General Supplement FAQs

Q: I have a difficult swallowing tablets and capsules. May I crush the tablets?

A: As a general rule, you may cut tablets into pieces or crush them and mix them with food or drink. Two‐part capsules with dry ingredients, such as Mineral pH and Joint Solutions with HA, may be cut or pulled open and added into something like the Protein Shake, Energizer Tea, juice, oatmeal, applesauce, yogurt, etc., but make sure to eat it in a reasonable amount of time.  Mixing supplements into a Protein Shake is a great way to take your supplements.

Q: What are whole foods supplements and how do they compare with a multi-vitamin?

A: Whole foods supplements, such as True Essentials’ Fruit & Vegetable Essentials and Power Antiox, are not multi-vitamin products, so they do not compare directly with a typical multi-vitamin. Power Antiox is a high‐potency freeze‐dried extract of three fruits: blueberries, pomegranates and acai berries. Fruit & Vegetable Essentials is produced similarly with a wide range of fruits and vegetables.

Multi-vitamins serve an important general purpose of ensuring daily intake of the essential vitamins and minerals which the body is unable to make on its own. Taking a vitamin C supplement, however, does not quite replace an apple, however, because an apple contains over 10,000 components (distinct molecules) in its makeup. These plant nutrients are known to work together to benefit the body, but there are not yet recommended daily amounts (RDA’s) for these nutrients. Foods contain a myriad of plant‐based nutrients (phytonutrients) that work together in the body and cannot realistically be replaced by a multi-vitamin. One should not interpret that these plant nutrients are unnecessary because the government has not yet defined a required daily amount. That would be a daunting, if not impossible, task.

Another way that Fruit & Vegetable Essentials differs from a multi-vitamin is that it also contains fiber, digestive enzymes, and probiotic bacteria to assist with digestion and gut health. It is a “very rounded” product with numerous health benefits and a variety of nutritional contributions. In contrast, multi-vitamins target a specific amount of a limited selection of particular essential nutrients. Many people start with a multi-vitamin, such as the one included in the Men’s and Women’s Essential Packs, as the foundation of their supplement regimen, and then add the plant nutrients and other benefits of Fruit & Vegetable Essentials and/or Power Antiox to complement rather than replace or compete with the essential vitamins and minerals contained in the multi-vitamin.

Q: What is ORAC value?

A: ORAC is an acronym for Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity. ORAC value is representative of antioxidant power and is used as a standard of measure for the effectiveness of antioxidants. It represents how well a substance may work to neutralize free radicals so that they do not harm cells, DNA, and other parts of our body.

The recommended daily amount (RDA) for ORAC value is 2500 and the recommendation is to eat a combination of 5 to 9 fruits and vegetables each day to obtain this amount of antioxidant benefit. A daily serving of Fruit & Vegetable Essentials provides approximately 5000 ORAC (2500 for the fruit capsules and 2500 for the vegetable capsules). Both Power Antiox and Fruit & Vegetable Essentials provide a convenient, year‐round supply of fabulous nutrition that would be very expensive and impractical to duplicate considering the selection and variety of fruits and vegetables provided in these two products.

Q: Can you tell me if there are any fillers, chemicals, or synthetic materials in your products?

A: The ingredients for each of our supplements are listed on the product labels and on the product pages on our True Essentials web site.  There are small amounts of the "other ingredients" included in some of our supplements, only when needed.  Some products have no "added" ingredients.  Please look at the ingredients for each supplement you are interested in.  You will see that we use no artificial colors, no artificial flavors, no artificial sweeteners, etc.  You will also see that "other ingredients" are kept to a minimum.  

Tablets require that something be added in to the mix in order to help the tablet form and hold together.  Some tablets are designed to include something that will help that tablet disintegrate when ingested.  An advantage of capsules and liquids is that this is not needed.  However, due to the loose fill of capsules, they cannot provide the greater amount of nutrients able to be provided in a tablet, so more capsules are required to provide the same benefits.  Many people do not want to take a large number of  "pills" so this is a factor when we decide between providing a supplement in capsule or tablet form.  Capsules are provided whenever reasonable, as this is a first choice.  There are other considerations; it is not that simple. For example, interaction between the actives is another factor.

Another time when a small amount of "other ingredients" are necessary is when the product needs assistance flowing so that the supplement ingredients do not stick to themselves or the equipment.  These additives are not fillers because they serve a definite purpose.  They are kept to a minimum and are used only when required. 

Q: Why aren't all of your products Whole Food?

A: True Essentials is pleased to offer a selection of whole foods and extract-based supplements in addition to other specialized products.   Mineral pH, Fruit & Vegetable Essentials, Herbal Biotic Liquid, the Cleansers and Power Antiox are products that may have the greatest interest for people interested in whole foods.   Many of our customers are interested in receiving a known baseline of essential vitamins and minerals, so we offer a selection of Multi-Vitamin products as well.  Because our daily requirement for calcium is so great, we offer our customers Calcium Plus, a supplement that combines calcium with other nutrients which are required for its absorption, transportation and utilization. 

