Are Professional-Grade Supplements Worth the Cost?

Why Spend the Money for Professional-Grade Supplements?

    2018-11-2811/28/18   
Supplements  

The term professional-grade is used to create a clear distinction between the quality of supplements used by healthcare practitioners compared to those used by the majority of consumers who buy over-the-counter. Professional-grade speaks to sourcing methods and quality of the ingredients used, the reliability of the manufacturing process, and efficacy of the quality assurance testing process. These work together to insure the supplement minimally meets and generally exceeds the standards documented on the supplement label.

Professional-grade supplements are reliable to the consumer and deliver the purpose intended with minimal side effects. Meanwhile, consumer-grade (over the counter) supplements often contain additives and chemicals that limit their effectiveness and can slow down overall recovery. Manufacturers of professional-grade supplements are few, reliable, and easily distinguishable. Whereas, the consumer-grade supplements manufacturers are widespread, however do not cater significantly to the one's nutritional needs.

Why professional-grade supplements ARE worth it

Unless individuals are educated, they generally do not know or care about the differences between professional-grade and consumer-grade supplements, and even with professional-grade supplements, the ingredients used may vary from manufacturer to manufacturer. However, professional-grade supplements stand uniform under the following parameters and thus should be prioritized for purchasing and consumption.

illustration of the benefits of profession-grade vs consumer-grade supplements
Increased purity, potency and quality

1. People can have allergies and sensitivities:

No government body or regulatory agency has yet taken the responsibility to directly regulate consumer-grade or professional-grade supplements, at least not to the degree pharmaceuticals are regulated. The FDA is not authorized to review dietary supplement products for safety and effectiveness before they are marketed. The manufacturers and distributors of dietary supplements are responsible for making sure their products are safe BEFORE they go to market. Manufacturers of professional-grade supplements do however adhere to much higher standards. With consumer-grade, there's an increased likelihood and prevalence of the usage of ingredients that cause cross-contamination, evidence of additives and fillers which aggravate allergies, genetically modified products, pesticides, and various other toxins.

It is obviously better to obtain supplements that are made with superior quality control procedures. Professional-grade supplement manufacturers not only test their products in-house using more rigorous standards but also typically send them out for external screening to prove the quality independently. Professional-grade supplements are clearly a better choice for those with allergies and known to be hypoallergenic. The rule established states: no nutritional supplement should contain any kind of toxins, harmful lubricants, additives, and allergic elements.

2. The ability of absorption:

One of problems with consumer-grade supplements is that they have lubricants which prevent the proper absorption of active nutrients into the body. Professional-grade supplements are chemically proven to be free from all such lubricants. Lubricants help the equipment to manufacture medicinal supplements easily. However, they do not support the body in any way.

These lubricants can be classified under the heading of large fatty acid additives, and they harm the body in the same way as the other oils of the same family do. The other lubricants include calcium stearate and magnesium stearate. Magnesium stearate irritates the mucosal lining of the bowels, causing spasms and triggering painful bowel movements. All these lubricants distort the cycle of absorption and reduce dissolution.

3. The overall quality of the supplements:

Professional-grade supplements are tested for quality and freshness by specialist agencies and can be trusted. The ingredients used and the chemical composition are carefully evaluated to provide superior quality to the consumer. The consumption of various supplements has implications on the bowels and should be controlled. Professional-grade supplements cover all these aspects. While nobody should claim that they cannot have a side effect, the side effects when they occur are generally minimal, not harmful, and extremely short-lived.

Professional-grade supplements are typically not available in large stores and big retail chains. They are usually provided by healthcare providers or other healthcare specialist including nutritionists.

If you see the merits of using professional-grade supplements, you can seek referrals for specific supplements from trusted healthcare providers. If he/she provides the supplements within their practice you should consider purchasing from them. If not there are reputable providers online.

Since 2010 SupplementRelief.com has provided NuMedica professional-grade supplements online supported by practical wellness educational content focussed on healthy living, risk reduction, and chronic disease elimination.

Why NuMedica?

NuMedica makes professional-grade supplements used by healthcare providers

Supplements by NuMedica are certified Good Manufacturing Practice, GMP. This system ascertains that the supplements are consistently produced and meet the superior quality standards they are tested against. This minimizes the risks involved in the production processes and works to insure an error-free final product. GMP covers various aspects of production which include material, labor, equipment, and the premises. All the mentioned aspects aid in providing the best quality final product and are of considerable importance to any business.

