You will want to get your food supplements from a company that does its own research on many of its own products in addition to checking the research that has been done on the specific vitamin, mineral, or herb that is being sold. The reason for this is that if they simply put a product together based on what the research shows is a good thing to use, they may never know if their own product is formulated in the best way for the body to utilize it. 

On some supplements that isn’t necessary because the research also lets them know how it needs to be formulated, but for many, the difference between one brand and another brand of the exact vitamin, mineral or herb is how well the body assimilates and uses it.

Look for a company that does that kind of research and formulates its own products based on making sure that the product is bio-available.  They need not have their own manufacturing plant as long as the products are manufactured to their own standards and they have their own people insuring that this is the case by doing extensive quality assurance tests all along the process.  We suggest getting your food supplements from a company that does its own research on many of its own products in addition to actively reviewing other research that has been done on the specific vitamin, mineral, or herb that is being sold.

The reason for a company to do it own research on its own product is that if they simply put a product together based on what other research shows, they may not have formulated their product in the best way for the body to utilize it.  For example, there are many sources for each vitamin and mineral.  Choice of source can impact the quality of the vitamin or mineral supplement.  There are many ways to process the ingredients, some of which involve heat that can kill off enzymes that are necessary for absorption.

On some supplements that extra research isn’t necessary because the original research also lets them know how it needs to be formulated, but for many, the difference between one brand and another brand of the exact vitamin, mineral or herb is how well the body assimilates and uses it.

A quality product comes from a company that does that kind of research and formulates its own products making sure that each product is bio-available.  They need not have their own manufacturing plant as long as the products are manufactured to their own standards and they have their own people insuring that this is the case by doing extensive quality assurance tests all along the process.

• “I’ve been told that a vitamin is a vitamin and to just get the cheapest brand.”