Vitamins and health supplements are easily some of the more bankable products out in the market today. Society’s obsession with getting fit and staying healthy has created a billion dollar industry. As a result, the marketplace can get very crowded, forcing manufacturers to get innovative. Private label supplements differ little in quality from their branded counterparts. The cheaper price is the result of outsourcing production to save on costs–not from compromising quality.
While this lowered price makes them a worthwhile investment, it’s important to discern what is good to get and what is better avoided.
What to Get
Cholesterol is a big problem in today’s consumer world, and supplements purporting to deal with cholesterol levels are popular. The active ingredients in these supplements—sterols and stanols—have long proven effective in lowering LDL cholesterol by up to 15%. There are still some side effects, but they are relatively manageable.
A more natural alternative to prescription anti-depressants, supplements made from St. John’s Wort have been shown to be effective in dealing with depression and related conditions like fatigue, loss of appetite, anxiety, and insomnia. Again, while not free from some side effects, the effectiveness is comparable to other anti-depressants that do have potent side effects.
People at risk for prostate cancer can take supplements with pygeum. It has been proven safe for a majority of consumers and has been found to deal with symptoms associated with enlarged prostates and the associated cancer. It also alleviates low urine flow and nighttime urination, among others.
Multivitamins and Omega-3s are also popular choices for private label supplements simply because many people take these to make up for what is missing on their diet. These are taken on a regular basis, so buying private label supplements would help save a lot on costs.
What to Avoid
Avoid private label supplements that contain lobelia. Purported to help with respiratory problems like asthma and bronchitis, it comes with nasty side effects like nausea, diarrhea, coughing, and tremors. If you make the mistake of overdosing on this, you risk convulsions, coma, and even death. This is better avoided completely.
The stresses of today’s world often have us reaching for supplements that help to fight the anxiety that accompanies it. Kava supplements are used to curb both insomnia and anxiety—which is a good thing. But they also cause long-term liver damage even when taken in small doses for brief periods—which is not a good thing at all. The FDA issued a warning for it already, and many countries have prohibited its use.
The Bottom Line
Those mentioned above are some of the best (and worst) supplements available in the market. In order to strive for true wellness, it helps to study what you’re taking in order to be aware of the possible side effects. There are a lot of supplements out there, and it pays to be vigilant. Health isn’t always just a matter of price. When your life is on the line, there are these factors to consider.
