According to the American Pharmaceutical Association learning what you ARE getting and what you ARE NOT getting with supplements may be life saving. Be aware of top 3 claims: “improves memory”, “whole-food formula”, and “FDA Registered”.

1. Health Claims:  take with a large dose of skepticism. Supplement manufactures CANNOT claims that the product will either prevent or treat disease. Watch for “promote or boost” on label.
2. FDA Registered: means the facility where the product is produced is registered with the FDA. It does not mean that guidelines of how the facility is maintained or what is in the proprietary blends are approved.
3. Whole food formulas: supplements that claim extracts and components of fruits vegetable or herbs does not make is superior or a substitute for eating whole foods.
4. Proprietary blends: only means that there are a proprietary mix of ingredients. Concerning because certain blends may include high levels of a certain ingredient causing potentially serious interaction and side effects.
5. Back Label: The FDA does not confirm all of what it requires on the label only size, name, amount of dietary ingredients and percentage of daily value per serving.
6. USDA Organic; means that certain ingredients and pesticides may not be used. All Natural is just marketing.
7. USP Certified:  FDA does not certify that supplements are free of contaminants and heavy metals. Some use USP, NSF international and UL which means one of these overseers have access to the proprietary ingredients at some point in the manufacturing process.

To protect yourself before you buy ANY supplements read the label. Be Healthy Be Informed