What is Supplementing your Supplements?

Where do you buy your supplements?

Do you know exactly what is inside your supplements? Every ingredient?

What about the ingredients that are not on the label? How would you ever know what’s not listed?

That is the scary part of purchasing supplements from major grocery and pharmacy chains. You just really never know what is inside the capsule or tablet that you are ingesting.

In the United States, the FDA’s standards say that the manufacturers and distributors of dietary supplements are responsible for evaluating the safety and labeling of their products before marketing to ensure they meet all FDA regulations.2

Is self-governing in an industry that is posturing with the pharmaceutical industry really the best way to govern?

There are slightly more regulations in Canada, as each product that is sold must have a license. To receive a license, applicants must give detailed information about the product to Health Canada, including: medicinal ingredients, source, dose, potency, non-medicinal ingredients and recommended use(s).3

But are the products ever checked and verified for dosage, correct ingredients, safety and viability?

Actually, yes! The New York State attorney general’s office conducted tests on top-selling store brands of herbal supplements at four national retailers – GNC, Target, Walgreens and Walmart – and they discovered that four out of five of the products did not contain any of the herbs on their labels!1

“The tests showed that pills labeled medicinal herbs often contained little more than cheap fillers like powdered rice, asparagus and houseplants, and in some cases substances that could be dangerous to those with allergies.”1

“Mislabeling, contamination and false advertising are illegal,” said Eric T. Schneiderman, the state attorney general. “They also pose unacceptable risks — especially those with allergies to hidden ingredients.”1

Among the Attorney General’s findings1:

~ Walgreens – a popular store brand of ginseng contained ONLY powdered garlic and rice
~ Walmart – in its Ginkgo Biloba, powdered radish, houseplants and WHEAT was found – despite a claim on the label saying it was wheat and GLUTEN-FREE!
~ Target – three out of six herbal products (Gingko Biloba, St. John’s wort and valerian root) tested negative for the herbs on their labels! But they did find powdered rice, beans, peas and wild carrots
~ GNC – unlisted ingredients were used as fillers, such as powdered legumes, the class of plants that included peanuts and soybeans – potentially life threatening for individuals with severe allergies

What is the Solution?

The solution is to avoid big-name brands that are sold in major chain outlets. Source out high quality supplements at your local natural food store, who have already helped narrow down the highest quality products for you. From there, do your own research to see what the values of the company are, why and how they produce the supplements and gauge their level of integrity from your own research.

Additionally, you can often avoid the need for major supplementation by eating a broad range of vegetables, fruits, berries, nuts and seeds and legumes. Be sure you are eating many colours of these items, as that will increase your exposure to high quality vitamins and nutrients. Your body is better at digesting and absorbing nutrients that come from food, rather than supplementation, so be sure you are exposing yourself to the best food choices you can!

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Jo-Anne Richardson, Registered Holistic Nutritionist & Energy Medicine Practitioner

Jo-Anne works with Fournier Homeopathic & Integrative Health to provide online education for clients and patients. Her interest in healthy, joyful living is demonstrated in her writing, coaching and teaching. Her goal is to improve the health of her community by empowering you with knowledge, support and new ideas.

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With Sources From:

1 – http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2015/02/03/new-york-attorney-general-targets-supplements-at-major-retailers/?_r=2

2 – http://www.fda.gov/Food/DietarySupplements/

3 – http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/dhp-mps/prodnatur/about-apropos/index-eng.php

http://www.naturalnews.com/048514_supplement_scam_big_business_FDA.html

http://newstarget.com/2016-05-11-supplements-sold-by-walmart-walgreens-and-other-retailers-dont-match-the-ingredients-on-their-labels.html