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Four things on the back of the bottle decide whether a product can work at all. Learn to find them in about ninety seconds.
Start with the amount, then the form
A label can list a wonderful ingredient in an amount that does nothing. Turn the bottle over and look for the number next to the name, in milligrams or micrograms. If the whole list is hidden inside a 'proprietary blend' with one number at the end, you cannot tell what you are getting, and that is usually the point.
Check whether the dose matches the research
Most studies that get quoted in supplement marketing used a specific dose. If your bottle gives you a fifth of it, the study is describing a different product than the one in your hand. This is the single most common trick in the category and the easiest to catch.
Find the CFU count on probiotics, not the strain count
Strain names sound impressive and cost the maker nothing. What you want is the live count at the end of the shelf life, written down. A product that only lists strains is asking you to trust the flavour of the label.
Look for what is not there
No allergen statement, no manufacturing location, no expiration date, no batch number: these are the fine print problems that never make it into the marketing. A serious seller prints them, because printing them is cheaper than a recall.
Put it to work
Take one bottle off your shelf and read it with these four questions in hand. Most people find at least one product they will not buy again, and it takes less time than reading the marketing on the front.
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