Not all supplements created equal
Many health supplements are made to a price rather than to optimum beneficial quality, which should be of concern to customers, according to one of Christchurch’s leading supplement retailers.
Julian Marshall, owner of Marshall’s Health & Natural Therapy, says while most health supplements in New Zealand are made to high manufacturing standards, the ingredients aren’t always the most researched or beneficial type of a nutrient. And the dosage can also be a problem. ‘‘Manufacturers often include nutrients to look good on the label but the amount is nowhere near a beneficial dosage. An example is multivitamin formulas that only have 5mg of vitamin C – that dosage has no benefit at all. Vitamin C really needs to be over 250mg to have any real benefit,’’ he says.
Another problem is the type of a nutrient. Julian points to folic acid, the man-made version of vitamin B9, as a case in point.
Folate is the form of vitamin B9 naturally found in food. It is an essential vitamin that many people probably don’t get enough of from food alone.
Deficiencies can lead to mouth sores, tiredness, pins and needles, disturbed vision and a buildup of artery plaque. There can also be serious birth defects from a deficiency in pregnancy.
But because folate costs more than folic acid, many manufactures use the synthesised version. However, folic acid needs to be converted in the body to its active form, L-methyl folate, to be effective.
The problem, Julian explains, is that up to 60 per cent of people may not be able to convert folic acid efficiently.
‘‘This could leave the body deficient in an important vitamin and cause unmetabolised folic acid to build up in the bloodstream, which research has shown is associated with other health risks. Methyl folate is the form of vitamin B9 that doesn’t need converting in the body. This is just one example of potential problems with nutrients, but there are many more,’’ he says.
On a positive note, Julian says the team at Marshall’s Health & Natural Therapy have been very impressed by the health supplements of New Zealand brand ‘‘BePure’’, founded by clinical nutritionist Ben Warren, who saw the impact of nutritional deficiencies on patients visiting his Auckland clinic. Realising there was a lack of products that used high-quality, researched ingredients in sufficient amounts, he set out 16 years ago to develop New Zealand’s most effective nutritional supplements.
‘‘We highly recommend the BePure products. The feedback we get has been incredible. Many customers tell us they can really notice the difference in their body,’’ Julian says.
Marshall’s Health & Natural Therapy stocks the BePure range at its New Brighton store. It also has natural health advisers, a naturopath and medical herbalists to discuss customers’ needs and give more information.
Marshall’s Health & Natural Therapy, 101 Seaview Rd, New Brighton. Open Monday to Saturday. Phone 03 388 5757, email enquiry@marshallshealthshop.co.nz. Mail orders welcome.