How Does Your Multi-Vitamin Stack Up?

A 10 point checklist for quality supplementation. It'smulti-vitamin and are receiving immense health
official. According to a new report from The Journalbenefits from it. If not, you should study my website
of American College of Nutrition [1], since 1950 thereFor most of us consumers it's just not practical to
is a significant vitamin drain in America's fruits andconsider all of these points simply from the product
vegetables. But how do you choose a multi-vitaminlabel. That's why you need a comprehensive guide
to supplement this loss in nutrients?like The Nutrisearch Comparative Guide To Nutritional
You need a system of checks and balances toSupplements by Lyle MacWilliam. Taking 6 years to
evaluate the maze of different supplements on thecompile and now in it's soon to be released 4th
market today. Not all vitamins are manufactured theedition, The Comparative Guide To Nutritional
same way. How can you evaluate your vitamin forSupplements compares over 1500 nutritional
potency, purity and bio-availability?supplements on the market today in the US and
With the help of Lyle MacWilliam's NutrisearchCanada. This guide is the only comprehensive,
Comparative Guide to Nutritional Supplements use thisindependent, fully updated guide on nutritional
checklist to compare your current multi or evaluate asupplements available to consumers. Of the 1500
new one.supplements meeting review qualifications only 4
Ask yourself these questions:received the Nutrisearch Gold Medal of Achievement.
- Is my vitamin delivered in a single dose? (aOf those, 3 you can only get from a physician or
one-a-day type supplement simply cannot providehealth/exercise professional. The 4th is the one I
the level of potency needed for optimal nutritionrecommend and it's at a price lower than the other
without being to large to even swallow)three.
- Are the potency levels of the nutrients listed highWarnings
enough to provide optimal nutrition without- Take caution with manufacturers of liquid or spray
compromising safety?types of delivery methods. Different vitamins and
- Are the ingredients listed provided in their mostminerals have different absorption rates no matter if
bioavailable form? (mineral salts are not absorbed asthey come from tablet, liquid, powder, or food. For
well as chelated minerals)example Calcium has a pretty standard absorption
- Is the safety of each ingredient thoroughlyrate around 25-35%. The form does not generally
researched and evaluated?make a significant difference. The bottom line is - a
- Does your vitamin manufacturer meet US andwell-made tablet provides a very effective delivery
Canadian pharmaceutical-grade guidelines - notsystem for pharmaceutical medications. Most
food-grade guidelines - for Good Manufacturingmedications come in a tablet form. This is because
Practices (GMPs)? Most all vitamins found in your localthey have been found to be the easiest and most
grocery store are only food-grade.efficient delivery system for medications. Why would
- Is my vitamin potency guaranteed for a specifiedvitamin supplements be any different? Does anybody
shelf life?doubt that an aspirin tablet is less effective because
- Is your vitamin formulated to meet pharmaceuticalit comes in a tablet? Tableted products can be more
standards for full disintegration and dissolution?advantageous to take, simply because more active
- Is my vitamin independently tested and guaranteedingredients can be taken in one tablet (almost 3 times
for potency and safety?as much as a capsule and much more than liquid or
- Is my vitamin manufactured in house?(scientistspray). The stability is generally much better.
manufacturer) or farmed out to the lowest- Generally time-released supplements are not
bidder?(marketer/contractor)beneficial and not necessary. In fact many
- Is my vitamin free of ingredients that may havetime-released supplements contain coatings that
toxic effects (pre-formed vitamin A and iron)?decrease the absorption rate of fat-soluble vitamins.
If you answered yes to all the questions on thisNutrient deficiencies do not develop by the hour or
checklist, good job! You have an exceptionalovernight.