What’s In Your Supplements and Why You Should Care?
Roughly half of the U.S. population takes one or more supplements regularly. They’re easy to find and relatively inexpensive. However, they’re not heavily regulated, meaning you aren’t always getting what you think. This blog will discuss the importance of understanding what supplements you’re taking, the challenges with tainted supplements and misleading labels, and how to choose your supplements confidently.
If you’re in the market for supplements, you can shop online or go to the grocery store, pharmacy, or even the Dollar Store. Despite their widespread availability, research has found discrepancies between what is listed on the bottle’s label and what is actually inside the bottle. One report found that two of the three memory products researched didn’t even have the active ingredient listed on the label. Another study found that 20% of the contaminated supplements contained at least one ingredient that was not approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). More than one-third of the tainted products were ordered online, and another third came from international companies.
Quality Matters When It Comes to Supplements
Quality matters in everything and anything you put on or in your body. The point of taking supplements is to improve health, not hinder it. Choosing quality means knowing what you are getting. Clear labeling and product quality certifications protect you. Quality supplements should be:
- Certified. Only choose products that have been confirmed (certified) to have the active ingredients listed on the label. Otherwise, you won’t know what you are getting, and the supplements won’t help you how they should. BalanceDocs uses a third-party lab to test and certify products.
- Potent. The dosage you receive of any supplement should be what the label states. Receiving too little of a supplement won’t improve your health. Receiving too much can be toxic.
- Pure. Pesticides and other chemicals can harm your health. Some supplements even contain mold, mildew, and heavy metals. Ensure your supplements are clean.
- Absorbency. For a supplement to be absorbed into your system, it must dissolve. Some supplements available on the market don’t do this and are therefore passed out of the body without any benefit to the person taking them.
If you take the time and spend the money on supplements to boost your health and wellness, know what you’re taking. Don’t let a great price lure you into choosing a product that isn’t certified. Only take supplements recommended by your primary care provider and in their prescribed dosage. Follow their recommendations for trusted brands to ensure you get the ingredients you need to feel your best.
To help patients feel confident about their supplements, OnePeak Medical founder Nisha Jackson, Ph.D., MS, NP, HHP, curated her own line of natural supplements and healthcare products, BalanceDocs. BalanceDocs is a line of high-quality supplements that are certified by a third-party for purity, potency, and absorbency. These products are stored in temperature-controlled environments to ensure they do not lose their potency due to temperature instabilities. We perform blood tests as required to ensure supplements are helping our patients the way we prescribe and that patients receive the appropriate dosage they need to be well.
Your body is your temple. What you put into it directly impacts how you feel. Ensure your body feels its best by choosing to use supplements that are proven to be effective. If you’re interested in BalanceDocs, you can purchase supplements at any of our clinics or online here.