NuMedica supplements have NSF Supplement Certification

NSF certifies products against NSF/ANSI 173, the only American National Standard that establishes requirements for the ingredients in dietary and nutritional supplements. There are three main components of the NSF dietary supplements certification program:

  1. Label claim review to certify that what's on the label is in the bottle
  2. Toxicology review to certify product formulation (note: does NOT test for efficacy)
  3. Contaminant review to ensure the product contains no undeclared ingredients or unacceptable levels of contaminants

NuMedica is a member of the AHPA

The American Herbal Products Association (AHPA) is the only national trade association that is focused primarily on products containing herbs, which includes dietary supplements, cosmetics, nutraceuticals, and other related natural products. All of the AHPA's activities are focused on its mission: to promote the responsible commerce of herbal products, to maintain and improve market opportunities for companies that sell products that contain herbs, and to ensure that consumers continue to enjoy informed access to a wide choice of goods.

Some Notes on the FDA

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is an agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. It consists of the Office of the Commissioner and four directorates overseeing the core functions of the agency: Medical Products and Tobacco, Foods and Veterinary Medicine, Global Regulatory Operations and Policy, and Operations.

FDA is responsible for protecting the public health by assuring the safety, effectiveness, quality, and security of human and veterinary drugs, vaccines and other biological products, and medical devices. The FDA is also responsible for the safety and security of most of our nation's food supply, all cosmetics, dietary supplements and products that give off radiation.

Please note - NOT ALL SUPPLEMENTS ARE EQUAL! You get what you pay for.

headshot of Jay Todtenbier 2018
Author

Jay Todtenbier is an original founder of SupplementRelief.com in 2010 and has operated the business ever since. He is also a tennis instructor and gospel musician. Formerly he spent 25 years in business development, technology and marketing with startups and major corporations having gone through the tech boom in Silicon Valley in the 90s. He became passionate about, and began studying and practicing Wellness as a Lifestyle after experiencing chronic, personal health challenges including depression, auto-immune disorders, and being overweight that impacted his ability to live a healthy, vibrant life. Since then, he has been an advocate for healthier living encouraging others to live better through making small, gradual changes to lifestyle behaviors relating to whole-foods nutrition, stress management, reasonable exercise, proper sleep, and the use of targeted, high-quality supplements.

Learn more about Jay Todtenbier.

  Related Content

We encourage you to take advantage of these FREE Wellness Resources on our website.


Healthy Living Whole Foods Cookbook displaying wooden cooking utensils and recipe notepad.

Healthy Living Whole Foods Cookbook

The foods we choose to put into our body should be helping us live more vibrant and productive lives but for many are they are the leading contributor to chronic disease.

Many people know "what" to do to be healthy, but HOW do you do it? One of the best ways we have found is to show people how we eat as a family. This customizable, whole foods cookbook features healthy, affordable, great-tasting recipes that are easy-to-make.

We hope you enjoy these recipes and encourage you to share them with your family and friends!

We also encourage you to browse through the Related Content section on this page to find great articles about nutrition and healthy living.


How to Grocery Shop and What to Eat

We are what we eat. Studies from reputable health organizations suggest that 40-60% of Americans are living with one or more chronic diseases, which negatively impacts their quality of life, reduces employment productivity, and drives up health care costs.1 Lifestyle choices, in particular, the foods we choose to put into our bodies, are making us sick. However, we do have choices regarding our nutrition.

Learn practical tips for healthy and affordable grocery shopping and consider using a list similar to the recommended natural, whole foods grocery shopping list provided to get you off to a good start!


gluten free

So What's The Big Deal About Gluten?

Is Gluten Bad? Gluten just is. The problem is, it generally is not being used in the correct proportions any more. So let's take a moment to explore what gluten really is.


green apple with cartoon face looking perplexed

When Did Food Become Our Enemy?

It could be that the primary key to health and wellbeing lay within our gastrointestinal tract. With obesity and childhood behavioral disorders at seemingly epidemic levels and our "healthcare" system lacking answers, where do we turn?


Why You Need Colostrum and PRPs

I would like to introduce you to my new best friend, Proline-Rich Polypeptides. You can call him PRP for short! This is an amazing leap in science. While we've been carrying the NuMedica ImmunoG product line for quite some time, and I was in fact using it daily, I had no idea it's power and scope of use!

