| A Paradox of Choice Highlights The Need To | | | | latest research in bio-cellular chemistry and nutritional |
| Evaluate | | | | science. |
| If you already take nutritional supplements or are | | | | These broad spectrum multi ingredient supplements |
| considering starting then you're no doubt well aware of | | | | target all organs and systems in the body, including the |
| the seemingly endless array of products and choices | | | | brain, and offer the strongest of health benefits. They |
| in the market. | | | | do far more than just 'top-up' nutrient deficiencies but |
| Supplement consumers face a paradox of choice and | | | | rather take a holistic approach to wellness by treating |
| they know only too well that the quality, safety and | | | | the body as a whole. |
| efficacy of the thousands of various brands out there | | | | The consumption of this category of supplement is |
| are far from equal! | | | | trending up worldwide. This is being driven by the aging |
| Physicians Management Journal backs this up by | | | | baby boomers generation who use them as a form of |
| reporting that one in three dollars spent on nutritional | | | | preventative health-care to achieve their aim of |
| supplements is WASTED! | | | | "staying young and beautiful" as well as allying their |
| Because nutritional supplements in the US are currently | | | | fear of chronic illness, particularly cancer. |
| regulated under 'food GMP' (and these do not address | | | | Now here is a key point: |
| the unique aspects of supplement manufacturing) the | | | | The markets' best science-based supplements are far |
| market has become flooded with supplements lacking | | | | from being equal! |
| product integrity and making fanciful performance | | | | There are always varying degrees of efficacy and |
| claims. | | | | value for money and in many cases these differences |
| Supermarket shelves and on-line stores are filled with | | | | are significant. |
| supplements put together by marketers or other | | | | This is primarily due to factors such as organizational |
| unqualified people trying to cash in on the popularity of | | | | structure, shareholder pressure and the marketing |
| the latest 'in-vogue' nutrients and on consumers lack of | | | | model(s) and distribution method(s) of supplement |
| nutritional science knowledge. | | | | companies. These factors impact on the type and |
| The majority of people putting together supplements | | | | number of ingredients that manufacturers can afford |
| for sale have little idea of the complex bio-chemistry | | | | to include in their products as well as the potencies |
| involved when ingredients are combined or which | | | | and dose amounts - all of which are key variables |
| metabolic pathways they follow when assimilated into | | | | when comparing supplements. |
| the body. | | | | Consumers should always keep in mind that almost all |
| So the need to evaluate supplements is clear. | | | | supplements are manufactured to a price! |
| Consumers need a reliable way to evaluate and | | | | So regardless of which price category a supplement |
| compare supplements in order to find products that | | | | falls in it should be evaluated and then compared to its |
| are safe, effective and which offer the best value for | | | | competitors. This applies even more for the up market |
| money. More on this below. | | | | multiples because value for money varies more-so. |
| Different Categories of Supplements - Evaluate Them | | | | Criteria for Evaluating Nutritional Supplements |
| All | | | | A supplement can be broken apart and evaluated by |
| Cheap and 'middle of the road' multi vitamin | | | | examining it through 6 criteria: |
| supplements are currently the most popular category | | | | The Formula |
| choice for the majority of supplement users. | | | | Ingredient Quality |
| Consumers however need to consider the limited | | | | Bio-availability |
| health benefits offered by these types of supplements | | | | Synergy |
| and that most do not offer good value for money. | | | | Manufacturing Standards and Protocols |
| They contain large amounts of cheap vitamins and | | | | Value for money |
| minerals and excessive amounts of non-active | | | | By understanding the basics of each, supplements |
| ingredients (excipients). | | | | users can get a feel for the science behind |
| While these types of supplements help to 'top-up' | | | | supplements and target in on the fine details that |
| deficient levels of essential micro-nutrients, they are in | | | | manufacturers often love to keep hidden. This then |
| reality missing, or deficient in, expensive, key ingredients | | | | allows consumers to make informed purchasing |
| such as high potency phytonutrients, standardized | | | | decisions. |
| herbal extracts and male and female 'support' nutrients, | | | | The full 6 criteria can be used with multi ingredient |
| which are needed to optimize wellness throughout the | | | | products while less complex or single ingredient |
| body. | | | | supplements can be evaluated using only 4 or 5. |
| At the top end of the market is a small category of | | | | To read further details on how to evaluate nutritional |
| the best vitamin supplements based on synergistic and | | | | supplements follow these link to dedicated pages |
| nutritionally complete formulas. They have been | | | | covering each of the 6 evaluation criteria. |
| formulated by highly qualified bio-scientists using the | | | | |