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Writer's pictureDr. Charlotte Morgan, D.Ac.

All Supplements are NOT Created Equal



An investigation by NY State attorney general’s office into store brand supplements (GNC, Target, Walmart, Walgreens) do NOT contain the herbs shown on their labels and many included potential allergens not identified on the ingredient list. For someone with a gluten allergy, taking a daily vitamin that is contaminated with gluten can be detrimental to their health.


“Contamination, substitution and falsely labeling herbal products constitute deceptive business practices and, more importantly, present considerable health risks for consumers,” - New York Times



GNC Herbal Plus brand:


Gingko Biloba: No gingko biloboa found, detected allium (garlic), rice, spruce and asparagus

St. John’s Wort: No St. John’s Wort found, did detect allium, rice, and dracaena (plant)

Ginseng: No ginseng found, did detect rice, dracaena, pine, wheat/grass and citrus

Echinacea: No echinacea found, did detect rice in some samples

Saw Palmetto: One sample found palmetto, other detections were rice, asparagus, primrose


Target Up & Up brand


Gingko Biloba: No gingko biloba found, detected rice, garlic, and mung bean

St. John’s Wort: No St. John’s Wort found, detected rice, garlic, and dracaena

Valerian Root: No valerian root found, detected allium, bean, asparagus, pea family, rice, wild carrot, saw palmetto

Garlic: Contained garlic, one test identified no plant DNA

Echinacea: Most but not all tests detected Echinacea, one detected rice

Saw Palmetto: Most tests detected saw palmetto, some tests found no plant DNA


Walgreens Finest Nutrition Brand


Gingko Biloba: No gingko biloba found, detected rice

St. John’s Wort: No St. John’s Wort found, detected rice, garlic, and dracaena

Ginseng: No ginseng found, did detect rice and garlic

Garlic: No garlic found, detected palm, dracaena, wheat, rice

Echinacea: No echinacea found, detected garlic, rice, daisy


Walmart Spring Valley Brand


Gingko Biloba: No gingko biloba found, detected rice, dracaena, mustard, wheat, and radish

St Johns Wort: No St Johns Wort found, detected garlic, rice, cassava

Ginseng: No ginseng found, detected rice, dracaena, pine, wheat/grass, and citrus

Garlic: One sample showed small amounts of garlic, detected rice, pine, palm, dracaena, and wheat

Echinacea: No echinacea or plant material found


Choosing poor quality vitamins from super stores or from amazon is never a good idea. As a practitioner, my license gives me access to herbs and supplements that are high quality, high potency, and laboratory tested. It is important to get your supplements from a qualified practitioner who can accurately diagnose your health concerns, test you for vitamin deficiencies, and put you on an appropriate regimen tailored to what your body actually needs. In my office, I do this through nutrition counseling, herbs and supplements, and vitamin injections.


I have listed some of my favorite products on my Fullscript account, which gives you access to my dispensary of practitioner-grade supplements. Some items will require an appointment or consultation with me. Click the FullScript link at the bottom of the page to purchase.


Resources:





With Love,




Charlotte Morgan, M.S. L.Ac.


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