Whole Food supplements, such as Fruit & Vegetable Essentials and Power Antiox, are valuable indeed, but our bodies require other types of recommended nutrients on a daily basis, such as essential fatty acids, 25 to 35 g of fiber, and a large amount of calcium.  These needs cannot necessarily be met reasonably through Whole Foods supplementation and there are many ingredients which cannot be obtained from food, making targeted supplementation the best option in these cases. 

Some nutrients can be delivered in a whole-foods product, and others cannot.  For example, CoQ10 is present in every cell in our body and is very important for heart health, cellular energy, and antioxidant defense for cellular protection.  It is practically impossible to eat foods to gain any useful amount of it.  It is not available in significant concentrations in any food, so no direct whole food extract can provide it.  Our body can produce it, but our ability to do so declines, especially after age 30.  True Essentials' Antiox Supreme CoQ10 and Cardio CoQ10 are vital energy-providing antioxidant supplements, especially for people with low energy, certain heart conditions, high blood pressure, and for people taking statin medications. 

Joint Solutions with HA is another example of a supplement that is superior to a 100% whole food option in providing drug-free relief for joint pain, arthritis, and stiffness.  Many of our customers describe this supplement as a life saver and as their last hope after trying many other products.  This supplement does contain fruit and spice extracts, but could not provide drug-free benefits to people as it does without the inclusion of Biocell Collagen II and Hyaluronic Acid (HA) (a protein) in the formula.  A "food" cannot practically accomplish the powerful relief that is provided through the synergy of the specially prepared and extracted nutrients included in Joint Solutions with HA. 

Q: Which form of supplement is better, powder, softgel, capsule, chewable or tablet?

A: We select the form most appropriate for each particular product, but all five supplement forms are effective in

 providing nutrients to our body.

Q: Why should we take supplements with meals?

A: Taking supplements with meals helps to prevent discomfort in people with sensitive stomachs. Also, nutrients work together to provide maximum benefits, so combining supplements with food can promote optimal absorption and use by our body. The presence of food in our stomach stimulates the production of enzymes and acids required for the digestion and absorption of nutrients. Generally, it does not matter which meals the supplements are taken with, just that the time is convenient and becomes a regular part of your daily routine.

Q: Where are True Essentials manufactured?

A: Our products are custom manufactured in the United States in a variety of places so that we can provide products that use optimal ingredients and processes. All manufacturers follow our strict guidelines, adhere to legally required General Manufacturing Practices (GMP), and many of our products are produced to pharmaceutical grade standards. Different products require particular equipment and we use certain proprietary ingredients that are only available through certain sources as well. Therefore, one manufacturer does not meet all of our needs and requirements. Please review the product information pages and you will see that our formulas are unique and comprehensive. Many of our products are whole foods‐based, using potent extracts or direct plant sources. Take a look at Mineral pH, Fruit & Vegetable Essentials, Power Antiox, Fiber Powder, Omega 3-6-9 EFA's, Joint Solutions with HA, etc. Although we do include multi-vitamins in our product line, our products extend well beyond a typical "vitamin."

Q: Are True Essentials products natural or synthetic?

A: We don't use much that is synthetic at True Essentials since most of what we use is derived from natural processes. Synthetic means that something was made from other ingredients using chemistry, and does not usually refer to something that was extracted. In fact, all vitamins come from natural sources. For example, vitamin B12 is from bacteria. All minerals are ultimately sourced from the earth so they are natural as well. In fact, you cannot make them synthetically, by definition; they are atoms, basic building blocks from which other things are formed. All of our plant extracts are from natural sources. For example, our blueberry extract is 100% natural also. Synthetic blueberry extract is impossible.

Q: If I eat a well‐balanced diet, are supplements necessary?

A: Surveys and studies show that a very small number of us, including the well‐intentioned, actually eat according to recommended guidelines to obtain the baseline amounts of essential vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and fatty acids needed on a daily basis. North Americans are often over‐fed and undernourished because we tend to calorie‐rich, nutrient‐poor foods. Supplements are necessary to make up for the nutrients our diets lack. The nutritional value of foods has decreased over time due to nutrient‐depleted soils, extended storage times, and destruction of nutrients through cooking and processing methods such as pasteurization. Daily supplementation provides a known supply of reliable nutrition to ensure we obtain important nutrition and are able to live well and feel well.

Q: Please explain Easy Ship.  Why are Easy Ship prices different from the Retail Prices?

