Nutritional supplements are a recurring topic in discussions between doctors and patients. Many people incorporate supplements into the daily routine when they are looking to enhance their well-being or cure an ailment. But how do you know if you’re using the right nutritional supplements? 

On this episode of Back Talk Doc, Dr. Sanjiv Lakhia and Dr. Tod Cooperman, MD discuss how to choose effective supplements, and what factors you should consider when looking to add supplements to your diet. 

Dr. Cooperman is the president, founder, and editor-in-chief of ConsumerLab.com, which is dedicated to independent reviews of supplements. He pursued the testing and review of supplements after seeing the impact of the DSHEA act in the 1990s, which allowed companies to make claims about products that they previously weren’t able to, leading to an explosion of interest in the health supplement market.   

Understanding what goes into supplements can be a complex science in an industry that lacks FDA regulation. The team at ConsumerLab.com has set up detailed testing procedures at specialized labs to identify which products on the market are delivering on their claims. 

Despite a boom in popularity, Dr. Cooperman explains he’s not a fan of gummies because their dosage can be inaccurate due to the semi-liquid environment of the product. 

“There are not a lot of requirements from the FDA, but a product does have to have 100% of what it claims,” says Dr. Cooperman. “So companies don't want to produce a product that's going to fall below that; otherwise, they're in violation of the regulations. So they put in more.” 

Dr. Cooperman also shares insight into how to make an informed purchase, what to be wary of when shopping online for supplements, and what supplements he takes personally.

💡 Featured Expert 💡

Name: Dr. Tod Cooperman, MD

What he does: Dr. Tod Cooperman is a nationally recognized and respected researcher, writer, and speaker on consumer healthcare issues. Dr. Cooperman is a graduate of the Boston University School of Medicine, receiving his M.D. in 1987. He also received his Bachelor's degree from Boston University with a major in Medical Sciences and a minor in Economics. Recognizing a lack of quality standards and oversight in the U.S. dietary supplement industry, Dr. Cooperman founded ConsumerLab.com in 1999, guiding it to become the leading independent evaluator of dietary supplements and nutritional products.

Company: Consumer Lab

Words of wisdom: “Very rarely is there a situation where there are limits on contaminants. That’s left up to the manufacturer, so you’re at the mercy of the supplement company to do the right thing by you when you're buying a supplement. Some companies will cut corners or use simple methods, and others hold their products to a much higher standard.”

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