ALL NUTRITIONAL SUPPLEMENTS ARE NOT CREATED EQUAL

You probably have noticed that when we recommend supplements at CNHC we specify specific brands. As physicians concerned with the health of our patients, we feel it is our responsibility to ensure that our patients are getting the highest quality ingredients manufactured with unsurpassed integrity and care. That way, you can be assured that you are taking the most clinically effective products available.
Because most supplements are over-the-counter, people assume they are safe, however, lower quality products may not provide the level of nutrients you need to heal or maintain your health and cheap supplements can actually cause harm due to poor quality fillers and contamination.
When buying nutritional supplements, keep one thing in mind: the U.S. nutritional supplement industry is unregulated. Here is why that should matter to you.
• The majority of supplement manufacturing facilities are never inspected nor regulated to ensure production of safe, quality products.
• There are no product standards or testing so many suppliers maximize profits by using cheap ingredients. This practice is industry wide.
• Because manufacturers rarely test ingredients for contamination, some manufacturers wind up using materials tainted with lead, mercury, pesticides, chemicals, toxins, bacteria or mold.
o The effects from these contaminations may be immediately apparent, or may appear with long term use, resulting in sickness and poor health.
• Without consistent raw material or finished product testing, product labeling may not be accurate. Low or high variations could present problems.
o Low potency = No or little health benefits. If the label says 500mg and the product only contains 360mg, it may not work to improve your health.
o High potency = Can cause harm. If the label says 500mg and the product really contains 760mg, over time it may be damaging. Several common supplements are toxic at high amounts.
If you are making the financial and personal commitment to take nutritional supplements, make sure you are spending those dollars wisely.