Good to know / Supplements
Look beyond the front of the bottle.
The headline ingredient is only part of the label. Understand the serving, the other ingredients and the questions the package cannot answer for you.
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Per serving vs per capsule on supplements
Read Serving Size before the amount. A nutrient amount per serving may cover more than one capsule, so the headline number is not automatically the amount in one capsule.
Read the check 02 / Label checkCapsule count vs servings per container
Bottle count and serving count are different quantities. Read them together before comparing package value or how long the labeled servings would last.
Read the check 03 / Label checkReading the other ingredients on a supplement
Read both Supplement Facts and the separate ingredient list. Capsule materials and formulation ingredients can matter to your preferences even when they are not the headline nutrient.
Read the check 04 / Label checkMineral amount vs mineral-source weight
A mineral row and the name of its source are different pieces of information. Read the declared nutrient amount rather than treating the source compound name as a second dose.
Read the check 05 / Label checkWhat Daily Value not established means
A missing Daily Value is not a zero amount and not a safety judgment. Read the ingredient quantity and the footnote together.
Read the check 06 / Label checkIs 100% Daily Value a personal supplement dose?
Percent Daily Value is a label reference, not a personalized instruction. Read it alongside the nutrient amount and ask whether the supplement is appropriate for your circumstances.
Read the check 07 / Label checkComparing supplements with proprietary blends
Compare what is actually disclosed. A blend total is not the amount of each component, so two equal totals do not establish equal ingredient doses.
Read the check 08 / Label checkReading the plant part in a botanical supplement
Keep the plant name and plant part together. Root, leaf and other parts are not interchangeable identifiers when comparing what two labels actually describe.
Read the check 09 / Label checkComparing an extract with a botanical powder
Keep the preparation description beside the amount. A milligram number on an extract and a milligram number on a whole-plant powder do not by themselves establish equivalence.
Read the check 10 / Label checkReading the serving size on gummy supplements
Count gummies per labeled serving before reading nutrient amounts. A single gummy may not equal the serving shown in Supplement Facts.
Read the check 11 / Label checkReading scoops and grams on a supplement powder
Use the serving description and declared gram weight together. A scoop is a package-specific measure, so a scoop from another product is not a reliable comparison basis.
Read the check 12 / Label checkReading the serving on liquid supplements
Read the stated volume before interpreting the amount. A drop, a dropper and a milliliter are not interchangeable words for a known serving.
Read the check 13 / Label checkChecking a supplement for milk ingredients
Read both ingredient sections and the allergen information. The name of a vitamin or mineral on the front does not describe every ingredient in the finished supplement.
Read the check 14 / Label checkChecking a supplement for soy ingredients
Look for declared soy sources in the full supplement label. The front nutrient name and a short online product description are not substitutes for both ingredient sections.
Read the check 15 / Label checkReading a gluten-free supplement claim
Check the actual supplement for a gluten-free claim and read all ingredient information. A supplement format or nutrient name does not establish gluten-free status.
Read the check 16 / Label checkWhat a supplement quality seal can tell you
Check what the named testing program actually verifies. A quality seal is not a guarantee that a supplement works for your goal or is appropriate for everyone.
Read the check 17 / Label checkReading an expiration date on a supplement
Treat a date as one piece of package information. Federal supplement labeling rules do not require an expiration date, so its presence or absence does not settle the product's suitability.
Read the check 18 / Label checkPreparing supplement labels for a pharmacist
Bring complete labels and a record of what you actually take. Ingredient names alone omit amounts, frequency and other medicines that can matter to a professional review.
Read the check 19 / Label checkSupplement Facts vs the ingredient list
The two sections do different jobs. Ingredients already declared in Supplement Facts do not have to be repeated in the separate list, so read both before deciding what is present.
Read the check 20 / Label checkPhotographing a supplement label for a check
Capture the serving size, both ingredient sections and the product identity. A front photo of a nutrient number leaves out information needed to interpret it.
Read the check 21 / Label checkMilligrams vs micrograms on supplement labels
A larger printed number is not necessarily a larger amount. Milligrams and micrograms differ by a factor of 1,000, so match the nutrient, unit and serving before comparing supplement quantities.
Read the check 22 / Label checkComparing supplement prices per labeled serving
Bottle price and capsule count do not show the cost of a labeled serving on their own. Divide the price by servings per container while preserving each product's stated serving basis.
Read the check 23 / Label checkThe same nutrient in two supplements
Two products can contribute the same nutrient under different product names. Put their labeled amounts and serving sizes together before asking a health professional whether using both makes sense.
Read the check 24 / Label checkWhich supplement details to bring before surgery
Tell your care team about supplements before surgery and bring their labels. The useful information includes the full ingredients, amounts and how you actually use each product, not just the brand name.
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