Online shopping has exploded in popularity, and understandably so, particularly in this crazy time. I just wanted to mention some new research that has come out which was undertaken by NOW Foods, a local company with quality supplements.
The trouble with all natural supplements is that they are not regulated by the FDA in the same way that pharmaceuticals are, and because of that, many companies have sprung up putting out products that do not match what it says on the label- in many cases having different, lower strengths of ingredients (if it even contained any at all).
This is why it’s important to buy supplements from reputable sellers with reputable brands. You’re not really saving anything buying a cheap product online if it doesn’t really contain the right active ingredients.
This report is NOW’s fifth in 2020 regarding suspect brands whose main sales appear to be on Amazon. Previous reports include: CoQ10, Acetyl-l-Carnitine, SAMe and Phosphatidyl Serine, and now they have just put out a new report on the findings of online Alpha Lipoic Acid (ALA) supplements (you can follow the links for the individual articles) that found that the products tested averaged less than 50% of the potency advertized on the labels.
Without a doubt shopping online is convenient, but when it comes to supplements, I’d steer clear due to the fact of so many unscrupulous sellers. Also, it’s not just weird brands selling fake supplements, but there have been problems on Amazon that the company has admitted to where Amazon sellers were selling counterfeit supplements of well known brands by relabeling or resealing products with adulterated pills. Even when online sellers are selling genuine products, there can be issues with how supplements are stored and at what temperature, damaging the ingredients-probiotics in particular, but it holds true for all supplements.
Online shopping is a reality of 2020, we just advise caution in regards to supplements.
To make shopping at our store easier, while we will remain open to customers coming in the store, we do also offer curb side pickup, where you can call or email to place an order or ask questions and we will bring it out to your car when you arrive. We can do so in a way that is entirely contactless if desired, putting the bag in your trunk or backseat. Additionally, you can read about our ongoing store safety procedures here.
Call the store to place an order at 708-448-9114 and we will run it out to your car when you arrive. We have a product catalog of our recommended products that you can see on our website here.