  • Blog Post

    Professional-grade supplements are reliable to the consumer and deliver the purpose intended with minimal side effects. Meanwhile, consumer-grade (over the counter) supplements often contain additives and chemicals that limit their effectiveness and can slow down overall recovery. Manufacturers of professional-grade supplements are few, reliable, and easily distinguishable. Whereas, the consumer-grade supplements manufacturers are widespread, however do not cater significantly to the one's nutritional needs.

    Why professional-grade supplements ARE worth it

    Unless individuals are educated, they generally do not know or care about the differences between professional-grade and consumer-grade supplements, and even with professional-grade supplements, the ingredients used may vary from manufacturer to manufacturer. However, professional-grade supplements stand uniform under the following parameters and thus should be prioritized for purchasing and consumption.

    illustration of the benefits of profession-grade vs consumer-grade supplements
    Increased purity, potency and quality

    1. People can have allergies and sensitivities:

    No government body or regulatory agency has yet taken the responsibility to directly regulate consumer-grade or professional-grade supplements, at least not to the degree pharmaceuticals are regulated. The FDA is not authorized to review dietary supplement products for safety and effectiveness before they are marketed. The manufacturers and distributors of dietary supplements are responsible for making sure their products are safe BEFORE they go to market. Manufacturers of professional-grade supplements do however adhere to much higher standards. With consumer-grade, there's an increased likelihood and prevalence of the usage of ingredients that cause cross-contamination, evidence of additives and fillers which aggravate allergies, genetically modified products, pesticides, and various other toxins.

    It is obviously better to obtain supplements that are made with superior quality control procedures. Professional-grade supplement manufacturers not only test their products in-house using more rigorous standards but also typically send them out for external screening to prove the quality independently. Professional-grade supplements are clearly a better choice for those with allergies and known to be hypoallergenic. The rule established states: no nutritional supplement should contain any kind of toxins, harmful lubricants, additives, and allergic elements.

    2. The ability of absorption:

    One of problems with consumer-grade supplements is that they have lubricants which prevent the proper absorption of active nutrients into the body. Professional-grade supplements are chemically proven to be free from all such lubricants. Lubricants help the equipment to manufacture medicinal supplements easily. However, they do not support the body in any way.

    These lubricants can be classified under the heading of large fatty acid additives, and they harm the body in the same way as the other oils of the same family do. The other lubricants include calcium stearate and magnesium stearate. Magnesium stearate irritates the mucosal lining of the bowels, causing spasms and triggering painful bowel movements. All these lubricants distort the cycle of absorption and reduce dissolution.

    3. The overall quality of the supplements:

    Professional-grade supplements are tested for quality and freshness by specialist agencies and can be trusted. The ingredients used and the chemical composition are carefully evaluated to provide superior quality to the consumer. The consumption of various supplements has implications on the bowels and should be controlled. Professional-grade supplements cover all these aspects. While nobody should claim that they cannot have a side effect, the side effects when they occur are generally minimal, not harmful, and extremely short-lived.

    Professional-grade supplements are typically not available in large stores and big retail chains. They are usually provided by healthcare providers or other healthcare specialist including nutritionists.

    If you see the merits of using professional-grade supplements, you can seek referrals for specific supplements from trusted healthcare providers. If he/she provides the supplements within their practice you should consider purchasing from them. If not there are reputable providers online.

    Since 2010 SupplementRelief.com has provided NuMedica professional-grade supplements online supported by practical wellness educational content focussed on healthy living, risk reduction, and chronic disease elimination.

    Why NuMedica?

    NuMedica makes professional-grade supplements used by healthcare providers

    Supplements by NuMedica are certified Good Manufacturing Practice, GMP. This system ascertains that the supplements are consistently produced and meet the superior quality standards they are tested against. This minimizes the risks involved in the production processes and works to insure an error-free final product. GMP covers various aspects of production which include material, labor, equipment, and the premises. All the mentioned aspects aid in providing the best quality final product and are of considerable importance to any business.

