Wondering how to choose quality supplements you can feel good about? Ask yourself these 9 simple questions.
What separates an okay supplement from a truly great one?
Unless you have the knowledge of a chemist, researcher, biologist, and nutritionist, you probably don't know. So how can you choose the right supplement product among the infinite number of brands out there?
Knowing what questions to ask is the most important step in purchasing the right supplement.
This article will look at the best questions to ask when selecting a high-quality supplement. Keep reading to learn more!
Choosing Quality Supplements: 9 Important Questions to Ask
Important Note: Please note that certain vitamins and supplements may not be right for you. Always read and follow the label and consult a healthcare professional for more information.
1. Does the supplement carry a seal of approval?
There are plenty of organizations dedicated to investigating products by the powers the law and regulators grant them. This is so customers can rest easy when spending their hard-earned money.
The Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) seal is one of them. All products stamped with the GMP label must comply with the regulations and standards set forth by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) to qualify for their label. This simple label lets customers know the product has been investigated and is free from dangerous contaminants. [1]
2. Do the manufacturers provide a certificate of analysis (COA) for their ingredients?
A COA lets you know the raw materials used to make the product were high-quality and tested by an independent laboratory. This is especially important as many companies use synthetic fillers and unnecessary ingredients, impacting the product's effectiveness.
3. Are there third-party quality assurance labels?
Third-party quality assurance labels tell you that the manufacturer's facilities have been thoroughly audited. This signals that they are following product safety rules and proper labelling practices.
Make sure any supplement store you use understands the different seals of approval and lists only the best.
4. Does the manufacturer engage in angel dusting?
Angel dusting is when a manufacturer boasts that their product contains a popular ingredient, but they only add the ingredient at low levels so they can use it for marketing claims. Since the ingredient is added in such small amounts, it may not elicit a measurable benefit.
High-quality supplements are filled with an ideal ratio of ingredients to achieve the best balance of efficiency and benefits.
5. Does the manufacturer use proprietary formulas?
Proprietary formulas are used to protect product compositions from being stolen by competitors. This means the company only lists the total amount of all ingredients combined, not every single component they use.
This is a legitimate reason to use a proprietary formula. However, you don't want manufacturers to use this to deceive you. It's essential to find out if ingredients are being used in their therapeutic doses so you are getting an actual benefit in exchange for your money. [2]
Some supplements are specially made with synergistic ingredients in special ratios to enhance their effects. One example of this would be using the piperine found in black pepper alongside the curcumin found in turmeric to increase the bio-availability by several thousand percent.
6. Does the supplement contain evidence-based ingredients?
The best supplement companies do all the hard work for you and research their ingredients exhaustively. They might even share them with you via their company website.
Now, suppose you see a product with ingredients that claim miraculous results. In that case, be sure to double-check that the ingredient has been scientifically proven to provide its so-called benefits.
7. What is the cost per day, as opposed to the cost per bottle?
How can you be sure you're getting the maximum value for your money? Break down the value you get with each consumption of the serving portion against other products.
Supplement bottles that appear cheap can have large daily doses that make them more expensive in the long run. That's why it's always a good idea to stack your supplements against each other to see the value you get per day.
8. What do customers say about the supplement?
Plenty of supplement brands have huge marketing budgets and little research and development budgets. This shows you where their priorities lie.
If you're asking yourself, "What supplements should I take?" then look at what the most discerning customers say to save time. You can search for them on online forums and hobby groups. This will give you an idea of the product's actual value instead of its marketing talking points.
9. Does the product listing have real testimonials?
Did you know that many products are listed online with fake testimonials and ratings? [3]
Consult websites like fakespot.com to see if a supplement's reviews are fake or real. You'd be surprised at how many products have zero scientific evidence to prove their effectiveness but are filled to the brim with raving reviews.
Closing Thoughts
Stop wasting your time and money on questionable products. Simply click here to explore the best vitamin and mineral supplements online.
Finally, we hope you found this post helpful and would love to answer any questions you may have in the comments below.
References:
[1] https://www.who.int/news-room/q-a-detail/medicines-good-manufacturing-processes
[2] https://www.consumerlab.com/answers/what-is-in-proprietary-formulas/proprietary-formulas/
[3] https://www.brightlocal.com/learn/fake-reviews-are-a-real-problem-8-statistics-that-show-why/
