How To Read A Label

Choosing a nutritional supplement that best fits your needs may seem confusing. However, knowing what to look for on the product label can help you understand which product is best suited for your needs. Here’s what you’ll find on a label and what it means:

Serving Size is the manufacturer’s suggested serving expressed in the appropriate unit (tablet, capsule, softgel, packet, teaspoonful). Serving sizes vary from supplement to supplement, which is why it’s important to make sure you’re taking the correct serving and not falling short or taking more than you need.

Amount Per Serving heads the listing of nutrients contained in the supplement, followed by the quantity present in each serving.

Percent Daily Value (DV) tells what percentage of the recommended daily intake for each nutrient for adults and children ages 4 and up is provided by the supplement. This comes from the U.S Food and Drug Administration. For example, if the supplement label lists 75% as its DV, it means that one serving provides three quarters of FDA’s recommended daily intake. An asterisk (*) under the “Percent Daily Value” heading is an indicator that the FDA has not established one for that particular nutrient.

Milligram (mg) and microgram (mcg) are units of measurement for water soluble vitamins (C and B-complex) and minerals. A milligram is equal to .001 grams. A microgram is equal to .001 milligrams.

International Unit (IU) is a standard unit of measurement for fat soluble vitamins (A, D and E).

The list of ingredients includes nutrients and other ingredients used to formulate the supplement, in decreasing order, by weight.

All supplements should be stored in a cool, dry place in their original containers, out of the reach of children, and should be used before the expiration date to assure full potency.

The manufacturer’s or distributor’s name and place of business or phone number are required to appear on the label. Don’t buy any supplements if you can’t clearly tell who is responsible for producing the product.

Heart Health

The heart is comprised of a network of striated muscle tissue known as myocardium. This specialized muscles’ main responsibility is the constant pumping of blood throughout the body. The average human heart involuntarily beats roughly 72 beats per minute in an all-or-none action. The law of all-or-none refers to the fact that the heart will continue to beat and work as long as it is stimulated to do so.

Structure and Function
The human heart has four chambers, two superior atria and two inferior ventricles. The atria are located within the upper portion of the heart, one on the right and one on the left, and are the blood receiving chambers. The ventricles are located within the lower portion of the heart, again one on the right and one on the left, and are the blood discharging chambers. As the heart beats, its four chambers contract (systole) and relax (diastole) in a distinct fashion that allows for continuous blood flow.

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Vitamin Supplement Delivery Systems: What to Look For

Choosing the right vitamin supplement is more than just looking at the ingredients. The form in which the supplement is in can make all the difference in the quality of the supplement you are receiving.

Normally, when you ingest a daily vitamin or nutritional supplement tablet, your body must work for up to four hours digesting and absorbing the vitamins and nutrients. During this lengthy breakdown process, a percentage of the nutritive value is lost. Even still, some supplement products do not even break down due to harsh fillers and binders, but pass to the small intestine. When this takes place, none of the contents of the supplement can be absorbed by the body. This is one reason the bioavailability of pills and capsules are significantly lower than isotonic-capable supplements.

Tablets & Capsules: One thing to watch out for in tablets and capsules are binders and fillers. Binders and fillers can include lubricants and disintegrates to aid the body in absorption, but these are added ingredients that your body does not need.

Gummies & Chewables: Gummy and chewable supplements can be appealing because of their colors and tastes, but most are very high in sugars and have fewer active ingredients making is effective in delivering the maximum benefit.

Liquids: If you do not like swallowing tablets or chewing chewables, a liquid supplement may be for you. Liquids may also have a great taste but, many liquid supplements include preservatives that can interfere with the active ingredients.

Isotonic: Isotonic, meaning “same pressure,” bears the same chemical resemblance of the body’s blood, plasma and tears. This means that the body has less work to do to obtain maximum absorption of the nutrients. The isotonic state of the suspension allows nutrients to pass directly into the small intestine and rapidly absorb into the bloodstream. Little nutritive value is lost, making the absorption of nutrients highly efficient while delivering maximum results with great flavor as well.

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