    NuMedica supplements have NSF Supplement Certification

    NSF certifies products against NSF/ANSI 173, the only American National Standard that establishes requirements for the ingredients in dietary and nutritional supplements. There are three main components of the NSF dietary supplements certification program:

    1. Label claim review to certify that what's on the label is in the bottle
    2. Toxicology review to certify product formulation (note: does NOT test for efficacy)
    3. Contaminant review to ensure the product contains no undeclared ingredients or unacceptable levels of contaminants

    NuMedica is a member of the AHPA

    The American Herbal Products Association (AHPA) is the only national trade association that is focused primarily on products containing herbs, which includes dietary supplements, cosmetics, nutraceuticals, and other related natural products. All of the AHPA's activities are focused on its mission: to promote the responsible commerce of herbal products, to maintain and improve market opportunities for companies that sell products that contain herbs, and to ensure that consumers continue to enjoy informed access to a wide choice of goods.

    Some Notes on the FDA

    The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is an agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. It consists of the Office of the Commissioner and four directorates overseeing the core functions of the agency: Medical Products and Tobacco, Foods and Veterinary Medicine, Global Regulatory Operations and Policy, and Operations.

    FDA is responsible for protecting the public health by assuring the safety, effectiveness, quality, and security of human and veterinary drugs, vaccines and other biological products, and medical devices. The FDA is also responsible for the safety and security of most of our nation's food supply, all cosmetics, dietary supplements and products that give off radiation.

    Please note - NOT ALL SUPPLEMENTS ARE EQUAL! You get what you pay for.

    headshot of Jay Todtenbier 2018
    Author

    Jay Todtenbier is an original founder of SupplementRelief.com in 2010 and has operated the business ever since. He is also a tennis instructor and gospel musician. Formerly he spent 25 years in business development, technology and marketing with startups and major corporations having gone through the tech boom in Silicon Valley in the 90s. He became passionate about, and began studying and practicing Wellness as a Lifestyle after experiencing chronic, personal health challenges including depression, auto-immune disorders, and being overweight that impacted his ability to live a healthy, vibrant life. Since then, he has been an advocate for healthier living encouraging others to live better through making small, gradual changes to lifestyle behaviors relating to whole-foods nutrition, stress management, reasonable exercise, proper sleep, and the use of targeted, high-quality supplements.

    Learn more about Jay Todtenbier.

  • Related Content

      Related Content

    We encourage you to take advantage of these FREE Wellness Resources on our website.


    Healthy Living Whole Foods Cookbook displaying wooden cooking utensils and recipe notepad.

    Healthy Living Whole Foods Cookbook

    The foods we choose to put into our body should be helping us live more vibrant and productive lives but for many are they are the leading contributor to chronic disease.

    Many people know "what" to do to be healthy, but HOW do you do it? One of the best ways we have found is to show people how we eat as a family. This customizable, whole foods cookbook features healthy, affordable, great-tasting recipes that are easy-to-make.

    We hope you enjoy these recipes and encourage you to share them with your family and friends!

    We also encourage you to browse through the Related Content section on this page to find great articles about nutrition and healthy living.


    How to Grocery Shop and What to Eat

    We are what we eat. Studies from reputable health organizations suggest that 40-60% of Americans are living with one or more chronic diseases, which negatively impacts their quality of life, reduces employment productivity, and drives up health care costs.1 Lifestyle choices, in particular, the foods we choose to put into our bodies, are making us sick. However, we do have choices regarding our nutrition.

    Learn practical tips for healthy and affordable grocery shopping and consider using a list similar to the recommended natural, whole foods grocery shopping list provided to get you off to a good start!


    gluten free

    So What's The Big Deal About Gluten?

    Is Gluten Bad? Gluten just is. The problem is, it generally is not being used in the correct proportions any more. So let's take a moment to explore what gluten really is.


    green apple with cartoon face looking perplexed

    When Did Food Become Our Enemy?

    It could be that the primary key to health and wellbeing lay within our gastrointestinal tract. With obesity and childhood behavioral disorders at seemingly epidemic levels and our "healthcare" system lacking answers, where do we turn?


    Why You Need Colostrum and PRPs

    I would like to introduce you to my new best friend, Proline-Rich Polypeptides. You can call him PRP for short! This is an amazing leap in science. While we've been carrying the NuMedica ImmunoG product line for quite some time, and I was in fact using it daily, I had no idea it's power and scope of use!


The information, knowledge, and experience shared on this website is the opinion of SupplementRelief.com. This site and its content is intended to enhance your knowledge base as YOU MAKE YOUR OWN HEALTHCARE DECISIONS in partnership with your qualified health professional. These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. Any products referred to are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.

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