In this article:
- Do supplement certifications matter?
- Tests and certifications to look for when you buy
- Other factors contributing to supplement quality
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February 03, 2022 8 min read
The very nature of supplements can make it difficult to know how well they are working. And with an ever-growing market for supplements said to have every health benefit from weight loss to lowered blood pressure, it is becoming harder and harder to know which supplements to buy. Even within a single type of supplement, like prenatal vitamins, for example, it's hard to tell which ones are better suited for your individual health conditions or concerns and which ones have an inflated and unjustified price. These factors all make finding the right supplement a real headache.
The FDA regulates the food industry but when it comes to supplements, consumers need to learn to read labels carefully to make sure they are prioritizing quality ingredients, transparent sourcing & processing practices, and of course purity & safety testing. Just like food, supplements run the risk of contamination or compromised benefits when standards aren't adhered to.
If you're taking a supplement for a specific health problem or goal, you certainly don't want to run the risk of added or unexpected side effects. That's why third-party certifications were made. These certifications not only help keep supplement manufacturers "in check" and ensure that they are following good manufacturing practices, but they can also communicate to the buyer that the products are safe, supported by science and that they come from sustainable or pure sources. Some certifications are required by law in order to sell on larger online platforms or in certain shops (like organic, for example). Consumers are also holding brands accountable for higher and higher standards which is good news for all of us.
The trouble is that other certifications are nothing more than a monetary investment for the brand and don’t enact change.
Above all, ingredient transparency is king. Even if the product may be processed at a certified facility, if they don’t start out with pure ingredients in the first place, it is a lost cause. A good indicator of a supplement with high-quality and scientifically proven ingredients is the ingredient label. If the product contains a variety of artificial coloring, flavoring, and sugars, it could be a sign that they are being used to mask an inferior quality product. A simple and ideally short ingredient list is best. Today's leading & most successful brands respond to the customer's curiosity to know where ingredients come from and how the product is made. This information should be readily available and if it's not...ask a product expert before you 'add to cart'! It’s okay to put brands in the hot seat! If they have a clean, pure product they will be more than happy to answer your questions.
Since supplements aren't regulated by the FDA, other regulatory groups or non-profits are stepping in. Four of the most respected regulatory groups in America include ConsumerLab.com, NSF International, U.S. Pharmacopeia (USP), and GMP. The aim of these bodies is to ensure that supplement ingredients comply with their labels, are free of contaminants, and are processed in a clean, safe, and trusted facility. Specialized certifications also indicate the absence or presence of ingredients like gluten, fat, sugar, soy, dairy, lactose, GMO’s, animal products, etc.
Certain words like "natural" or "verified" mean very little in regards to supplement efficacy and safety. Similarly, “vegan” is widely known to mean that a product does not contain ingredients of animal origin, but theFDA, USDA, or FTC do not regulate this term. If you want to make certain that's true, don't be afraid to reach out to the brand, product expert, or even send a DM to their social media account. A responsible brand will offer up this information straight away.To ensure that any/all of the qualifications above have been met, look for each respective certification's seal on the supplement label or examine the brand’s website to learn more. Of course, the ingredients label is also a great indicator of what is in the product and if it fits one’s dietary needs/concerns.
In addition to rigorous testing and strict certifications, there are other factors to consider when purchasing a high-quality supplement.
If you have questions about the certifications earned by Amandean, feel free toreach out to our team at any time. We're proud to offer non-GMO supplements that areplastic-neutral, manufactured in the USA at a cGMP tested facility, and always free of artificial sweeteners and preservatives.
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