Are your supplements safe?
Sales of supplements, which have grown over the last few years, have surged in recent months, rising as the economy has nose-dived. With the added fears of a flu pandemic, I have no doubt that herbal immune boosting products and multivitamins are growing in demand.
When used correctly (right nutrient at the right dose, manufactured safely and meeting certain quality standards), supplements can be very powerful.
But, a recent report by an independent supplement testing lab (www.consumerlab.com) shows that as many as a third of the products in the market fail quality and safety tests. Some green tea extracts and multivitamins, for example, were less potent than promised; some were contaminated with lead!
There is increasing evidence that our food supply does not provide the nutrients we need. Selenium and chromium are examples of minerals that many people need more of.
So, Here are some tips for choosing supplements:
1. Be specific about what you need supplements for. Don’t be tempted to take more than you need. It may be a waste — or worse, harmful. If you wish to find out what your specific mineral needs are, you might wish to do a hair mineral analysis test.
2. Do some online research about the brand you buy. You can find out a lot about a company’s safety standards online.
3. If a product claims it will “cure” a disease, or makes other grand claims, be on guard. Any supplement that sounds too good to be true likely is.
4. Choose brands labeled with the NSF International, US Pharmacopeia, or TGA seal.
5. Find out where the supplement was manufactured. Choose companies with GMP certification.
