1. Are they Plant Based?
When you think about it, doesn't it make sense to eat what Mother Nature intended for us? Could it be that all of the co-factors, phytochemicals, vitamins and minerals that our bodies need would be found in our food? Well, sure! But, it's just not in the food, so we need to find supplements that are plant based and not synthetic.
This goes for minerals, as well as vitamins. Remember the game '20 Questions'? Is it animal, vegetable, or mineral? Well, all minerals are in rock form. But, if you eat a rock, even if it's pounded very, very small, you will not assimilate it the way a plant can. Plants live on minerals! Plants can provide the minerals we need if they are eaten in great enough quantities. This is very difficult without supplementing.
2. Are they standardized?
Every spinach plant is unique. It may have a different nutrient content from its neighbor. It may have received less light, water, and nutrients from the plant next to it. Even different leaves may have different nutrient content from one another.
It's very important to understand that if you grind up a plant and put it into a pill, it will not deliver a consistent amount of nutrients to your body.
That's why you need to make sure your supplements are Standardized. Standardization is a rather expensive process that ensures that each pill made has the exact same nutrient fingerprint and quantity. Become a label reader! Only trust a plant based dietary supplement that is standardized.
3. Are they made to GMP Standards?
GMP stands for Good Manufacturing Practices. We are transitioning from the 'Wild West' days of supplement manufacturing. Regulations for the manufacture and content of supplements are becoming more stringent every day. This does a lot to ensure that we are not wasting our money on supplements that simply 'end up in the toilet as expensive urine'. You are going to have to pay more to get quality supplements. But, sustaining a high quality of life is our goal, so the key is to find the best supplements for the best price.
4. Are they Guaranteed?
Most consumer goods have some kind of guarantee. The exception is pharmaceuticals and almost all dietary supplements. The doctors don't guarantee that the medication they prescribe will fix your ailment. But, you buy it anyway, don't you. You are running a greater risk when buying supplements. Be careful to ask your health food store if they carry a guarantee on their products if you find that they don't provide the well-being you are looking for.
When it comes to supplements, it's typical that you go to a health food store, listen to the clerk's recommendations [they are all highly educated in nutrition and can easily show you which are the best supplements---NOT] and then buy a product that may or may not work. Your hard-earned money and potential health goes down the drain. As of this writing, there is only one direct sales company and no health food store that provides a six-month money back satisfaction guarantee on their supplements.
You can learn more about choosing food sourced, bio-available dietary supplements and creating the healthy lifestyle of your dreams at www.the8keystowellness.com.
Occupation: speaker and author
Carol Merlo, B.S., M.Ed., Speaker and Author has degrees in both Educational and Health Psychology and has studied personality psychology for over 30 years. She has extensive knowledge in nutrition and dietary supplementation. She and her husband Bill have helped thousands of people across the globe improve their health and develop sales, leadership and communication skills.
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