{"id":58812,"date":"2017-05-22T11:15:11","date_gmt":"2017-05-22T15:15:11","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/dailyburn.com\/life\/?p=58812"},"modified":"2021-05-14T08:42:01","modified_gmt":"2021-05-14T12:42:01","slug":"plant-based-supplements-buying-tips","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dailyburn.com\/life\/health\/plant-based-supplements-buying-tips\/","title":{"rendered":"4 Things You Should Know About Plant-Based Supplements"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Photo: Twenty20<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Whether you\u2019re searching for a B-complex vitamin<\/a> or a hemp protein powder<\/a>, when it comes to plant-based supplements, there are a ton of options on store shelves. And to make it more confusing, lots of companies have recently launched their own lines \u2014 Goop<\/a>, The Beauty Chef<\/a> and even Lo Bosworth<\/a>, to name a few.<\/p>\n

So how do you find a top-shelf product among the not-so-trustworthy ones? \u201cThere are so many supplements out in the market and they aren’t closely regulated by the FDA,\u201d says Nora Minno, RD, a Daily Burn 365<\/a> trainer and registered dietician based in New York City. Her advice: \u201cConsult a dietitian or physician and make sure that the supplements you are taking contain safe quantities of active ingredients and are actually proven to drive results.\u201d<\/p>\n

Aside from checking with your MD before popping any new pills, a few helpful hints will steer you toward a healthful brand. Read on for expert advice about how to decode supplement labels and find the right fit for you.<\/p>\n

RELATED: <\/strong>The Beginner\u2019s\u2019 Guide to Pre- and Post-Workout Supplements<\/a><\/p>\n

4 Steps to Find the Best Plant-Based Supplements<\/h2>\n

1. First things first: Check for certifications.<\/h3>\n

Just because a brand claims to be “all natural<\/a>” or “organic” doesn\u2019t guarantee its ingredients are up to snuff. Your best bet, says Jaclyn Jacobsen, on-staff nutritionist at the Vitamin Shoppe, is to look for a certification from a governing body. For instance, a bottle with a \u201cUSDA Organic\u201d label lets you know that at least 95 percent of the product\u2019s ingredients are truly organic<\/p>\n

Another good one to keep an eye out for: a stamp of approval from the Non-GMO Project, meaning the supplement contains zero genetically modified ingredients<\/a>. Those missing this label could contain pesticides.<\/p>\n

Manufacturers need to renew these certifications annually, says Jacobsen. So if you see these stamps on your brand, take comfort in knowing it\u2019s been evaluated recently.<\/p>\n

RELATED: <\/strong>Shop Smarter: 6 Common Food Labels, Explained<\/a><\/p>\n

2. Look for words that show quality.<\/h3>\n

Along with symbols showing a product is USDA organic and non-GMO, certain terms denote a quality supplement. Jacobsen recommends searching for raw<\/em> and sprouted<\/em>. Raw foods have not been chemically altered, processed or cooked which preserves their enzymes and nutrients, Jacobsen explains. Sprouted seeds also contain more nutrients, like fiber, and are low glycemic.<\/p>\n

If you\u2019re looking for a plant-based protein powder<\/a> specifically, Minno advises making sure the product contains branched chain amino acids, like leucine, isoleucine and valine, which promote lean muscle mass.<\/p>\n

Finally, check the ingredients label. Make sure that all the food sources included in the supplement are, in fact, from plants and real foods.<\/p>\n

RELATED: <\/strong>How to Choose the Best Protein Powder for You<\/a><\/p>\n

3. Steer clear of the artificial stuff.<\/h3>\n

On the other hand, there are the phrases that suggest a product\u2019s contents aren\u2019t so high quality. And they could potentially even harm your health. Jacobsen recommends passing on anything flavored with artificial ingredients or containing artificial colors. You can also step away from \u201call natural\u201d products, as that could mean it\u2019s still grown with pesticides. Also, extracts, such as Stevia<\/a> extract versus whole Stevia leaf as a sweetener, means you should pass, because extracts go through chemical processing, Jacobsen explains. Step away from those with carrageenan, too. This ingredient promotes inflammation and the National Organics Standards Board removed it from the allowable organic foods list in 2016.<\/p>\n

You\u2019ll also want to avoid hydrogenated oils, because they can increase inflammation and could possibly increase your LDL cholesterol, says Jacobsen. Others to steer clear of: magnesium stearate (which may prevent nutrient absorption and impair your immune system) and titanium dioxide (it can also affect your immunity).<\/p>\n

RELATED: <\/strong>Why Young People Need to Worry About Cholesterol, Too<\/a><\/p>\n

4. Pick your pills or powder.<\/h3>\n

Tons of high-quality supplements flood the market, but we rounded up a few of our favorites. As always, check with your doc before trying any new vitamin or supplement.<\/p>\n

Many of the products in the new Plnt<\/a> line at the Vitamin Shoppe are non-GMO, like the protein powder, as well as organic and free of artificial stabilizers or preservatives, like the milk thistle capsules.<\/p>\n

With USDA Organic and Non-GMO stamps of approval, the Garden of Life<\/a> line is another top choice. They recently released a sport line, featuring plant-based protein powders<\/a>. It also includes energy and focus pre-workout mix<\/a> and a recovery formula <\/a>for after exercise. Also, because they contain no ingredients banned by sports leagues, they\u2019re also a top brand among athletes.<\/p>\n

New Chapter<\/a> has a line of supplements \u2014 from multivitamins to blends meant for specific purposes, like boosting your immune system, bumping up bone health or nixing stress \u2014 that are certified USDA Organic and non-GMO.<\/p>\n

Offerings from Raw Green Organics<\/a> also get a USDA Organic label. Check out their multivitamins, vegan protein powder<\/a>, and drinks mixes, like Super Greens<\/a> and Raw Beet Root Powder<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Already have some vitamins, protein<\/a> or other supplements in your cabinet and not sure whether they pass the test? If you can\u2019t tell from the label, one way to check: Head to the USDA site<\/a> and search the brand name. The site boasts a comprehensive database. So if your current brand doesn\u2019t seem up to par, you can easily search for a new one.<\/p>\n

Disclosure: All products featured on our site are hand-picked by our editorial team in the hopes of getting you closer to your health and fitness goals. We only recommend products we love and believe that you will, too. In some cases, you might come across an affiliate link on our site, which means we receive a small commission should you decide to make a purchase.<\/i><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Searching for plant-based supplements can get super confusing. Here\u2019s how to decode labels so you pick a stand-out product. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":39,"featured_media":58819,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_seopress_robots_primary_cat":"","_seopress_titles_title":"","_seopress_titles_desc":"","_seopress_robots_index":"","site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"categories":[23,7,11],"tags":[41,51,71,80,191,341,388],"class_list":["post-58812","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-diet-nutrition","category-health","category-health-hacks","tag-diets","tag-food-choices","tag-nutrition","tag-protein","tag-supplements","tag-tax1living-well","tag-tax2nutrition"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/dailyburn.com\/life\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/58812","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/dailyburn.com\/life\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/dailyburn.com\/life\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dailyburn.com\/life\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/39"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dailyburn.com\/life\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=58812"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/dailyburn.com\/life\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/58812\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dailyburn.com\/life\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/58819"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/dailyburn.com\/life\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=58812"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dailyburn.com\/life\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=58812"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dailyburn.com\/life\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=58812"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}