Brett Seagrott asked:


A Paradox of Choice Highlights The Need To Evaluate

If you already take nutritional supplements or are considering starting then you’re no doubt well aware of the seemingly endless array of products and choices in the market.

Supplement consumers face a paradox of choice and they know only too well that the quality, safety and efficacy of the thousands of various brands out there are far from equal!

Physicians Management Journal backs this up by reporting that one in three dollars spent on nutritional supplements is WASTED!

Because nutritional supplements in the US are currently regulated under ‘food GMP’ (and these do not address the unique aspects of supplement manufacturing) the market has become flooded with supplements lacking product integrity and making fanciful performance claims.

Supermarket shelves and on-line stores are filled with supplements put together by marketers or other unqualified people trying to cash in on the popularity of the latest ‘in-vogue’ nutrients and on consumers lack of nutritional science knowledge.

The majority of people putting together supplements for sale have little idea of the complex bio-chemistry involved when ingredients are combined or which metabolic pathways they follow when assimilated into the body.

So the need to evaluate supplements is clear. Consumers need a reliable way to evaluate and compare supplements in order to find products that are safe, effective and which offer the best value for money. More on this below.

Different Categories of Supplements – Evaluate Them All

Cheap and ‘middle of the road’ multi vitamin supplements are currently the most popular category choice for the majority of supplement users.

Consumers however need to consider the limited health benefits offered by these types of supplements and that most do not offer good value for money. They contain large amounts of cheap vitamins and minerals and excessive amounts of non-active ingredients (excipients).

While these types of supplements help to ‘top-up’ deficient levels of essential micro-nutrients, they are in reality missing, or deficient in, expensive, key ingredients such as high potency phytonutrients, standardized herbal extracts and male and female ‘support’ nutrients, which are needed to optimize wellness throughout the body.

At the top end of the market is a small category of the best vitamin supplements based on synergistic and nutritionally complete formulas. They have been formulated by highly qualified bio-scientists using the latest research in bio-cellular chemistry and nutritional science.

These broad spectrum multi ingredient supplements target all organs and systems in the body, including the brain, and offer the strongest of health benefits. They do far more than just ‘top-up’ nutrient deficiencies but rather take a holistic approach to wellness by treating the body as a whole.

The consumption of this category of supplement is trending up worldwide. This is being driven by the aging baby boomers generation who use them as a form of preventative health-care to achieve their aim of “staying young and beautiful” as well as allying their fear of chronic illness, particularly cancer.

Now here is a key point:

The markets’ best science-based supplements are far from being equal!

There are always varying degrees of efficacy and value for money and in many cases these differences are significant.

This is primarily due to factors such as organizational structure, shareholder pressure and the marketing model(s) and distribution method(s) of supplement companies. These factors impact on the type and number of ingredients that manufacturers can afford to include in their products as well as the potencies and dose amounts – all of which are key variables when comparing supplements.

Consumers should always keep in mind that almost all supplements are manufactured to a price!

So regardless of which price category a supplement falls in it should be evaluated and then compared to its competitors. This applies even more for the up market multiples because value for money varies more-so.

Criteria for Evaluating Nutritional Supplements

A supplement can be broken apart and evaluated by examining it through 6 criteria:

The Formula

Ingredient Quality

Bio-availability

Synergy

Manufacturing Standards and Protocols

Value for money

By understanding the basics of each, supplements users can get a feel for the science behind supplements and target in on the fine details that manufacturers often love to keep hidden. This then allows consumers to make informed purchasing decisions.

The full 6 criteria can be used with multi ingredient products while less complex or single ingredient supplements can be evaluated using only 4 or 5.

To read further details on how to evaluate nutritional supplements follow these link to dedicated pages covering each of the 6 evaluation criteria.

Learn how to evaluate nutritional vitamin supplements

Nutritional vitamin supplements

Oktay Ozadam asked:


Nutritional supplements could be just what you are looking for to sort out your various health issues if you are suffering from conditions caused by poor nutrition. If you happen to be the kind of person who is always hurried and stop at any one of the drive-thrus you pass as you are driving along, you are certainly not getting the best nutrition. Sodas, French fries and burgers have very little nutritional value. Usually they have much too much ingredients that are detrimental to your health. These fatty foods can actually require your body to consume the few nourishing ingredients that they have for digesting those components that are unhealthy.

