© Copyright 2003-2007 Dr. Krisjan M. Gustavson. Please ask permission to reproduce.
These days, we simply can't eat enough food to obtain all of the proper nutrition we need due to the fact that our soils have been depleted, it may be difficult to find enough organically grown produce to fulfill our needs. You know that supplements are beneficial, but do you know the key questions to ask yourself about buying the right vitamins, minerals, herbs and other nutritional supplements?
For example, are you sure that the echinacea product you're taking is the correct species of the plant? The correct portion of the plant? Processed to provide optimum bioavailability? Are you sure those coenzyme Q10 capsules contain COQ10 and not just a mixture of riboflavin and folic acid which looks just like COQ10?
"A test of 14 samples of over-the-counter products showed that in 11 cases, the products did not contain all active ingredients associated with Ginkgo biloba leaf extract as specified in standards set by the World Health Organization, according to Kenneth So of the Hong Kong Consumer Council, "Ginkgo Remedies Fail WHO Standards".
Wide price differentials exist among particular nutraceuticals, and one suggested reason could be differences in the quality of the raw material between manufacturers. There's natural diversity in the genetics of the plant that have a long-term impact as to the final quality of the packaged product. Some plants may have high levels of active ingredients, while others may have none, and surprisingly, he noted, no regulations requiring standardization currently exist.
Did you know that many suppliers of nutritional products (brand names, private labels, mail orders, direct marketing companies, all the way up to the large pharmaceutical companies) are not manufacturers of these products? And manufacturers are not governed by strict rules for making nutritional formulas.
The only way to make sure that the nutritional products you buy are of the highest quality is to find out if they are made in a fully licensed, federally registered pharmaceutical manufacturing facility. If you're unsure about the quality of the vitamins, minerals and/or supplements you are taking, ask us for suggestions and/or recommendations. Remember, if you ever have any questions or concerns about your health, talk to us. We're here to help, and enjoy participating in your life long good health!
"Natural
forces within us are the true healers of disease."
~ Hippocrates, the father of medicine.
Fort Street Family Chiropractic
1007 Fort St., Victoria, BC
Phone: 250.382.0018
©
2008
Dr. K. M. Gustavson
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