By Previnex®
Taking supplements isn’t just a fad, it’s a great way to ensure you’re getting all the nutrients you need to reach optimal health. Unfortunately, there’s a lot of questionable information and claims around supplements that may leave you feeling confused, discouraged, and overwhelmed. Since the supplement industry is only very lightly regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), much of the false information about supplements comes from those who prey on individuals without a nutritional background—aka, perhaps, you.
Not only is there a great deal of misinformation, there are also many garbage products that don’t actually do what they claim to, and do not have the quality of ingredients that should be expected from supplements designed to keep you healthy. Many major supplement brands on the shelves and in ads have products that do not hold up nutritionally, and do not deliver on the promises they make when it comes to your health.
To help you sift through the clutter of the supplement industry and understand what’s true and what isn’t, we’re going to look at 4 Common Myths About Supplements.
Myth #1: There’s no clinical data that supports supplementation
Actually, more and more clinical studies are coming out that prove the benefit of supplements. While supplements are not highly regulated by the FDA, there are many clinical studies that prove how beneficial supplementation can be. For example, there is a systematic review of studies on the benefits of HMB as it relates to different types of physical performance. This review shows that, ultimately, HMB is effective in reducing muscle damage post-exercise, accelerates recovery, increases muscle mass, and improves strength and anaerobic activity. The clinically studied version of HMB, myHMB®, is used in our muscle supplement, Muscle Health PLUS!
Another study shows that creatine monohydrate is beneficial for athletic training in both adults and adolescents. It benefits their training by increasing muscle strength and lean muscle mass, and improving athletic performance.
These are just two studies of hundreds and thousands proving the benefits of supplementation. As you explore supplements and decide which are the best for you to take, it’s imperative that you do your own research and consult a trusted medical professional. It’s not always beneficial to take a company’s claims at face value, and it’s always beneficial to do your own research to determine what will be most beneficial for you and your goals.
Myth #2: Supplements aren’t beneficial
Supplements do, in fact, provide many health benefits, as numerous studies have shown. The issue lies in the fact that the vast majority of supplements on the market—especially the majority of those available in traditional retail outlets—are not of the quality standard to provide those benefits (in terms of ingredients, production, and manufacturing standards).
For the consumer, it’s all about finding a supplement company that invests in science, high-quality and clinically proven ingredients, and in a lightly regulated industry, takes it upon itself to adhere to the highest production and testing standards available.
It’s crucial to purchase supplements from companies that adhere to rigorous testing protocols and have products that are third-party tested. This ensures your supplements are free from impurities and tested in an unbiased way. Additionally, the companies you purchase from should source their ingredients from high-quality farms, geographic regions, and manufacturers.
For example, we source the pea protein for our Nourify PLUS® protein powders from an organic farm in Canada, and our brown rice protein from a high-quality farm in southeast asia. Sourcing from these farms ensures our protein powders are of the highest quality, safe, and effective.
Myth #3: Supplements are harmful
At their core, no, supplements are not harmful. The caveat here is that you have to look for the correct ingredients and forms of the specific vitamins and minerals (different forms have different levels of efficacy) and how the supplements are manufactured (pharmaceutical grade vs. food grade manufacturing protocols).
Supplements that are pharmaceutical grade, for example, undergo a more rigorous testing process, ensuring they are free from contaminants, bacteria, microbials, etc.. Supplements produced with low-quality ingredients and minimal production and testing standards may not provide any legitimate health benefits, and depending on what additives are in them, can cause harm. However, if you purchase from the right supplement company—one that invests in the highest quality ingredients and testing standards—and take the products as directed, they can be incredibly beneficial and optimize your health!
Myth #4: You can get all the nutrients you need from diet alone (aka, you don’t need supplements)
Unfortunately, it is not possible to get all the necessary nutrients from diet alone. While this may have been the case years ago, the quality of our food has decreased, causing nutritional value to decrease, as well.
To prove our point: research shows that the recommended daily level of Vitamin E is 400 IU. To get this amount from food, you’d need to eat 28.8 pounds of spinach or 2.3 pounds of almonds per day. That’s simply not possible! Taking a high-quality Vitamin E supplement—or a multivitamin or other supplement that contains Vitamin E—is a better way to ensure you’re getting all the necessary nutrients.
Conclusion
Supplements are not meant to replace a high-quality, well-balanced diet. They are meant to do exactly what they’re called: supplement. They exist to enhance your nutrition and health alongside a healthy diet and exercise routine. Health is holistic—it includes body, mind, and spirit. It includes food, movement, good sleep, and stress management. Supplements are not a one-size-fits-all approach to health, but they do exist to provide benefits and support where it’s needed.
Previnex exists to help you reach and maintain optimal health. Our products were created with high-quality, clinically-studied and clinically effective ingredients designed to support your health long-term. Whether you’re looking for a muscle health supplement, a greens powder, a protein powder, a multivitamin, or even a kids vitamin, we’re excited to help you create health for both you and your family.