Dietetic Supplements Can Delay the Number One Killer

Studies show you are more liable to die from bad nutritional habits than from a major accident. It has also been proven that cancer as well as heart disease can often prevented by taking nutritional health supplements. Several of these ailments are triggered off by not having enough the vitamins or minerals that boost your immune system and keep it to operate most effectively. Consider vitamins and mineralos as well as herbs as the tools that are needed by the body to keep serious illnesses at bay. When a person’s body does not have the appropriate tools, most diseases are invited to take over.

Which are the Supplements that are Absolutely Essential?

It is sometimes difficult to decide on which are the necessary supplements and which supplements are really not necessary. Several stores stock a huge range of supplements of various types. Most stores will usually keep supplements that contain vitamins as well as those that contain herbs. The actually fact is every body does not need the same nutrients. Any vitamin supplements you decide to take, should be taken only as a supplement, to offset your nutrient levels with the food you eat. If you regularly refrain from eating sufficient fruits and vegetables, you would require a vitamin supplement. You should know though, if you are looking a special supplement that will help with boosting memory as well as energy, you will be able to find a herbal line of supplements that can solve the problem.

Nutritional Guides & How They Help

The best thing to do should be to get yourself a detailed guide on herbal supplements that also features details on vitamins. A good guide should be impartial and break down the value offered by each supplement, and also the few brands that offer the highest nutrients. The best nutritional supplement will be made up of a mix of top notch nutritional ingredients. As you are likely to experience with other products, there are products that would pass any quality test and those that would be sure to fail. Your best bet would be to get a guide that offers a break down of the ingredients contained in individual pills, what results you can expect, and a few equitable reviews from people who have been taking supplements.

Safety Issues Surrounding Nutritional Supplements

While most people will not suffer from any reaction brought on by nutritional supplements, you should make it a point to consult with a qualified practitioner prior to starting any kind of regimen. If you currently have a health condition of any kind or are currently on a course of medications, speak to your doctor about supplements that are not harmful in any way.

Chris DiCicco asked:


A few years ago the options of choosing nutritional supplements were limited by the stock of your local stores and perhaps if you were lucky enough to know any manufacturers, then you would have more success. The internet has changed everything, although most people would argue whether it has really made our lives easier.



You can use the internet to search online for all kinds of vitamin and mineral food supplements that exactly match your body needs. You can even read reviews of other consumers who are satisfied with a particular manufacturer of nutritional supplements.

Before buying any kind of nutritional supplement keep some important points in mind. The first and foremost consideration should be the quality. You should always find a manufacturer that is certified in providing health services to customers. The product should conform to the strict quality standards that are set by the government and specialists. It’s a good idea to ask a dietitian before going for a particular food supplement product. It’s also important to remember that high quality food supplements are usually much more expensive than the low quality, cheaper products. As with most things, you get what you pay for!

You should always keep in mind the purpose you are buying a vitamin, mineral or other supplements for. Vitamin supplements are composed of many different types of vitamins, including vitamin A, B, C, D, K, folic acid, pyridoxine, thiamin, orotic acid and many others. Of these, vitamin B is further divided into many separate categories. Similarly mineral supplements are categorized as iron, copper, sodium, magnesium, calcium citrate and so on. Different vitamin and mineral supplements serve different purposes.

Antioxidants are a type of flavonoid product that helps to protect the body against free radicals (the by-products formed by certain activities of body cells). It is a popular anti-aging food supplement. Cranberry juice is also known to be another natural anti-aging food supplement.

There are also supplements for sexual enhancement, cure for arthritis, cure for skin cancer, and lowering cholesterol level in the body. Policosano is an important natural food supplement helpful in lowering cholesterol. There literally are supplements that can help everyone. Also arthritis sufferers are catered for, being that there are supplements that can actually prevent swelling and inflammation.

Vitamin food supplements often contain a vitamin (no surprise there), a mineral, herbal extracts, and amino acids. Some of these supplements are popular treatments for all kinds of cancer, especially skin, lung and prostate cancer. These products can come in both liquid and tablet form depending on your personal preference.

