Frequently Asked Questions
- Why can’t I get everything I need from my diet?
- Why is it necessary to take vitamin supplements to be healthy?
- Are vitamins safe to take?
- Are herbs safe to take? Like the ones in Just Chill™ and Brain Boost™?
- Are vitamins safe during pregnancy?
- Are herbs safe during pregnancy?
- What does “bioavailability” mean?
- Is it OK to take vitamins after their expiration date?
- How long do vitamins last?
- Why do multivitamin/supplements have expiration dates?
- Should I take nutritional supplements such as a multivitamin in the morning or at night?
- Can I hurt myself by overdosing on vitamins?
- Can I still take vitamins if I have a cold or flu?
- What is the “glycemic index”?
- Should supplements be taken with food or away from food?
- How do I take my Student Formula supplement?
- How long will it take for the supplements to take effect?
- How many Brain Boost should I take and how often can I take it?
- Should I take Brain Boost with food?
- Can I drink coffee or any other caffeine beverages while using Brain Boost?
- Will Brain Boost keep me up at night?
- Will Brain Boost upset my stomach?
- Does Brain Boost have caffeine?
- Where does the caffeine come from?
- I already take a multivitamin should I take Brain Boost?
- How many capsules of Brain Boost can you take per day? How many capsules of Brain Boost can I take in one go?
- How and when do I take Just Chill?
- Why do I need to take Just Chill?
- How and when do I take Green Latte?
- Can I blend it with something?
- What is that floating in Green Latte?
- What is the sweet taste in Green Latte?
- If I am allergic to grasses, can I take Green Latte?
- Why can’t I get everything I need from my diet?
- Why is it necessary to take vitamin supplements to be healthy?
- Are vitamins safe to take?
- Are herbs safe to take? Like the ones in Just Chill™ and Brain Boost™?
- Are vitamins safe during pregnancy?
- Are herbs safe during pregnancy?
- What does “bioavailability” mean?
- Is it OK to take vitamins after their expiration date?
- How long do vitamins last?
- Why do multivitamin/supplements have expiration dates?
- Should I take nutritional supplements such as a multivitamin in the morning or at night?
- Can I hurt myself by overdosing on vitamins?
- Can I still take vitamins if I have a cold or flu?
- What is the “glycemic index”?
- Should supplements be taken with food or away from food?
- How do I take my Student Formula supplement?
- How long will it take for the supplements to take effect?
- How many Brain Boost should I take and how often can I take it?
- Should I take Brain Boost with food?
- Can I drink coffee or any other caffeine beverages while using Brain Boost?
- Will Brain Boost keep me up at night?
- Will Brain Boost upset my stomach?
- Does Brain Boost have caffeine?
- What does the caffeine come from?
- I already take a multivitamin should I take Brain Boost?
- How many capsules of Brain Boost can you take per day? How many capsules of Brain Boost can I take in one go?
- How and when do I take Just Chill?
- Why do I need to take Just Chill?
- How and when do I take Green Latte?
- Can I blend it with something
- What is that floating in Green Latte?
- What is the sweet taste in Green Latte?
- If I am allergic to grasses, can I take Green Latte?
Studies continue to tell us that Americans fall short of meeting the minimum nutritional requirements to stay healthy. Which means we are falling way short of providing the nutritional needs to perform at our best both physically and mentally. The latest research tells us that over 90% of the population do not meet the minimum requirements of at least one nutrient. Over 80% of the population falls short of meeting our fruit and vegetable needs. We can’t get everything we need from our diet because statistics tell us it’s just not happening. In order to improve our nutritional intake, we need to look towards all natural, nutrient dense supplements.
A healthy diet consists of plenty of fruits and vegetables and whole grains (preferably organic). Fruits and vegetables should be preferably fresh; fresh frozen is still good but not as good as “off the farm” fresh! Recent studies indicate that the majority of meals in the U.S. are eaten in restaurants rather than in the home. Restaurant food tends to be too high in fat, sugar and salt. Additionally, convenience foods now make up a much higher percentage of the average diet than in the past. In some people well over 60% of their food is from so-called “empty” calorie foods (candy, sweets, chips, or other highly processed foods that contain very little real nutritional value other than calories). Remember that the more highly processed a food is, the more likely it is to have a low nutritional value.
