In this day and age, it can be tricky to use food as our body’s natural medication. And let’s be honest, we don’t always have the time to cook a healthy meal. So in the midst of the busyness, how do we get our daily nutrients? How do we address those irritating symptoms we deal with? Well, supplements are one answer. In our culture, we’re often overfed and yet, surprisingly, nutrient deficient. When you take the right supplements on a regular basis, you’ll discover that you’re more energized. Your appetite may decrease as well, because food cravings often come from nutrient deficiencies. So that's great to know, right, but how do you look for the ideal supplement? Keep reading and discover four tips that will change the way you shop.
Check for Fillers
Many herbal supplement brands put fillers in their capsules. These fillers, or extra herbs, sound great, but there isn’t enough to provide real, medicinal value. For this reason, it’s important to look at the ingredients, especially if you have any food allergies or food intolerances.
Sometimes, these brands don’t list their fillers in the ingredients, and on occasion, they don’t even contain the herb on the label. Recently in New York, four major store chains were forced to stop selling their adulterated supplements by the NY Attorney General (click here to learn more). That’s why it’s important to purchase from a brand you can trust.
Here at the Health Nut, we carry professional-grade, hypoallergenic supplements like Pure Encapsulations, Source Naturals, Designs for Health, and many more. We also carry great cost-effective brands. These options may contain fillers, but rest assured, they’re all sourced from companies who put everything in the list of ingredients. We also have our own Health Nut brand that is often a solid choice.
How are your herbs harvested?
It’s important to purchase your supplements from a company dedicated to the sustainable harvest of herbs. Certain herbs like Ginseng are over-harvested, and as a result, their population is declining in America and other parts of the world. Over-harvesting isn’t the only factor for their decline, but you can make a difference by supporting companies who practice sustainable wildcrafting. Additionally, during mass harvests these companies may dry the herbs under too much heat, which endangers the herb’s array of phytonutrients.
So naturally, it’s important to know and trust your brand. We do our best to source from companies who offer professional-grade, herbal supplements while practicing sustainable wildcrafting.
Reduce your pill intake
Capsules are perfect when you need a boost in your health. Herbal supplements are a quick and easy way to take a concentrated dose of an herb, but once you’re back to health, there are amazing ways to maintain your health and reduce your pill intake.
You can take herbs as a tea or tincture. The Health Nut in-store brand has a wide range of quality tinctures, which lessens the amount of capsules you’re taking. It’s as simple as adding the recommended number of drops into your water, juice, or tea.
Once again, we recommend our professional-grade supplements. They were created by biochemists and doctors who worked together to create the ultimate formula for specific issues like joint pain, osteoporosis, etc. They combine the herbs you need into one capsule, so you don’t have to take several supplements at once or figure it out on your own.
As always, do your homework
We want to help you! But no one knows your body better than you. If you do your homework, so to speak, it’ll make your shopping experience that much better. Feel free to tell us what you’ve learned! We’re here to educate you, yes, but we’re also here to learn.
We look forward to seeing you during your next visit.
- the Health Nut Nutrition team