Supplements for sexual enhancement are also rich in vitamins and some therapeutic herbs. Sexual problems can be caused by many different things, it can be caused by psychological, or physiological reasons. Although it is widely known that most of the sexual problems faced by men and women are psychological, there are sexual enhancement products available for all kinds of sexual problems. Energy and vitality supplements are available for both men and women to help them enhance their love life.

Various herbal products for the treatment of obesity, under-development of breasts, and un-timely ovulation are available. You can search on the Internet to find a particular kind of product and read its description to decide whether it’s suitable for you or not. Omega 3 is a popular and well known food supplement.

There are unlikely to be any side effects associated with the use of these supplements because they are extracted from natural plants. However it is still advisable to consult a health professional before buying any kind of nutritional supplement. Keep the above-mentioned factors in mind and also do a little research of your own to find more about the nutritional supplements available today.

kevin moshayedi asked:


Nutritional supplements can strengthen bones, cartilage and joints resulting in improved flexibility, bone strength, and pain relief. Nutritional supplements have disabling effects on inflammatory arthritis and joint pain. Nutritional supplements provide the nutrients needed to lubricate joints and rebuild cartilage, resulting in reduced arthritis and joint pain. In fact nutritional supplements have become popular alternative treatments for arthritis and osteoporosis. Supplements with calcium, magnesium and vitamin D are very essential for maintaining bone health, as Calcium helps in strong bone formation, Vitamin D helps in Calcium absorption and utilization, and magnesium helps in bone formation and joint support. Vitamin supplements prevent the breakdown of cartilage. Inclusion of Boron, Copper, Silicon and Zinc in bone health supplement is essential, because Boron activates Vitamin D, and Silicon and Zinc helps in bone formation and osteoporosis support. Vitamins D, A, C, E and B3 supplements help in reducing pain and inflammation in people with osteoarthritis. Vitamin E supplements helps in significantly relieving from arthritis and joint pain. Nutritional supplements with glucosamine (glucosamine sulfate and N-Acetyl D-Glucosamine), chondroitin sulfate and crucial minerals help to build and maintain healthy, flexible cartilage which is very important for joint health. Glucosamine has become a popular natural nutritional supplement for the treatment of arthritis especially osteoarthritis. Nutritional supplement containing Glucosamine and Chondroitin plays an important role in the maintenance of joint cartilage. Nutritional supplement with Glucosamine, Chondroitin, MSM (methylsulfonylmethane), Manganese and Vitamin C helps in maintaining joint health. Glucosamine and Chondroitin included in this joint health supplement promote wound healing by providing the necessary building blocks for new joint cartilage. Nutritional supplement with Omega 3 fatty acids helps people with rheumatoid and other inflammatory forms of arthritis and joint pain. Nutritional supplement with Bromelain, a substance derived from pineapple, has natural pain relieving properties, and reduces pain more effectively with fewer side effects. Nutritional supplements made of avocado and soybean extracts have found to reduce pain and level of disability and increase the mobility range in people with bone disease. Intake of calcium supplements daily helps in maintaining bone strength and bone density, and helps in preventing osteoporosis. The nutritional supplement with SAMe (S-Adenosyl-Methionine) which is a form of the amino acid, methionine, stimulates the production of glycosaminoglycans which are important components of connective tissue. SAMe helps to maintain the quality of cartilage. Nutritional supplement with MSM (methylsulfonylmethane) promotes healthy tissues & cells. If you suffer from osteoarthritis, try to include nutritional herbal supplements in your diet, along with omega-3 fatty acids, vitamin C, folic acid, and vitamins D and vitamin E supplements. Herbal supplements like turmeric and ginger have anti-inflammatory properties. Vitamin C and omega-3 fatty acids from fish oil and flaxseed also have the same effects. Folic acid supplements decreases joint sensitivity and increases your mobility range. Vitamins D and Vitamin E supplements not only prevent the disease but also slow the progression of the disease. Magnesium supplements are important for bone and joint health and reduce some of the side effects of high levels of calcium supplementation. Glucosamine and Chondroitin Sulfate are extremely helpful for osteoarthritis. If you are Rheumatoid Arthritis patient, take vitamin C supplements, herbal supplements like turmeric and ginger, and supplements with magnesium and omega-3 fatty acids. Herbal supplements, and Supplements with Vitamin C and omega-3 fatty acids can reduce inflammation, while magnesium supplements can suppress the spread of the disease.