in the product’s manufacturing and testing. The document assures customers, manufacturers, and suppliers that all important regulations for the ingredient are met. The following links provide websites where you can find supplements that meet quality standards:
- Informed Choice (sports nutrition products)
- Consumer Lab (must be a paid member to access reports)
- NSF International
- US Pharmacopeia
- Avoid the “proprietary blend” claim on supplement labels
If you see the words “proprietary blend” on the ingredient label, avoid that supplement. Supplements using proprietary formulas are only required to reveal all the ingredients in the formula and the total amount of all combined ingredients. However, these companies do not have to list the amount of each ingredient separately. Some companies use the claim of proprietary blends to hide their ingredient lists from competitors and consumers, which is scary for consumers when they aren’t getting enough information about what they are putting into their bodies.
- Look for ingredients proven clinically effective
The supplement you take should have ingredients that have been clinically proven to be effective. Take some time and research the ingredients on a reputable site such as PubMed to confirm the effectiveness of any listed vitamins, minerals, herbs, amino acids, or any other supplement ingredient listed.
Follow the 4 tips above to ensure your supplements are the best of the best. Choosing Coromega as your supplement choice for omega-3, Vitamin C, turmeric, and MCT oil means you are choosing a top shelf quality supplement. Coromega uses molecularly distilled, ultra-refined omega-3 fish oil in our products, and we have a commitment to using superior ingredients and producing the highest quality products on the market. Our manufacturing facility in Vista, CA is certified under the tenant of GMP.
“Our products are consistently produced and controlled according to rigorous quality standards”, said President and CEO Milo Cogan. In addition, our manufacturing facility is certified by NSF International, the leading third-party health and safety certification organization. Try some of our delicious supplements today to help you reach your optimal health and well-being!