Properly choosing your supplements, tips and advice

In recent years, everything around us pushes us to perform: in our studies, our work, as parents, etc. In other words, in all aspects of our lives. It is therefore normal to expect maximum performance from our supplements.

Knowing how to read the ingredients list is essential

Following are a few tips to help correctly compare ingredients:

For all products: First of all, if the ingredient concentration is not clearly indicated, avoid the product altogether. (For example, if you are given the source of silica contained in the bottle but the quantity of milligrams per millilitre is not given). It's like paying for a full tank of gas without knowing how much gas was actually put into the reservoir.

Next, compare the ingredient concentration to equal dosage. (For example, a product that contains 10mg of iron per 5ml is twice as concentrated as one that contains 10mg per 10ml).

Look at the non medicinal ingredients. Look for products that do not contain colorants, artificial flavours and other unnecessary ingredients. Beware of products that do not indicate their non-medicinal ingredients or those that indicate them in alphabetical order. In both cases, you are not being properly informed of the exact contents in the product.

For plant based products:

Are the Latin name and the specific part of the plant indicated?

There are thousands of species of roses, each having different characteristics. It is the same for medicinal plants. The variety used is therefore to be considered. The specific part of the plant used is also an extremely important factor with regards to its efficiency.

Be wary of popular exotic plants promising miraculous virtues. Turn towards plants that have been proven effective over time. Their therapeutic actions are often better documented as well as their counter indications.

For minerals: get information on the elementary mineral content and the bioavailability. You can ask your consultant or certain reputable Internet sites. (For example, calcium carbonate contains twice the elementary calcium as calcium citrate.) Liquid calcium carbonate does not create deposits or constipation and is more easily absorbed.

And commercial brands?

An ingredient with a trade mark (®TM MD MC) doesn't mean a thing other than that the commercial name is protected. Frigidaire® is a brand of refrigerators but not all refrigerators are of the Frigidaire® brand. So ask about the ingredient or the mix of ingredients that make up that trade mark. It is neither more nor less efficient than an ingredient that is not protected by a trade mark. It is the name that is protected and nothing else.

Can the price of the product be an indication of better quality? The only quality guarantee is on the label, not on the price sticker. Many factors excluding the quality of the product may influence the price: the proportion attributed to promotion, import and transportation costs, packaging costs and profit margins are only a few.

Capsules, gel tabs, tablets, liquids.Is one form of supplement really more effective? Liquids are absorbed up to 12 times more than tablets and capsules. They act much faster as they have greater bioavailability.

Did you know that liquid supplements…

·are more effective than solid forms for people suffering from intestinal inflammatory illnesses or allergies (Crohn's disease or celiac disease…), benign polyps', ulcers, constipation or chronic diarrhea...

·are easy to swallow

·have greater bioavailability

·are completely dissolved during digestion

  • may be dissolved in water or a fruit juice without diminishing their efficiency.

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