By Jonathan Evans
Herbal Information Specialist/Business Representative for the Herbarium
Here is a little FYI for everyone who buys vitamin and herbal supplements.
When reading a label on a supplement bottle, it is important to know how to read it. Do not believe anything on the front label. It can – and in many cases is– very misleading.
Here are two examples:
The label on the front of the bottle reads “Calcium citrate,” but when you read the back label you find it is a calcium, phosphorus and magnesium blend. It contained very little citrate.
The front label on another bottle reads “ Magnesium 400,” which would lead consumers to believe each capsule contains 400 milligrams of magnesium. However, this impression is not true. On the back of the label there is a line that reads “serving size,” listing how many tablets or capsules are considered to be in a serving.
The “per serving” listing is the way to tell how much of each ingredient you are actually getting per tablet/capsule, and the makeup of the product.
The other important fact to look for on the back label of any supplement bottle is the a
ctual milligrams of a product per serving. This is an especially important fact when buying any of the B vitamins.
So many people have come into the Herbarium to show us us what they bought somewhere else. B vitamins are especially interesting because many products will show “100 percent of the daily recommended intake.” on the label. My question is – “100 percent of what?”
One hundred percent sounds good until you realize that number is based on the absolute minimum amount of the nutrient needed to maintain cell function or avoid a deficiency.
I don’t know about you, but I do not live in a minimum world.
Remembering local experts
March was a very sad time for the local herb/health food industry in our area.
Alex Russman, owner of Health Matters, in Enfield, Connecticut, passed away. Russman was quite a colorful fellow, and really knew his stuff. He counseled people about nutrition and put many people on the right path over the years. Two weeks later, Doug Duga, co owner of Choice Health in Westfield, Massachusetts, passed on.
Duga was very knowledgeable, and also helped many people over the years. I had the pleasure of knowing Duga, and even sharing a few meals with him and his wife, Suellen. His presence will also be missed. Our condolences and sympathy to the families and staff of these two gentlemen.
Online weight loss products
This month, we address a reader’s questions about two weight loss products that are available online:
Dear Jonathan,
I have been reading about several weight loss products online that sound really good. They are doctor recommended and have lots of scientific studies behind them. One of these even helps with hormone balance.
Do you know anything about these. and if so, what do you think.
Jennifer
Dear Jennifer,
I won’t name these products other than to call them the “A” companies.
After looking at the makeup of this weight loss product, I discovered it is simply glucomannan, a dietary fiber, also known as konjac root. It is okay, but not for the price they are charging. The hormone-balancing product from the same “A” company is a mineral supplement, with not very much in it. The main ingredient, from what I can gather, is ammonium succinate, which is said to influence your glandular system. I am not familiar with the ingredient, and the rest of the ingredients are not labeled as to the amounts (it is a proprietary blend).
At $50 a month, I believe you are really getting ripped off. I have no idea why this is being touted as a hormone balancing product, and I have yet to see the “scientific “ evidence that would support their claims.
The second company you cited, is promoting thermogenics and has an interesting combination of ingredients, but the advertising is misleading.
The first ingredient is advertised as caffeine free, which it is, but farther down the list of ingredients is caffeine.
If you do not read the entire post, you miss that very important fact, especially if you are trying to avoid caffeine. Thermogenics has always depended on caffeine to work.
We have a list of safe and effective diet products available at The Herbarium.
– Jonathan
Please send your questions on botanical remedies to Natures Rx: Jonathan Evans via email at herbarium258@gmail.com, or by regular mail to: The Herbarium, 264 Exchange St., Chicopee, Mass. 01013. If requesting additional information from Evans, please include a self-addressed stamped envelope.