A: We offer the discounted Easy Ship prices in order to provide incentive and reward for our customers who agree to continue as a monthly customer rather than placing just a one-time order.  If dissatisfied, a customer may cancel or change their Easy Ship order without penalty using the My Account feature included on our web site.  On occasion we do reward our Easy Ship customers with special offers to thank them for their loyalty.  Most of our customers select this option for the convenience of knowing that they will always have an ample supply of their supplements and because they want to take advantage of the cost savings as well. 

Q:  How can I be assured that the True Essentials Supplements are high quality?

A: The regulations and requirements for producing nutritional supplements are very stringent.  Nutritional supplement manufacturers must adhere to cGMP, certified Good Manufacturing Practices.  Obtaining cGMP certification is very difficult and requires ongoing diligent record keeping and inspections to keep certification current.  If a manufacturer also produces Over-the Counter (OTC) drugs, then they must also obtain OTC certification, which basically involves producing these products to pharmaceutical standards.  Because the requirements for cGMP are so rigorous, the difference between it and pharmaceutical OTC requirements are quite small.  The facilities that manufacture our supplements for the US are certified both for drugs and for supplements.  In other words, they are cGMP and OTC certified.  The primary manufacturing facility we use is a licensed manufacturer and contract developer for nutritional and cosmetic products specializing in organic, natural and health related products.  They are certified as a cGMP (Good Manufacturing Practices) and an OTC (Over-the-Counter) manufacturer by the FDA and the NPA (Natural Products Association).  Their state-of-the-art facility and processes assure us superior quality.  Similarly, Joint Solutions with HA is produced for us at a facility that holds a Drug Manufacturing License issued by the State of California Food and Drug Branch and is registered as a Drug Establishment with the FDA.  

Q: How do the True Essential products compare in quality with competing companies' products?

Our products, including our Protein Shakes and other Weight Management supplements, compare well with any other product line and are actually superior to most other product offerings.  There are strict regulations for actual manufacturing processes that all certified Good Manufacturing Practices (cGMP) companies are required to adhere to.  These regulatory standards ensure safety, purity, nutrient integrity, and so on.  Our products are produced to these very high quality control standards as required by the FDA and are designed by a well-respected, expert formulation scientist with approximately 30 years experience in this field.  Please take time to review the information posted on our "About Us"  page to become more familiar with our company.  The "General Supplement FAQs" information might be helpful for you to review also.  Here are the links to these pages: http://www.trueessentials.net/aboutus.asp

http://www.trueessentials.net/235.asp  

There are two important aspects of quality; one aspect is the physical nature of product quality, which involves raw material selection and the manufacturing process; the other critical aspect of quality is the design of the particular supplement, the selection of the type and amount of nutrients that will be included, nutrients that will work together in synergy to provide a comprehensive solution for the target of a particular supplement.  Joint Solutions with HA, Calcium Plus and Boost & Burn are terrific examples of such versatile and complete-solution products.  At True Essentials, we take great pride in developing unique, highly effective comprehensive supplement options for our customers. 

Q: What are the various ways nutrient amounts are measured?

A: Minerals and water‐soluble vitamins are expressed in terms of weight. Fat‐soluble vitamins are usually reported in terms of activity because the various forms of these vitamins have different levels of activity. The most common form used for fat‐soluble vitamins is the International Unit (IU). International Units can be converted to weight equivalents if the form of the fat‐soluble vitamin is known and taken into consideration. Some nutrients are listed in micrograms (mcg) and others are listed in milligrams (mg).

A milligram (mg) indicates a unit of weight that is 1000 times heavier than a microgram (mcg).

It takes 1000 micrograms (mcg) to equal 1 milligram (mg).

So 1 microgram (1 mcg) is 1/1000 of a milligram (0.001 mg).

And 100 micrograms (100 mcg) is the same as 1/10 of a milligram (0.1 mg).

Likewise, 400 micrograms (400 mcg) is the same as 4/10 of a milligram (0.4 mg)

Q: How can I learn more about True Essentials Supplements?

A: Please browse our web site, www.trueessentials.net, and familiarize yourself with the resources and information available there. Each product has detailed product information pages that you can access online and print or save on your computer if you wish to. We recommend that you print these out and have them handy for when you or a friend has questions about a product. The True Essentials Catalog is a convenient reference tool for familiarizing yourself with the available products and their benefits. Also posted on the True Essentials web site are issues of Health Today, a newsletter that covers a variety of nutritional topics and often includes information and recent research related to the benefits and value of our products. If you want to dig deeper into the science behind our nutrients, the product pages list references and web site links so that you can learn more.

Q: What is the coating on the tablets?

A: The coating is a water and plant cellulose solution that serves to create a smooth coating so that the tablet is easier to swallow and in some cases it also masks unpleasant flavors and odors. It is also applied to protect the tablets from moisture and degradation. The coating is easily dissolved so that the ingredients are readily available for absorption.