Top Tips: How to Choose the Best Quality Nutritional Supplements

Are your supplements (and money) going down the drain? When it comes to health foods—notably vitamins and supplements—the saying “You get what you pay for” is often true. You work hard for your money and your health, so it’s important you invest in effective, superior-quality supplements that work in harmony with your body… supplements that veritably boost, restore and sustain your health and well-being. Per the National Institutes of Health’s Office of Dietary Supplements, “A supplement's safety depends on many things, such as its chemical makeup, how it works in the body, how it is prepared, and the dose used.” We agree 100%. Given the amount of research and testing we dedicate to our supplements, we take great pride in them, both capsules and powders, as we only create products that we would use ourselves and give to our family. Our supplements are formulated to ensure the most superior quality and highest nutritional value. And, of course, our supplements work best with a mostly raw, plant-based diet. In this spirit, we want to provide you with some applicable tips on how to find and use the best supplements: Whenever possible, take supplements in their naturally occurring form For example, inexpensive vitamins often contain vitamin D2 (ergocalciferol), the kind synthesized by plants. But the D2 is not as effective in the body as D3, the kind synthesized in your skin when you get exposed to summer sunlight. One study1 concluded that D3 produces two- to three-fold greater storage of vitamin D than the same amount of D2. However, do note that D3 is produced from lanolin, so many vegans avoid D3 and use D2. Take mineral supplements that are bio-available Only bio-available forms of minerals, such as citrate or aspartate, are well absorbed by your body. Many low-quality supplements contain substances like carbonate or sulfate, which are hard for your body to break down. Avoid fillers, artificial ingredients and preservatives at all costs Fillers are substances that manufacturers add to facilitate production, save money, make capsules easier to swallow and add color so they’re aesthetically pleasing—and they don’t do any good for your health; in fact, they might even be harmful. Don’t consume supplements that contain partially hydrogenated soybean oils, calcium stearate and artificial colors. Make sure your supplement is hypoallergenic Whether or not you know you’re intolerant to certain substances, avoid gluten, corn, eggs, yeast, soy and GMOs. Avoid supplements that contain dyes and artificial sugars Artificial sugars are added to supplements to add a palatable taste while dyes make supplements (especially those targeted to children) more vibrant and appealing. Some supplements, however, do contain small amounts of natural sugars, which doesn’t pose any health risk to the body. Combine certain supplements for improved absorption There are supplement combinations that actually work better together. For example, take vitamin D3 with calcium and magnesium to enhance absorption. Consume Vitamin C to increase iron absorption. Also, take iodine with selenium for better absorption of the iodine. Store your supplements properly You should also read the label to check how to store your supplements. Make sure you follow the directions to maximize effectiveness. Generally, most supplements survive best in a cool, dry and dark place. For instance, fatty supplements such as fish oil are better off in the cooler environment in the fridge to prevent rancidity caused by heat. Take fat-soluble supplements with food Fat-soluble supplements include vitamins A, D, E and K and fish oil, all of which are absorbed better with fatty foods. Take certain supplements on an empty stomach Your stomach produces some very powerful hydrochloric acid that can destroy certain substances, and therefore render them ineffective. Probiotics and digestive enzymes, for example, are most effective 30+ minutes before meals. Don’t overwhelm your body with supplements all at once If you take multiple supplements, take them several hours apart so your body has energy to absorb them, while ensuring most of the supplement does not get excreted in urine. Are you ready to invest in research-backed, superior-quality supplements? Learn more about Hallelujah Diet supplements! ¹ Heaney RP, Recker RR, Grote J, Horst RL, Armas LAG. Vitamin D3 Is More Potent Than Vitamin D2 in Humans. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2010:jc.2010-2230. doi:10.1210/jc.2010-2230.