By Christina Reiter , BSN , CCN
How Can Quality Be Determined in a Nutritional Supplement ?
To answer this question , it ’ s important to know that nutritional supplements are processed in the body as nourishment or food , just like a bag of potato chips or a can of beans that you might buy in a supermarket . In the case of supplements , nutrients ( or , in the case of herbs , phytochemicals ) have been packaged for purchase several days , weeks , or months after manufacture .
What concerns would you have when purchasing a bag of potato chips or a can of beans ? Most likely , they would be something along the lines of these five things :
• How fresh is it ?
• Can my body use this ?
• Does the label accurately describe the contents ?
• If there ’ s a problem , can I talk to a manufacturer ’ s representative ?
• Is it free from contaminants , microbes and allergens ?
Another Question : Can ’ t I simply eat the right foods to get what I need for healing ? It would be nearly impossible to consume and assimilate within a single day an adequate amount of the proper foods to take care of both the body ’ s daily nutritional needs and have enough remaining to pay back nutritional debts , thus allowing for healing .
The reasons are as follows :
• The body ’ s priority with any nutrient consumed each day is to use it , first , to take care of its daily needs . Second , the body then begins paying back debts and healing using any nutrition that may be left over at the end of the day .
• Most people , especially as they begin to change to better eating habits , will suffer from an assimilation problem . This is partly due to past dietary deficiencies . Therefore , even if they do eat well , there will not be 100 % use of the food . This is a process that takes patience , time , and therapeutic amounts of nutrients ( as opposed to recommended daily amounts ).
• The nutritional quality of the fresh fruits and vegetables , even those organically grown , is lacking in nutritional content due to the depletion of the soil ’ s nutrients .
It has been our experience in this regard that individuals who initially take supplements to improve their dietary intake and not as a therapeutic means , experience a quick leveling off of any perceived improvements . Compare these individuals to those who take the supplements , while simultaneously changing their diet and lifestyle . These are the ones who experience steady improvement back to health , eventually being able to reduce dramatically or discontinue the supplements and achieve longterm success .
Most people expect all nutritional supplements , such as vitamins , minerals and herbs to be exactly the same from company to company . Therefore , with this assumption in mind it makes perfect sense to buy the cheapest possible products . Unfortunately , this is not the case . Unbeknownst to many , supplement quality can vary tremendously from one manufacturer to the next . This not only determines how well a supplement works , but whether it creates side effects that can range from minor annoyances to major inconveniences and even lifethreatening reactions .
When you choose to work with and purchase from a qualified healthcare professional , the advantages far outweigh empty promises by health food store clerks or infomercial-type or multi-level marketing experiences . Namely , this means following through with accountability , regular monitoring of your progress using objective assessment and goal-centered care , working with you ( and your other healthcare team members ) towards long-term ( realistic ) solutions focused on you and keeping you healthy .
28 DENTON COUNTY Living Well Magazine | SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2016