Friday, June 20, 2014

Non GMO Vitamins And Supplements

By Ina Hunt


Today it is more important than ever to know the source of products you use. This is especially true if you want non GMO vitamins and supplements. The proliferation of genetically modified foods in America and other places in the world has made it harder to get truly natural, pure products. If you care what is in your food, cosmetics, and health aids, you need to find manufacturers you can trust.

So far, the 'organic' certification should mean that no genetically modified ingredients are in a product. However, this could change if forces that want to weaken the standards succeed in getting the FDA to change the rules. Those who care should make their views known to the government and should ask questions of supplement providers to be sure of their standards.

It's also important to ask manufacturers directly about quality control policies. Few supplement producers make their own ingredients. Most buy raw materials and then compound their products; some merely buy already finished products and re-label them. The third-party 'organic' certification will mean that all ingredients are 'clean'. However, it's still the integrity of the producer that really matters. Remember, too, that an 'all-natural' claim may be virtually meaningless, since this term has not been legally defined.

The best way to proceed is to know the manufacturer. There are some well-known names in the industry that people trust to be true to the ideals of providing carefully-manufactured, 'clean' products that are as natural as possible. After all, you won't find vitamin C in 1,000 milligram concentration in an orange or a rose hip. Some processing is necessary to concentrate nutrients and deliver them in usable form.

Be aware that many of the original and highly-regarded companies have been sold. Some of the best-known names in the industry now belong to huge, mainstream food and drug companies. Once a brand has been sold, consumers must do the research all over again to ascertain the level of commitment of the new owners.

Look for a non-GMO designation on the label of products as another assurance of quality. More and more foods and nutritional products are carrying this seal as consumers become wary of foods with laboratory-generated modifications. As more people turn to truly natural products, manufacturers may be forced to 'clean up their act'.

One problem is that the research has not been definitive on the subject. Although GMOs are relatively new, they've been included in foods before their safety has really been established. The fact that they may not be quick-acting poisons or instant health hazards does not mean that there are no consequences for the young, the infirm, the elderly, or for future generations. There are studies that show developmental problems in lab rats fed GMO grains, for instance.

Claims of safety may be premature. GMOs have not been around long enough to really know their effects. To be sure of getting the health benefits you need, choose health aids without genetically engineered ingredients.




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