The supplement and vitamin industry is growing in the U.S. and worldwide. The primary problem with choosing and maintaining a habit of dietary supplements in the U.S. is regulation. The FDA regulates supplements, but they do not review supplement products before they go to market. Therefore, searching for supplements is an unsafe endeavor unless you have the support and advice of a credible healthcare practitioner.
Supplements enhance your diet and do not replace whole foods. You can take a proactive step toward better health by creating a nutrition plan derived from whole foods. It’s encouraging to know that 74 percent of U.S. adults take dietary supplements, and 55 percent qualify as regular users1. By paying close attention to the types of supplements you’re purchasing, you can maintain a safe and effective holistic nutrition plan.
Which supplements should you buy?
When shopping for supplements, it’s essential to pay close attention to the following considerations to make sure they’re contributing to your wellness:
Reputable Sources: When choosing supplements, your safety is paramount. Ensure you have researched the brand you are considering buying from. Check to see if the brand has a third-party certification or USP (US Pharmacopeia) validation that verifies the contents of the supplements and that their manufacturing process is clean. Among the many options, we recommend the following brands to start your shopping process: Cellcore, Vervita Products, PURE, Klaire Labs, GAIA, and Douglas Labs. By choosing from these reputable sources, you can feel confident in the quality and safety of your supplements.
Whole Food Sources: Choose supplements made from whole food sources, which the body easily recognizes and uses, rather than synthetic food sources. For example, Acerola is a good source of vitamin C, beef liver is one of the best sources of Iron, and milk thistle will help support a proper liver detox. You can avoid supplements with bulking agents and check the bottle’s contents.
Ethical Sourcing: Tracing ingredients is increasingly essential to building a healthy lifestyle. Select sustainably sourced and produced supplements with transparent labeling about their origins. Read the bottle’s contents carefully and check with your healthcare provider for any concerns.
Holistic Compatibility: Instead of opting for individual vitamins or supplements, choose supplements that complement holistic health practices. Adaptogens, for example, bring the body back into balance and help manage stress, while probiotics can support good gut health.
Certified Organic and Non-GMO: Typically, vitamins and other supplements are extracted from a common crop grown for a broader application. As such, some companies genetically modify crops to enable mass production. Look for “Certified Organic” labels and non-GMO certifications to ensure products are free from unwanted pesticides and genetically modified organisms.
Temperature-regulated: Ensure your supplements are temperature-regulated, packaged, and maintained to keep their freshness and purity. Probiotics, for example, are living organisms and support gut health when regulated at the correct temperature.
There is no one-size-fits-all approach to buying supplements; they are not meant to substitute for a healthy diet. As a healthcare provider specializing in preventative health, Hoag Compass suggests working directly with a healthcare practitioner to understand which supplements support your unique dietary needs. You can contact a care team member today for a customized care plan.
1 Three-quarters of Americans Take Dietary Supplements; Most Users Agree They are Essential to Maintaining Health. CRN Consumer Survey | Council for Responsible Nutrition. (n.d.). https://www.crnusa.org/newsroom/three-quarters-americans-take-dietary-supplements-most-users-agree-they-are-essential
