Many people take vitamins and supplements to promote overall wellness; however, unlike prescription drugs, supplements aren’t strictly regulated and could contain potentially hazardous ingredients.
Consuming supplements in capsule form offers consumers convenience and ease of use. They can easily incorporate their daily or evening supplements into their routine and even travel with them while maintaining their supplement regimen on the go.
Convenience
Supplement markets may seem daunting for novice consumers and patients, yet some brands are making things simpler by providing convenient dosage forms that appeal to younger users as well as those needing easier solutions.
Powdered supplements are a convenient solution for this demographic as they can easily be mixed directly into liquids like smoothies and protein shakes, offering consumers two goals at once: drinking an energizing breakfast shake or replenishing after exercise while receiving their daily dose of vitamins and collagen.
Capsules are also easy to transport, fitting perfectly into pill organizers and travel cases to maintain compliance while on-the-go. Their minimal size means they can be seamlessly added to morning or nightly routines at home, work, school or the gym – or for even greater convenience many powdered vitamin and collagen products come in convenient single-serving stick packs which can easily fit into purses or gym bags for convenient on-the-go consumption.
Athletes & Fitness Enthusiasts
People pursuing fitness goals often look for ways to optimize their efforts and accelerate results. Supplements are often an invaluable asset when it comes to this pursuit, helping muscle growth, athletic performance and recovery from workouts. Finding suitable supplements for each goal or need is key for achieving desired results.
However, it’s important to keep in mind that supplements should not be seen as magical cures; rather they should serve as tools that complement a healthy diet and workout plan.
International surveys have revealed that two-thirds of elite track and field athletes report using dietary supplements to enhance exercise or athletic performance [3]. While these products typically come in pill form, powder or liquid forms; they often also include ingredients like caffeine, creatine, amino acids or herbal compounds that could contribute to enhanced results.
Individuals looking to add supplements into their health routine must make sure they purchase quality products which adhere to good manufacturing practices, third-party testing protocols and meet their individual dietary needs and goals.
Third-Party Testing
Third party testing of supplements, in the absence of FDA regulations for this industry, is one of the primary means of assuring their safety and efficacy. Organizations like NSF, USP and ISPE provide independent accredited labs that conduct facilities inspections as well as testing for contaminants like heavy metals or rancidity to guarantee freshness; additionally these labs verify whether products match up with label claims.
Look out for third-party certification logos on product packaging to verify if a company values transparency and quality, or to see whether they have undergone testing by BSCG Certified Drug Free and Certified Quality laboratories – these certifications protect athletes against WADA prohibited substances and contaminants found in supplements that could appear on a drug test. Furthermore, more independent laboratories test a supplement, the more trustworthy its results become; companies should collaborate with multiple independent testing laboratories in order to maintain credibility of results.