Taking the guess work out of choosing an herbal supplement.
As we become more and more aware of what we put into our
body these days, people have begun to question the sense of processed and
refined products. Are we losing valuable benefits? Are things being added that
actually harm, rather than help us?
Getting to know the products you and your family use on a
daily basis is not restricted to granola bars and laundry detergent. Herbal
supplements are becoming increasingly popular as a way to improve well being naturally. One might easily think that because a supplement
is made of herbs, it couldn’t get much more natural. However, just like many other products
claiming to be ‘natural’, there are often hidden ingredients or fillers that
can do more bad than good.
The following are a few basic tips to keep in mind when
choosing an herbal supplement:
Product Purity
Just like the food you buy, be sure to take a peek at the
list of ingredients. Stay away from supplements that contain any
unpronounceable additives, fillers or preservatives. Another common sense key to how beneficial
the product is: how long is the ingredient list? As with most of the things you
put in your body, choose the one with the shortest, most recognizable list of
ingredients.
Where did it all begin?
In other words, what was it before it was made into a
supplement? How much of it is natural plant matter? Kathy Garber, herbalist and
founder of Mountain Meadow Herbs often asks the question, “Is it a food I would
place on the dinner table? A good example is Coral Calcium. We don’t cook and
eat coral reef, so taking coral calcium as a supplement doesn’t make a lot of
sense.”
Heat, chemicals, contaminants, oh my!
What was the process of making the supplement? Was excessive
heat used?
Was it tested for contaminates such as heavy metals? Was
there a large amount of processing that went into the production of the pill,
tonic, or patch? In short, the brand name should be a trusted one, willing to
share this information with the consumer.
Are you my mother?
How different is the supplement from the plants that it originally
came from? Most herbs contain beneficial compounds that complement each other,
and can aid in their effectiveness. “For example, whole Milk Thistle seed would be a better choice over one that
contains a certain percentage of slymarin,” explains Garber, “as there may be
components within the whole Milk Thistle that make it more beneficial”.
DO judge a book by it’s cover
Like any other product we put into our body, it is important
to pay attention to the packaging it comes in. Many plastics contain chemicals
such as BPA, which is known to disrupt estrogen levels, possibly cause cancer,
and lead to brain and behavioral problems.
A glass container is generally a safe bet when choosing a supplement.
Does it work for YOU?
The ultimate test is simply a personal trial and error.
Everyone’s body respond differently, so what
works for someone else, may not have the same or as intense of an effect on
you. Try a product and ask yourself, did the product make a difference in 1-3
months? Did it live up to the results the brand promised? If not, than perhaps
it is not the right product for your needs.
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