Supplements can get pricey and you want to invest in good ones so that you're not just flushing money down the toilet. The FDA does not evaluate the effectiveness, safety, or quality of dietary supplements or the ingredients in them before they enter the marketplace. That means there is no guarantee the product contains what it claims to. Furthermore, a product may even contain varying amounts of the ingredients from batch to batch.
While the FDA requires supplement manufacturers to adhere to Current Good Manufacturing Practices (CGMP), which are intended to ensure the quality and safety of these products, compliance is not always enforced. (Read more on how to choose high quality vitamins and supplements at Healthline)
Below are the important things to look for on your supplement's label, followed by the supplements I've researched and used first-hand:
Third-party testing is not required by law. However, some supplement manufacturers voluntarily choose to undergo testing to show their commitment to producing high quality products. One objective indicator of product quality is a Certificate of Analysis (COA), which is awarded by an independent third-party company, such as NSF, USP, Banned Substances Control Group (BSCG), or ConsumerLab.Most products that have been certified by one of these third-party companies have been tested for one or more of the following:
Additionally, if you’re an athlete, it can be helpful to look for products that are NSF Certified for Sport. This certification ensures that the product is free of more than 270 substances that are banned or prohibited by most major sports organizations. (Healthline)
Whenever possible, buy 100% organic supplements to avoid exposure to harmful toxins and pesticides. At a minimum, they should say 'Non GMO' on the label.
This may seem like common sense, but read the directions for specifics of when to take the supplement and if it needs to be taken with or without food and/ or water. This can impact the rate of absorption into your bloodstream and thus overall effectiveness.
Assists with the proper breakdown of carbs, fats, and proteins to maintain a healthy gut microbiome. (Also found in fermented food). A good one includes amylase, lipases, proteases. I like this one I found in Whole Foods.
Replaces and supports the good bacteria in your gut, thus strengthening your immune system.
Doctors recommend 100 bil CFUs daily if dealing with cancer and 50 bil CFUs if not. I like this one I found in Whole Foods.
Lowers blood glucose levels/ prevents them from spiking, reduces inflammation, promotes healthy fat metabolism, fights intestinal bugs as well as cancer, and is a calcium channel blocker. This is an herbal version of metformin, which is used by diabetics. 2500 mg/ day if you have cancer. I tried a few before finding Nutricost, which passes all the tests.
Inhibits tumor growth by restoring p53 function. Chelates copper and reduces angiogenesis. Also great to support the immune system. 50 mg/ day. Nutricost passes all the tests.
Increases your platelet count. Also important for vision, growth, cell division, reproduction and immunity. 10,000 IU/ day or every other day. Nutricost passes all the tests.
Great overall vitamin! Prevents neuropathy and anemia. "These vitamins help a variety of enzymes do their jobs, from releasing energy from carbs and fat to breaking down amino acids and transporting oxygen and energy-containing nutrients around the body." - Harvard
I shopped a lot until I found this one which has high amounts of every B - my nails have never been stronger.
TH1 dominant immune system. Protects especially during chemo. Monitor with blood tests and keep D3 levels between 50-70 mg/ml. Levels >70 makes TH2 dominant, and D3 less supportive. 5000 IU/ day. This brand is great!
Affects growth factors and signaling pathways in cancer cells. Also good for cardiovascular health, neurodegenerative diseases, and immune system dysfunction. 250 mg/ day. My Dr. recommended this one.
Inhibits genes causing cancer growth. Reduces inflammation. 4000 mg/ day if you have cancer. This one passes all the tests.
500mg/ day as a cancer cell killer and anti-inflammatory aid. Also found in red wine! Quercetin is equally or more effective than resveratrol in reducing tumor necrosis, factor-mediated inflammation, and insulin resistance in primary human adipocytes. (Source.)
Provides immunity against infectious agents and reduces oxidative stress. 3/ day if you have cancer and 1/ day as a preventative measure. My Dr. recommended this one.
Signals the immune system to kill cancer cells. Anti-metastatic. Reduces oxidative stress, improves detoxification, and eliminates heavy metals. 200 mg/ day. IMO, these are the worst smelling pills I've taken. Instead, 1-2 brazil nuts a day can do the trick too, but no more than that.
This is a homeopathic medicine that you drop into your water to help reduce lymphedema.
Healthy fat that reduces inflammation and is one of the key building blocks for cell membranes. 1500 mg/ day. Nordic Naturals has a great vegan softgel made from algae, so no fishy taste.
Omega 7 is known for boosting cellular health and moisture within the body. This fatty acid may be helpful for digestive system problems. It's great for supporting the most delicate tissues in the body. Omega 7 promotes healthy inflammation response in the body as well. Sea buckthorn is the best source for Omega 7, even more than fish. Read more here.
I know this isn't a vegetarian pill, but it does help vegetarians who have low iron levels or are anemic (which can be a side effect to certain drugs). Chemo patients need to keep these levels up as iron is needed to make platelets. (Just pretend it's mushrooms.) It also helps to boost energy levels and support healthy liver function, which takes a hit during chemo. Read more here.
This brand pasts all the tests!
Boosts the effects of chemo and prevents metastasis. Also acts as a blood thinner and reduces blood clots from forming. "In a large study, it was found that the incidence of blood clots going to chemotherapy was 12.6%, compared to a risk of 1.4% for cancer patients not receiving chemotherapy. "
81 mg/ day
Reverses the suppression of T-suppressor cells, keeping lymphocytes up. Immune system booster. Protects stomach from aspirin. This can be helpful when taken after cancer-related surgeries to prevent tumor seeding.
Aleve is processed in the kidneys versus the stomach or liver like other pain killers. If you have to take a pain killer while on chemo, this will be the least harmful for your body (according to my pharmacist).
This is helpful for bone pain in the 1-3 days following chemo.
Chemo can cause bowel issues, so prepare accordingly. I've found that by fasting prior to my chemo treatments, I didn't have any problems though.
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