The Only Nutritional Supplement Resource You Will Need
Not all supplements are created equal. Some have less components or nutrient contents than others, while some have similar vitamins and minerals content, but are present in different forms (e.g some have calcium citrate while some calcium carbonate, etc.). How can you, as a consumer determine which is better and which has better value for money. previously I aslo don't know that multivitamins differ from one another, I thought that they are all the same, until I was introduced to a brand of nutritional supplement which I am still using up to now because of the many benefits I get from taking this nutritional supplement. I was also introduced to Nutrisearch Comparative Guide to Nutritional Supplements which is a compilation of popular (and some unpopular) brands of nutritional supplements. Nutrisearch Corp., conduct test and study of these nutritional supplements and ranked them based a comprehensive analytical model. Products are rated based on Health Support Profile which has the following criteria:
1. Completeness
2. Potency
3. Mineral Forms
4. Vitamin E Forms
5. Immune Support
6.Antioxidant Support
7. Bone Health
8. Heart Health
9. Liver Health (detoxification)
10. Metabolic Health (Glucose Control)
11. Ocular Health
12. Methylation Support
13. Lipotropic Factors
14. Inflammation Control
15.Glycation Control
The criteria used is very extensive and stringent which only shows that nutritional supplements products which have high ratings areof good quality, and claims and benefits in terms of prevention of vitamin and mineral deficiency and support to immune function have been proven.
Nutrisearch is comprehensive and a bit too technical that it may be a bit difficult to understand from a non-medical or science background, but is really a valuable guide if you are really serious about nutrition since it is not only applicable to users of nutritional supplements but also if you are serious about your health as well since it contains other scientific information and explanation on many health factors and nutrition.
However, for us who just want to know how to select a good nutritional supplements, here are some of the simpler guides:
1. Is the Nutritional Supplement Complete? - provides broad spectrum of the essential nutrients, meaning it should have broad range of vitamins, minerals and a variety of antioxidants such as bioflavonoids*, alphalipoic acid and coenzymne Q10. Many "multivitamins" miss out on more costly nutrients.
*Note: bioflavonoids are group of plant pigments responsible for the bright colors of many fruits and vegetables. These are designed by nature to protect the plant against damage caused by sun exposure and disease, they elicit powerful antioxidant, cell signaling and anti-inflammatory properties.
2. Is your Nutritional Supplement Balanced? - vitamins and minerals work in synergy, therefore a good balance of these will have a good effect in our body. Excessive amount of one nutrient will lead to imbalance and can hamper the absorption of another nutrient.
3. Is your supplement Potent? - A good supplement must provide sufficient amounts of vitamins and minerals for optimal health. I know of some multivitamin brand which provides amount in percentage, which is not really a good indicator of the amount of nutrient content. It should provide amount higher than the RDAs (Recommended Dietary Allowances - minimum levels to prevent deficiency).
4. Are the contents Bioavailable? - What doesn't get absorbed by the body and used is wasted., therefore is not a good value for money. This is where a bit of chemistry comes in. It is established that vitamins and minerals can be many forms. Some are more easily absorbed than other form. A good supplement must contain the most bioavailable form of vitamins and minerals (e.g chelated minerals are more readily absorbed than mineral salts)
5. Is it Safe? Believe it or not some minerals are harmful if taken over a long period of time. Nutrients like Iron (that is why Iron supplements is prescribed only on certain conditions) and Preformed Vitamin A are harmful when used long term. A good supplement must also be manufactured to exact standards. Pharmaceutical grade nutritional supplements, meaning manufactured to pharmaceutical, exact standards are considered best.
1. Completeness
2. Potency
3. Mineral Forms
4. Vitamin E Forms
5. Immune Support
6.Antioxidant Support
7. Bone Health
8. Heart Health
9. Liver Health (detoxification)
10. Metabolic Health (Glucose Control)
11. Ocular Health
12. Methylation Support
13. Lipotropic Factors
14. Inflammation Control
15.Glycation Control
The criteria used is very extensive and stringent which only shows that nutritional supplements products which have high ratings areof good quality, and claims and benefits in terms of prevention of vitamin and mineral deficiency and support to immune function have been proven.
Nutrisearch is comprehensive and a bit too technical that it may be a bit difficult to understand from a non-medical or science background, but is really a valuable guide if you are really serious about nutrition since it is not only applicable to users of nutritional supplements but also if you are serious about your health as well since it contains other scientific information and explanation on many health factors and nutrition.
However, for us who just want to know how to select a good nutritional supplements, here are some of the simpler guides:
1. Is the Nutritional Supplement Complete? - provides broad spectrum of the essential nutrients, meaning it should have broad range of vitamins, minerals and a variety of antioxidants such as bioflavonoids*, alphalipoic acid and coenzymne Q10. Many "multivitamins" miss out on more costly nutrients.
*Note: bioflavonoids are group of plant pigments responsible for the bright colors of many fruits and vegetables. These are designed by nature to protect the plant against damage caused by sun exposure and disease, they elicit powerful antioxidant, cell signaling and anti-inflammatory properties.
2. Is your Nutritional Supplement Balanced? - vitamins and minerals work in synergy, therefore a good balance of these will have a good effect in our body. Excessive amount of one nutrient will lead to imbalance and can hamper the absorption of another nutrient.
3. Is your supplement Potent? - A good supplement must provide sufficient amounts of vitamins and minerals for optimal health. I know of some multivitamin brand which provides amount in percentage, which is not really a good indicator of the amount of nutrient content. It should provide amount higher than the RDAs (Recommended Dietary Allowances - minimum levels to prevent deficiency).
4. Are the contents Bioavailable? - What doesn't get absorbed by the body and used is wasted., therefore is not a good value for money. This is where a bit of chemistry comes in. It is established that vitamins and minerals can be many forms. Some are more easily absorbed than other form. A good supplement must contain the most bioavailable form of vitamins and minerals (e.g chelated minerals are more readily absorbed than mineral salts)
5. Is it Safe? Believe it or not some minerals are harmful if taken over a long period of time. Nutrients like Iron (that is why Iron supplements is prescribed only on certain conditions) and Preformed Vitamin A are harmful when used long term. A good supplement must also be manufactured to exact standards. Pharmaceutical grade nutritional supplements, meaning manufactured to pharmaceutical, exact standards are considered best.
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