So after spending the past 20 minutes looking at various supplements, bombarded by their colorful graphics and convincing wording, you have finally found the one: the very product that will help you reach your goals. It seems that this item above anything else speaks to you as both a consumer and as a health conscious individual. 

But before you make the final leap of faith and spend your cash on this God Send of a product, you check the supplement facts label; more specifically, the ingredients list.

After reading some common food ingredients like milk, peanuts, and soy, you find yourself examining a multitude of multi-syllable chemical words (dibasic calcium phosphate, titanium dioxide, thiamin mononitrate, niacinamide  magnesium stearate etc…). 
 Seriously, have you even heard of dibasic calcium phosphate before reading this article?   

So what now? Do you continue with your purchase despite having little awareness of several of this supplement’s key ingredients?

Our Advice: For every item in the ingredient list that you have little to no comprehension, write them down and do a little research (internet and/or print) on their chemical properties and applications.

Typically, these ingredient fall into three distinct categories:

a) Common items with specialized names: Supplement companies with often utilize lengthy names (i.e. jargon) for their ingredients to give the impression that they only use the most advanced elements. In reality, there just basic components that can be found in rudimentary supplements as well as everyday foods. For example, “2–aminoglutaramic acid” is just an exaggerated title for L-glutamine, (one of the 6 conditionally essential amino acids), which can be found in eggs, beef, milk and beets.

b) Items that are unnecessary (i.e. lubricants & flowing agents) : A supplement may contain some ingredients that provide little to no true beneficial support. It’s just an extra ingredient that may add color or texture, or give the impression that the supplement is highly fortified; but does not directly promote health. 

c) Items that are unnecessary and induce severe side effects: Unfortunately, there are some companies that include ingredients in their supplemental products that can be considerably toxic when consumed in high quantities. BITTER ORANGE(also known as aurantii fructus, Citrus aurantium, zhi shi) for example is a supplement ingredient touted for promoting weight loss. It has also been shown to produce side effects ranging from fainting and heart-rhythm disorders to stroke and even death.

Check this link for the list of the 12 supplements you should avoid at all costs.

If you are shopping online, simply highlight the questionable ingredient and  search for it in another tab (FDA.gov is a recommended starting place). If you prefer to shop at a physical location, bring a small notepad and pencil and write a list of the suspect ingredients, return home and begin your research. You may want to ask the store’s proprietor about these “peculiar components”, but it is best to answer your own questions.

Once you acquire all the info that you need, you can decide whether this product is right for you or pursue a higher quality supplement.