Supplement
Ingredient Quality

Aren’t all ingredients of the same quality? For example, isn’t green tea extract in one supplement the same as the green tea extract in another?

No, no way. There's a wide range in ingredient quality.

Judging ingredient quality lets you choose the most effective, safest supplements. And you’ll be protecting yourself.

Because supplement manufacturers often lie about ingredient quality.

Supplements aren’t like pharmaceutical drugs. They aren’t approved by a governing body like the FDA (Food & Drug Admin).

And raw ingredients and finished products aren’t required to meet a recognized standard. So YOU the consumer must be informed.

FACT: Many anti-aging supplements contain adulterated, substandard, and toxic ingredients---including heavy metals such as lead.

What Can You Do?

Ingredient quality lays the foundation for a safe and potent supplement. So it’s vital that you do some investigating.

Contact the company.

You might feel uncomfortable asking prying questions. But it's your right as a potential customer. You can use e-mail too.

Questions That Reveal The Truth

The company should answer all your questions to your satisfaction. With answers to these questions, you’ll have all you need to evaluate the level of ingredient quality and safety.

Remember, when e-mailing, include the specific product name. Companies usually produce many different kinds of supplements, so make it clear exactly the info you want. (included are the best answers)

1. Do you contract out your manufacturing? Answer: No

   
   

2. Do you have a Certificate of Analysis (COA) on file for every raw ingredient you use? Answer: Yes

   
   

3. Are all raw ingredients tested for compliance with their COAs?
   Answer: Yes

   
   

4. Does your COA testing program include random testing by independent laboratories? Answer: Yes

   
   

5. If so, do those independent laboratories hold Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) certification? Answer: Yes

   
   

6. Are all raw ingredients tested prior to manufacture for microbiological contamination? Answer: Yes

   
   

7. Prior to releasing each batch of product, do you conduct a further microbiological analysis and a heavy metal analysis? Answer: Yes

   
   

8. Do you have a paper trail on file documenting questions 2-7 for each batch of product manufactured and would you let me view it?
   Answer: Yes

   
   

9. Is your Research & Development and product formulation controlled by a biochemist and can I see his qualifications and experience?
   Answer: Yes

   
   

10. Does your manufacturing meet pharmaceutical GMP standard?
    Answer: Yes

    
    

11. Does your product contain any artificial preservatives, colorings, flavoring, solvents, lactose, or glutens? Answer: No

    
    

12. Are all herbal extracts you use standardized? Answer: Yes

    
    

13. Does your product contain natural vitamin E? Answer: Yes

    
    

14. Will you supply the potencies of all your phytonutrients and herbals?
    Answer: Yes

Ingredient Quality Wrap Up

A lot of companies rely on hype to market their supplements. But you’ve learned how to expose them with smart questions. When looking for an anti-aging supplement, focus in on...

• quality control measures

• potencies

These details often remain unknown to consumers. But now you know how to find them out. All you have to do is make a call or send an e-mail.