Just because a health product is on the shelf in the supermarket, does it mean it is a good quality product?
A number of years ago I believed that all nutritional supplements were manufactured to the same standards, but I have since learned that this isn’t the case. From personal research, I have found that there are many factors, which affect the quality and hence, the effectiveness of nutritional supplements. I will outline some of these now and will explain the relevance of each of the factors discussed.
The first factor is whether a supplement dissolves and disintegrates fully and how readily available it is for use within the body. The nutrients in the product must be in a suitable form and in correct ratios for maximum absorption into the body’s cells. This is known as the bioavailability of the product. As the bioavailability of a product is primarily determined by the ratios of ingredients, it is essential that the manufacturer carefully monitors and regulates the required balance of ingredients during research and development.
The majority of nutritional supplements are manufactured to food grade standards, as this is all that is required to meet industry regulations in most countries. However, without the control and precision associated with pharmaceutical grade manufacturing standards, it is extremely difficult to guarantee the potency of products and ratios of nutrients. This is likely to have an impact on the bioavailability of the nutrients in that product. Another major concern with food grade products is that there is an increased risk of product contamination.
Another important factor to consider is the quantities and levels of nutrients in the product. As an example, many multivitamin and multimineral supplements are designed to meet the recommended daily allowances (RDAs) of the relevant micronutrients. This may not provide sufficient quantities to protect our bodies’ cells from free radical damage and the possible onset of degenerative diseases, as many studies now indicate that we require advanced levels of micronutrients to promote optimal health. RDAs were established in the 1950s and were determined as a minimum requirement to prevent acute deficiencies such as scurvy and rickets. Due to pollution, lifestyle choices and depletion of nutrients in the food that we eat, our demands are now far greater. Increasing occurrence of degenerative diseases may be an indication of our bodies’ growing demands for antioxidants.
For these reasons, I recommend that if you are going to use nutritional supplements, you should find a manufacturer that adheres to pharmaceutical grade manufacturing standards for best results. If you are using, or considering using a multivitamin and multimineral product then it may also be beneficial to ensure that the formulation contains advanced levels of nutrients.
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