In 2008, multivitamins brought in $4.7 billion. There are no direct standards on vitamins so how do we know what we are paying for isn’t just some sugar pill?
First things first, get personal! Talk to a nutrition specialist or doctor about your medical history, your diet, and your current medications to see what you really need. He/she may even suggest a blood test to see where you are lacking.
How can you do your own brand research? Check out the following and see if your desired supplement measures up:
- Check out the vitamin at consumerslab.com
- Read the labels- the ingredients should be as organic as possible
- Has it been tested- make sure that the dietary substance has been tested for toxic substances
- Is it old?- check the expiration date…how long has that bottle been in the back of the cupboard or on that drug store shelf
- Do you have food allergies?- vitamins often contain wheat, dairy and other allergies…just because it’s not in its standard form doesn’t mean you won’t have an allergic reaction
- Is what’s on the label really what’s in the bottle?- dietary supplements are not regulated so the amount claimed on the label might be different than what is really in the pill. Contact the lab that makes the pill. Can’t seem to get a human being? Toss that brand and try another!
- You get what you pay for- invest in a good vitamin or just skip taking vitamins altogether
- Does the vitamin dissolve adequately?- place the multivitamin in a glass of warm water, if it doesn’t dissolve in an hour you basically just have really pricey urine. When a vitamin does not breakdown in the stomach before passing through the intestine, it is not absorbed through the intestinal walls.
I use and recommend Usana. Their product is friendly even on my sensitive tummy and has greatly improved my energy and immune system. For more info send me an email!
If you would like to do some more vitamin research check out about.com and alignlife.com.
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