When Buying Health Supplements
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Whenever you buy any kind of vitamins, minerals, or any other type of health supplements, you need to consider one very important factor first: That not all vitamins, minerals, and health supplements are created equal. Why is this so? Well, consider the facts. Nutritional supplements, like any other product, are manufactured by companies. As you know, companies are in it for the money, so their focus really is on increasing profits while cutting down on expenses. So even if that would mean great results in business, it’s not exactly great for our body’s health.
How dose cutting costs relate to health supplements, by the way? There are ways to make manufacturing health supplements cheaper, like putting in extra ingredients in lieu of the main ingredient. These are called binders and fillers. These ingredients are put there to prevent the other substances from caking together, and they are also used as fillers and to bind the other ingredients. These are not necessarily bad things, but they can be if you’re overusing them.
There are two common mistakes that a lot of people make when they go to a health food store and buy health supplements. First, they usually focus on the price of the product. This is generally considered to be a big mistake. People have to remember that nowadays, cheaper doesn’t necessarily mean better. Quality products take more time and resources to produce, so they usually cost more. And our health and those of our families should not have a price tag on it.
Second, they look at the quantities. I have known lots and lots of people that compare two products like this. For example, they pick up a bottle of vitamins that indicates 500mg of Vitamin C. The other bottle says only 250mg of Vitamin C. They immediately think that the former is better. Your body is not going to absorb all these extra milligrams anyway. One thing I would suggest to you is to carefully read the labels. And remember what I mentioned a while ago about those fillers and binders. If you find health supplements that are full of these extra ingredients, or come much cheaper than usual, forget it.
Ignore the amount and read the labels. If you need any help, ask the staff or salespersons. Unfortunately, some stores hire people without any knowledge at all about the items they are selling, so if you find that the staff doesn’t even know what he’s talking about, then go elsewhere. Here’s a quick rule of thumb: Get the health supplement with the least possible amount of fillers. How do you know? Because when you read the labels like I told you, you will recognize and see many other extra ingredients. Lots of reputable companies that make quality health supplements are now using recyclable packaging, so this would also be a guide for you.
When buying health supplements, it’s always wise to pick ones from good brands. You won’t always get it the first time, but you’ll soon learn to recognize them after a while. The better products do tend to be a bit more expensive; however, you will need to take them less frequently to get the same benefits, so it’s going to pay off in the long run for you and your body.
Question and Answer
Best health supplement to maximize a workout?
I just recently started working out. I am NOT fat. I am very petite and weigh about 110. I am not looking to gain or lose any weight. I am basically looking to stay at around the same weight more or less but would like to build lean, toned muscle. I don't want the body builder look. I just want toned arms, legs, and abdominals. My stomach is flat but I would like definition. What health supplements will help me get results in the least amount of time possible? This is the longest I have ever stuck it out trying to get fit and it is HARD!
Syahrul Azlan Idris -
About the Author:
Azlan Irda is a co-founder of http://www.healthsupplementsite.com, where you can get quality supplements at affordable prices. Visit us for your health supplement needs.
17 Comments
May 20th, 2010 at 9:55 am
May 20th, 2010 at 10:53 am
I always recommend staying with the big players whose quality control and effectiveness is well established. I like the Life Extension Institute products. SportsPharma is also good. As luck would have it, I just did some research on this very subject this morning. I came across a link evaluating the "top 25" supplements sold in the US and Canada. They say this was the top 25 out of 1,000 and claim all by independent study. I will include a link below. Here are their findings:
"Comparative Guide to Nutritional Supplements"
by Lyle MacWilliam, BSc, MSc, FP.
RATING BRAND NAME PRODUCT NAME
1 USANA Health Sciences Essentials (U.S.)
2 Douglas Labs Ultra Preventive X
3 Vitamin Research Products Extend Plus
4 Source Naturals Life Force Multiple
5 Source Naturals Élan Vitàl
6 USANA Health Sciences Essentials (Canadian)
7 FreeLife Basic Mindell Plus
8 Life Extension Foundation Life Extension Mix
9 Karuna Maxxum 4
10 Ultimate Nutrition Super Complete
11 Douglas Labs Ultra Preventive Beta
12 SportsPharma Multiguard
13 Dr. Julian Whitaker's Forward Multi-Nutrient
14 Douglas Labs Ultra Preventive III
15 amni Added Protection III
16 Purity Products Perfect Multi Focus Formula
17 DaVinci Laboratories Spectra Woman
18 Doctor's Nutrition Mega Vites Woman
19 Mountain Naturals of Vermont Women's Superior
20 Douglas Labs Ultra Preventive IX
21 Nutrition Dynamics Optimum Health Essentials
22 Karuna Maxxum 2
23 DaVinci Laboratories Spectra
24 FoodScience of Vermont Superior Care
25 Mountain Naturals of Vermont Superior Care
May 20th, 2010 at 10:34 am
NO – the levels have been calculated so that a normal (in fact good) diet, plus the supplement will provide the optimum level of nutrients.
