Dr. Tomah Phillips
  • Home
  • About
    • About Dr. Tomah
    • My Philosophy
    • About Naturopathic Medicine
  • Services
    • Total Health Tennis
    • Conditions >
      • Digestive Disorders >
        • SIBO / IBS >
          • SIBO Questionnaire
      • Sleep Disorders
      • Fatigue & Adrenal Dysfunction
    • Treatments >
      • Diet and Personalized Nutrition
      • Herbal Medicine
      • Acupuncture
    • Naturopathic Lab Testing >
      • Adrenal Stress Test
      • SIBO / IBS Breath Test
      • Comprehensive Digestive Stool Analysis
      • NutriGenomix Genetic Test
      • Vitamin D Testing
  • FAQ
    • What To Expect
    • FAQ
    • Fee Schedule
  • Articles
  • Contact
  • Store

Is Your Natural Health Supplement Safe?

2/27/2014

0 Comments

 
Health Canada recently recalled several popular health supplements due to contamination, which led many to question the safety and efficacy of their natural health supplements.

This is an important subject to discuss, as the popularity of natural health products such as vitamins, minerals, and herbs continues to rise. A 2010 survey reported that 73% of Canadians use natural health products.

Does Natural Equal safe?

There is a common misconception that if something is 'natural' (i.e. comes from nature) it is safe. This is a dangerous assumption to make, especially combined with the "if a little is good, a lot is better" mentality. Natural substances such as vitamins and herbs exert a physiological effect on the body, and can interact with other pharmaceutical drugs and cause harm. And as noted by the Renaissance physician Paracelcus, taken in excess, anything can become a poison.

Picture
"The dose makes the poison"
Just as the quality of the food you eat can vary greatly (think Mcdonalds vs. well, anything else), so too can the quality of your supplements.

Many patients wonder why they should pay for professional brand supplements when they can get a lifetime supply of the "same" supplement at Costco. This is to ensure that quality control measures are met, such as testing the raw ingredients for heavy metals or pesticides, and testing the finished product for any contaminants. There is also a big difference in the quality of raw materials, potency, and effectiveness of different health supplements. So while it may be cheaper to stock up at Costco, in the end you get what you pay for.

How to choose a safe and effective health supplement

It can be a daunting task to walk into a health food store and choose from the wide variety of products. Naturopathic Physicians have extensive training in clinical nutrition and the use of supplements. It is always best to consult with a naturopathic physician to determine what supplements are actually necessary, and which products are the safest and most suited for your particular needs.

Yours in health,

Dr. T



0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Author

    Dr. Tomah Phillips, ND

    Book a visit

    Archives

    April 2020
    February 2019
    January 2019
    September 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    November 2017
    August 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    October 2016
    September 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    February 2016
    November 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014

    Categories

    All
    Acupuncture
    Aging
    Allergies
    Anxiety
    BC Parent
    Cardiovascular Disease
    Coffee
    Diet
    Gut Health
    Health
    Heart Health
    Herbal
    Immune
    Insomnia
    Kids
    Natural
    Natural Remedies
    Naturopathic
    Nutrition
    Pregnancy
    Probiotics
    Recipes
    Stress
    Telemedicine
    Vitamins

    RSS Feed

HOME / ABOUT / SERVICES / NEW PATIENTS / BLOG / CONTACT / BOOK APPOINTMENT
BOOK ONLINE
Dr. Tomah Phillips ND
​
236-1628 W 1st Ave
Vancouver, B.C.
V6J 1G1
The information provided on this site is intended for your general knowledge only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice or treatment for specific medical conditions.
  • Home
  • About
    • About Dr. Tomah
    • My Philosophy
    • About Naturopathic Medicine
  • Services
    • Total Health Tennis
    • Conditions >
      • Digestive Disorders >
        • SIBO / IBS >
          • SIBO Questionnaire
      • Sleep Disorders
      • Fatigue & Adrenal Dysfunction
    • Treatments >
      • Diet and Personalized Nutrition
      • Herbal Medicine
      • Acupuncture
    • Naturopathic Lab Testing >
      • Adrenal Stress Test
      • SIBO / IBS Breath Test
      • Comprehensive Digestive Stool Analysis
      • NutriGenomix Genetic Test
      • Vitamin D Testing
  • FAQ
    • What To Expect
    • FAQ
    • Fee Schedule
  • Articles
  • Contact
  • Store