I.M.120 Helping you to BE YOUR BEST SELF

Do you know where your supplements come from? Do they contain what it says on the label?

According to a report in the New York Times based upon a study done by researchers from Canada who tested 44 supplements from 12 different companies, up to one third of the supplements tested did not contain what they had claimed on the label. Many had nothing in them but fillers, while others had ground up weeds or other ineffective plant substances.
These products were purchased from retail distributors or commercially available online resources. This study emphasizes an important detail when it comes to using nutraceuticals and supplements for their health benefits, the outcome you get is only as good as the product you take.

Here are some rules of thumb to guide you and your purchases. Avoid big box stores or chain Pharmacies. They operate on the lowest price principle and are most likely to be targets for fraudulent products. Get your supplements from a physician's office or from a manufacturer of high reputation that specializes in nothing but supplements and nutraceuticals. The cost may be a little bit higher, but it will be worth it in safety as well as efficacy.

Make sure you take only the supplements you need. Too often people are misled by point-of-sale marketing that will lead them to believe they need a host of supplements to get through each day. This will dilute your resources and make it less likely for you to achieve your desired outcome. Far better to get some guidance and focus your areas of supplementation on those products that will have the greatest impact.

The only thing worse than ignoring the potential benefits of proper supplementation, is to spend money thinking you're getting that benefit while you end up swallowing a handful of filler. Sometimes, when it comes to your health, you can't afford the cost of low priced products.

-Dr. Stephen Petteruti