All nutrient levels are below the upper safe level as determined by the Food Standards Agency.
There is a table in the book Health Defence written by Dr Paul Clayton that calculates the average nutrient intake, then what an optimum intake would be and the Nutrishield formula fills that gap.
May 20th, 2010 at 10:40 am
if one was to take this level of supplementation daily, as well as eating their normal diet, is it not likely that they would essentially overdose on certain vitamins?
May 21st, 2010 at 12:30 am
May 21st, 2010 at 12:30 pm
A general vitamin, like royal jelly is good, and some mulitple vitamins are also good…eat lots of yougurt, for acidophillous for your immune system…L-tyrosine for serotoinin, take some Lithium for your nerves, and to calm you and stress…and eat lots of fruits and vegetables..then take two aspriins and call me in the morning LOL good luck darling, I pray you get healthy, wealthy and wiser
May 21st, 2010 at 9:05 am
Thanks, I will have a look
May 21st, 2010 at 8:11 pm
May 22nd, 2010 at 3:54 am
The simple things work the best. Walk and keep drinking the water.
The constant thirst is troubling as it is a possible sign of low blood sugar. Get this checked out when you can.
The 'magic formula' is 500 fewer calories per day. Reduce intake, increase exercise or a combination of both to achieve this and you will lose an average of a pound a week.
The walking should help with the stress, but it might also help to learn some meditation techniques. Like finding your 'happy place', being able to close your eyes for a minute and 'relive' something that made you feel great. Take 3 deep breaths, focus your senses in on yourself, close your eyes and think about your 'happy place' for 30 seconds. Ignore everything around you and focus on you. It might sound hokey and yes I borrowed 'happy place' from an Adam Sandler movie, but it works for me.
May 22nd, 2010 at 5:34 am
you never really know whats true and whats false when it comes to health….the best thing you can do is to research on your own. I recommend this website as I swear by it : http://www.newstarget.com
you can type in any word in the search engine there (i.e a vitamin) and usually it has a very detailed yet simple explanation for what you're looking for.
also you might want to try 'arnica' gel for any aches, pains and bruises…its amazing.
May 21st, 2010 at 11:10 pm
I have always taken some vitamins but never knew how much and what to take.
This makes it easy -thank you.
I have been taking these for 6 months now and feel great.
May 22nd, 2010 at 1:36 am
We sell direct by mail order, this keeps the price down.
We pass the savings on to you.
Our website info is in the info box
May 22nd, 2010 at 2:44 pm
No, but Medicaid could be expanded… Medicare could lower its age requirements, but it is absolutely stretched monetarily to the extreme, and all of it would result in higher taxes for all.
The obvious solution is to make the ones who already receive free healthcare more accountable for it. Volunteering, education, payback, all those are possible to benefit the beneficiaries and the provider (the government).
The amount of people who receive healthcare courtesy of the government and are fully capable of some sort of labor must, in my opinion, compensate for the benefit in some way.
May 23rd, 2010 at 1:24 am
The most complete Vitamin Supplement pack you can buy.
I help create the formula and take this on a daily basis.
Thank you NutriShield for putting them all in one pack.
May 23rd, 2010 at 3:19 am
Can I buy these in the shops? -its a good idea to have a pack with all the important vitamins and at the right levels.
May 23rd, 2010 at 9:00 am
I believe that it is possible to stay healthy into ripe old age and to prevent, stabilise and even perhaps to reverse, many of the chronic degenerative diseases.
Underpinning all my research and advice is this simple fact. Given the right nutrition and lifestyle, our bodies have amazing powers of self-healing and regeneration.
May 23rd, 2010 at 8:55 pm
There are a couple good answers there, but most of what's been listed is just for the general sustenance of the brain, not to nourish or boost the brain. The basic Vitamins (A, B-12, Choline, etc) are good to maintain the basic health of it, but the other nutrients like Ginkgo Biloba and Lecithin actually help to nourish the brain and boost memory, focus, and other mental functions.
In general, the most popular natural products for brain health are Ginkgo Biloba, Acetyl L-Carnitine, Fish Oil (Omega 3), Phosphatidylserine (abbreviated PS), DMAE, Huperzine A, Bacopa Monnieri (or Monniera), and Vinpocetine.
There are a LOT of people that get a lot of benefit from any combination of those. I would suggest adding one at a time to your daily regiment as too much too fast can be tough. Good luck and I hope I helped!