December 2020 Gig Harbor Living Local

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YOUR SUPPLEMENT LABELS 10 Important Things You Should Know By Conrad Esser, CEO and Nicholas Wyatt, CPO, Harbor Health and Apothecary

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ave you ever purchased a supplement, read the label, and asked yourself what information should I care about? Supplement labels can be a bit like User Agreements, confusing and rarely ever completely read. We are going to attempt to lessen the confusion by organizing the supplement label into the 10 most important things you should know.

2. Amount per Serving

1. Serving Size

3. Units of Measure

The serving size tells you the number of tablets/capsules you will need to take to obtain the amount per serving values stated in the label. It is important to pay attention to this area of the label because serving size will differ between products. For example, Cell Code’s multivitamin requires you to take two tablets daily, other brands could require you to take up to six units for the same amount per serving.

The unit of measure is one of the most confusing parts of a supplement label, and because it is confusing it can have the potential to be harmful if misunderstood. The most common units of measure are grams (g), milligrams (mg), micrograms (mcg) and international units (IU). Interestingly, the international unit is due to be phased out and replaced with the metric system units of measure by January 2021.

The amount per serving tells you the total amount of ingredient available per each serving size. Like the serving size, the amount per serving can differ greatly between products and is important to review when comparing products.

4. The Daily Value

H E A LT H Y T I P

DON'T STRESS! ‘TIS THE SEASON OF JOY

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GIG HARBOR LIVING LOCAL

As the festive holiday celebrations continue, with Christmas and New Year's Eve just a few weeks away, it's important for your sanity--and your health--to try and relax. Don't let the joy of the holidays be consumed with the negative effects of stress! Instead, remember to focus on the happiness this season brings for you and your family, and let that guide you in taking the time to enjoy the holidays and those you hold dear.


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