Another factor is the high stresses found in today’s fast-paced and busy life. The greater the external stresses, the higher the nutritional demands on the body. Eating a poor-quality diet robs you of the nutritional factors necessary to help you stay healthy.
Many people are simply unaware of how to shop for healthy foods. Convenience and taste become the major criteria for food selection, while nutritional value is given little attention, if any at all.
Many nutritional researchers point to the rising problems of obesity, diabetes and heart conditions as evidence of the deteriorating quality of the diet most people consume. If you have questions about your diet, it is important that you discuss them with your healthcare provider on your next visit.
The simplest answer is because most people eat a poor diet. Studies show that the average diet in the U.S. consists of too much fat, too much sugar, not enough fiber, fresh fruits and vegetables. We are eating plenty of calories, but they are often “empty” calories, meaning that they have very low levels of the essential vitamins and minerals we need to stay healthy. Since the majority of meals in the U.S. are currently eaten in restaurants or “on the run” it makes good sense to take a nutritional supplement to fill in the gaps in our diet.
While it is important to remember the value of a nutritional supplement in maintaining health, we should never think that taking a supplement replaces a good diet. In fact, it is important that you understand that a nutritional supplement is a part of a healthy diet. It is clear that food alone will only meet your minimum nutritional needs, if that. But in order to maximize your health, improve the quality of life and perform at our physical and mental peak, you need to make a nutrient dense nutritional supplement a part of your diet, like those found in STUDENT FORMULA™.
Our products were scientifically formulated based on sound science and traditional herbal therapies. Our formulators have over 50 years of combined experience developing nutritional therapies. Our formulations were not only designed to work, they were developed to have no side effects. The herbs in our formulas have been used in the treatment and support of human health for thousands of years. During that time much has been learned about what herbs can do, how to prepare them and which herbs are to be used for what purposes. In the hands of experienced and qualified professionals, herbs can work wonders!
Caution is particularly advised during pregnancy, when taking herbs and pharmaceutical medications together, or when taking herbs for extended periods of time. For these reasons, we advise that you discuss all herbs or supplements you are taking (or considering whether to take) with your health care practitioner.
Our products were scientifically formulated based on sound science and traditional herbal therapies. Our formulators have over 50 years of combined experience developing nutritional therapies. Our formulations were not only designed to work, they were developed to have no side effects. The herbs in our formulas have been used in the treatment and support of human health for thousands of years. During that time much has been learned about what herbs can do, how to prepare them and which herbs are to be used for what purposes. In the hands of experienced and qualified professionals, herbs can work wonders!
Caution is particularly advised during pregnancy, when taking herbs and pharmaceutical medications together, or when taking herbs for extended periods of time. For these reasons, we advise that you discuss all herbs or supplements you are taking (or considering whether to take) with your health care practitioner.
It is important to note the difference between vitamins, minerals, herbs and phytonutrients. Vitamins and minerals have RDI’s (recommended daily intakes) and are an essential part of your diet. You cannot survive for extended periods of time without them. Herbs and phytonutrients can improve your health and well-being but are not essential. All vitamins are essential and safe during pregnancy; in fact that is precisely the time when they are most needed! Not only must your diet support the mother’s health and vitality, but that of her developing baby as well. A deficiency of certain nutrients (such as vitamin B12 or folic acid) during the early stages of pregnancy have been shown to significantly increase the risk of birth defects such as spina bifida.
There is some animal evidence in animal testing that high levels of some vitamins may increase the risk of birth defects – most notably, the fat-soluble vitamins such as Vitamin A, D and E. Although supplements are generally safe during pregnancy, you must first consult your healthcare provider before taking any supplement, over the counter medication or prescription drugs.
