How to find the best supplements for me?

How can I replenish the vitamins that I am missing? How do I tell good dietary supplements apart from those that lack what I need? What should I look for in the fine-print on the labels and why should I pay attention to it? We have created an easy map for you to be able to navigate the vast seas of dietary supplements and find what you are looking for.

ABSORPTION

This word is key. The absorbability of substances determines what portion of the ingested dietary supplement makes it through the gastrointestinal tract, into the blood and then is further used in the body. With low quality supplements their absorbability is low, sometimes even close to zero; this means their effect is also almost nonexistent and you are just needlessly straining your excretory system. What form gives supplements the highest possible absorbability?

Liposomal vitamins are surrounded by a special protective pocket which makes sure that they survive the arduous journey through the digestive tract and are then released into the bloodstream in a full or almost full dose. Vitamin C is a vitamin which when consumed in its liposomal form has upwards of 90% absorbability while with the most commonly sold form having a less than 20% rate of absorption.

Bioactive substances are commonly found in foodstuffs, plants and living organisms. They are a favorite ingredient in dietary supplements because they are able to support the immune system, digestive tract, hair and skin, cognitive function and even detox (and that is by far not all). Omega-3 fatty acids, proteins or coenzymes are some of the most popular bioactive substances.

We also cannot forget about prebiotics and probiotics which take care of the all-important for health, microbiome. The ideal form for their consumption are slowly-dissolving capsules which allow them to travel through the body all the way to their desired destination.

Extracts from plants, seeds or herbs such as echinacea, curcuma or Ginkgo Bilboa are all very beneficial to the body and easy to absorb.

In the case of supplements that contain a mixture of different active substances, then their combination and ratio is of paramount importance. Some vitamins and minerals work better as a team, and some get in each other’s way. An easy example is collagen which, for optimal absorbability, needs vitamin C which also helps the production of collagen. If the body has a sufficient amount of vitamin C then collagen has higher quality and absorbability as well. A similarly cohesive duo is curcuma and piperine. Curcumin alone is relatively difficult for the body to absorb, however in combination with black pepper its rate of absorbability increases by 2000%.

Also, pay attention to, if products contain the recommended daily dosage of individual ingredients. Trust brands that keep in step with the latest research because science keeps moving forward and that which was true years ago could be completely different today. To start, it is good to keep your eye on the RI (reference intake); which based on clinical studies set the optimal amount for the body to utilize for its overall health. With vitamins and minerals there is RDI (recommended daily intake), or the ideal amount which you should supply your body with via diet and supplements. You can also improve absorbability through maintaining the correct dosage as written on said product.

PURITY

At first glance what looks like an innocent capsule can be a small ticking time bomb. That is when the companies that produce these products add a whole slew of unnecessary additives to them. While some additives, like antioxidants for example, are beneficial, sometimes even essential, others are quite often just needless chemistry that improves color, scent or flavor. This burdens our body without cause. Even here, sadly, the rule is, that the cheaper the supplements are the more worthless additives they contain. It is not uncommon to find more additives in a product than actual beneficial active substances.

EFFICACY OF PRODUCTION

The best of the best pay attention to every detail and phase of the production process. When creating their composition, they follow the latest scientific studies and select the most effective active ingredients. Save quality, they are also interested in the origins of the base ingredients and thus they select ethical and renewable sources. The technological processes of production also have a notable impact on the resulting quality of supplements, therefore successful producers patent their processes. An example is the patented collagen peptides Verisol which you can find in the WeCare dietary supplements. When selecting a supplement also pay attention to certification from neutral third parties which can be a guarantee of bio quality, ethical origin or even composition without GMO ingredients.