| Best vitamin supplements must meet high | | | | Are vitamin and mineral supplements really |
| standards in three critical areas. Quality in all three | | | | needed? Numerous studies have concluded that |
| areas is vital not only for health benefits but for | | | | because of soil depletion, the overall nutrient value |
| safety reasons as well. The best vitamin | | | | of foods has been declining for decades. Also, |
| supplements should excel in these ways: | | | | even the best vitamin supplements cannot |
| 1. The Design of the Supplement - the term | | | | substitute for a poor diet. Eating mostly junk food |
| 'efficacy' means 'to produce an effect'. When | | | | and taking vitamins will not provide you with the |
| combined correctly, the effects or efficacy of | | | | nutrients you'll obtain with vegetables and fruits. |
| certain vitamins and minerals in the body can be | | | | Vitamin supplements should be considered |
| increased several times. And substances, whether | | | | supplements, not replacements for food. For |
| natural or synthetic, when mixed together, can | | | | example, the latest USDA food pyramid |
| form other undesired or dangerous substances if | | | | recommends consuming 2.5 cups of vegetables a |
| they are not combined scientifically. When creating | | | | day for women and 3 cups a day for men -- |
| a complex best vitamin supplement formula, the | | | | most people do not. |
| professional qualifications of the design staff is a | | | | The best vitamin supplements cannot be the |
| crucial part of the process. | | | | one-a-day type. Why? One capsule or tablet |
| 2. The Quality of the Ingredients - there can be | | | | simply cannot hold all that's needed in necessary |
| enormous differences in quality and potency as | | | | quantities -- it would be way too large to swallow. |
| well as differences in costs of the individual | | | | One-a-day vitamins are probably a waste of |
| ingredients. Priority should be given to quality, | | | | money. And on the other hand, it's easy to end |
| potency and purity with the best vitamin | | | | up with a dozen or more individual vitamins to |
| supplements since the final product will only be as | | | | take daily, requiring bottles and bottles which is |
| good as the raw ingredients used. The | | | | both a hassle and expensive. |
| manufacturer must have a system in place to | | | | And finally, women need a different vitamin |
| verify that the ingredients used are as the | | | | formula than men. A woman's supplement should |
| suppliers claim. | | | | contain nutrients that are proven by clinical studies |
| 3. The Procedures Used in Their Manufacture - | | | | to support the balancing of female hormones |
| the vitamin manufacturers producing large | | | | before, during and after menopause. The best |
| volumes may use a ribbon type blender and mix | | | | vitamin supplements for men should contain |
| ingredients for only about 20 minutes. This means | | | | ingredients specifically for supporting healthy male |
| that low dose substances may not be mixed | | | | prostate. Including ingredients proven in clinical |
| properly. The time that passes after mixing | | | | studies for the prevention of BPH or enlarged |
| before encapsulating or tableting is important -- | | | | prostate is an important part of the best vitamin |
| less than two hours between blending and | | | | supplements for men. |
| tableting makes sure that the blend's integrity | | | | Yes, there are manufacturers that meet or |
| remains intact during the manufacturing process. | | | | exceed the above criteria. Learn as much as you |
| The only dependable way to be sure you are | | | | can about what finding the best vitamin |
| getting the best vitamin supplements is to buy | | | | supplements really means -- before spending your |
| them from a facility that meets pharmaceutical | | | | money, be informed about the products you'll be |
| industry production standards. | | | | taking every day. |