Do you know that the FDA does not test dietary supplements for safety or efficacy? As a consumer, there are several things you should be aware of when buying supplements.

 

As mentioned above, nutritional supplements are not regulated and there is not a mandated test for quality. It is the responsibility of each manufacturer to show that a product is safe and effective before marketing. The FDA has no authority to do its own safety review before a product is made available to the public.

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This also means that the label doesn't have to be accurate, there is no standard for dosages or forms of ingredients. This means that the quantities and ingredients indicated in the label may not match the actual amount at all. Vitamins and minerals can be sourced from many different places and can be provided in many different forms. The form of the ingredient, the dosage of the ingredient, and the formulation of the entire product all influence whether or not a dietary supplement will be effective.

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Sometimes the differences can be quite significative, it can be the difference between feeling great or feeling sick. For example:

• Iron Sulfate causes the common side effect of constipation, whereas iron Citrate formulated with vitamin C is most readily digested and absorbed!

• Or you might need some magnesium to help your sore muscles, and you spot a cheap Magnesium Oxide formulation online. Later you find out the hard way that this formulation doesn't absorbed and it causes diarrhea. 

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In contrast, high-quality companies will pay for third-party testing to confirm ingredients, potency, and the absence of contaminants. That is why when you buy from a safe dispensary, you know you are getting clean, high quality formulations that contain what they say on the label.

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Want to know more about supplements, how to use them to boost your diet, how to adapt them to your genetics and needs or want to talk about a personalized meal plan?

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