Less research has been done on herb use during pregnancy than on vitamins or minerals, but it is helpful to recall that herbs have been in use for hundreds and even thousands of years (long before isolated vitamins, minerals or prescription pharmaceuticals were available!) While research is beginning to establish safety in humans during pregnancy (echinacea for immunity and ginger for nausea, for example), it is generally not advised to take herbs during this time, unless specifically directed by your healthcare practitioner. As is true at all times, but especially during pregnancy or while nursing, be sure and discuss these questions with your health care provider.
Bioavailability refers to the potential a product has to be absorbed into the bloodstream and have the desired impact on the consumer. In other words, a product with very high quality raw materials but is made in such a way that the tablet doesn’t break down properly would have low bioavailability and would thus not do the patient any good. The disintegration time as an example of a test that measures aspects of bioavailability; it is the time it takes under controlled conditions for a tablet to break down completely. If a supplement breaks down when it is supposed to, there is a greater likelihood that it will be absorbed into the system.
No. While minerals generally do not deteriorate vitamins do and their potency diminishes over time. The expiration date is there to ensure that you are getting the freshest products, with the highest possible quality and potency. Although the potency of certain vitamins may be diminished over time, they do not become harmful after expiring. In general, it is not recommended to take products that have expired.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration dictates that if supplement manufacturers list an expiration date on their products, they must maintain records that prove that the products contain what the labels state, at expiration. This is because, like everything else, vitamins have a “life span.” While they are generally stable, especially when kept away from direct sunlight and high temperatures, there may be a gradual loss of potency over time. A reputable company will slightly “overfill” their supplements, meaning that they put enough of each nutrient in the tablet to compensate for any loss of potency over time. A two-year expiration date means that the company is certifying that the product will continue to meet or exceed the label claim for two years from the date of manufacture.
As the tablets become exposed to sunlight, oxygen and moisture, vitamins may gradually lose potency. Although they do not become “toxic” or harmful, they may not provide the results the practitioner and consumer depends upon. In order to set expiration dates, the manufacturer must perform stability tests showing how much degradation of the product occurs over time, and put in enough of the raw material to compensate for any lost potency. Expiration dates ensure that the product will provide consistent results.
To date, there is no specific research that definitively answers that question. Arguments could be made to support taking supplements in the morning, at night, or even at other times (such as at mealtime, for instance). The most important step is to take nutritional supplements consistently.
Everything has a range of safety, which also means that there is a potential (however small) that enough could be taken to become harmful. For example, even water and sunlight, which are essential for life, can become harmful if taken in extremely large quantities or for too long a time. In the case of most vitamins, the amounts used in supplements have been shown in repeated studies to be very safe. But because there is the possibility of taking “too much of a good thing,” it is important to discuss with your healthcare provider ALL supplements (and the amounts of each) you are taking, so your specific health goals can be properly met.
While promoting good health is where nutritional supplements and herbs have been shown to have their best effects, it is certainly helpful to continue on your supplement program when sick; in fact, the added stresses of fighting an infection significantly increases your body’s nutritional requirements. Continue taking your supplements until advised to stop or change dosages by your healthcare provider.
The glycemic index (GI) is a ranking of foods on a scale from 0 to 100 according to the extent in which they raise blood sugar levels after eating. Glucose is given a relative number of 100 to provide a baseline to which all others can be compared. For example, an apple has a glycemic index of 38 which is less than half that of glucose, but higher than soybeans (which have a glycemic index of 18). Other common foods and their corresponding glycemic indices are Corn Flakes (84), dark rye bread (80), and bananas (54).
Certain supplements are meant to support the digestive process itself, so they should be taken at or near mealtimes. Your healthcare provider can give you specific instructions. No scientific studies have been conducted to definitively answer whether absorption of vitamins and minerals is better when supplements are taken with meals or away from meals, and a case could be made for either position. Many people find that taking supplements with their meals has the benefits of convenience and a reduced potential for stomach upset, however.
Take your supplements during or after a meal, unless directed otherwise, and drink plenty of fluids as well. For maximum benefits, take your supplements consistently, with the exception of Just Chill™ and Brain Boost™ – these may be taken on an as needed basis.
Always keep your physician informed. Discuss any symptoms or health concerns with your physician, and inform him or her that you are taking dietary supplements.
