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Better Health On-The-Go: How To Pick the Right Meal Supplement

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Better Health On-The-Go: How To Pick the Right Meal Supplement

 

These days, time can be a luxury only a few of us may have. Juggling careers, personal lives, and financial obligations can leave us with very little time to actually sit down for a full meal when we need it, which has given rise to a market for fast, on-the-go meal supplements. It can certainly be much more cost-efficient (not to mention less time-consuming) to grab a protein shake or take a few vitamins rather than prepare a full meal, but as a consumer, it’s important to know which products are right for you, and which are not.

 

Here are a few tips on how to pick the right meal supplements:

 

  • Evaluate Your Health

Every dietary supplement is going to be labeled as healthy, but you should know where your health stands before you decide to stock up on fish oil tablets at the local pharmacy. You should have a clear understanding of your own physical condition, including any allergies or diseases you may have, before you invest in meal supplements. It is recommended that you visit a physician before you start taking supplements, because the consequences can be potentially dangerous, if not fatal.

 

  • Determine Your Goals

Not all meal supplements are for everyone, and this is especially true if you have a particular goal in mind. Certain meal supplements are only intended for people with specific goals in mind, such as losing weight, building muscle, improving circulatory function, or for a specific nutritional deficiency.

 

  • Read the Labels

Dietary supplements, especially daily vitamins, often come with grandiose promises of improving your overall health, but the only way to be sure is to read the nutritional labels. The labels generally include important information about recommended servings or dosages, along with information about potential side effects.

 

Things to Consider

 

  • Meal Supplement vs. Meal Replacement

There’s a common misconception among consumers that meal supplements actually replace meals, which is far from the truth. Even if you are taking supplements, you should not be substituting them for your normal meals unless otherwise directed to do so. Meal replacement foods differ from supplements in that they often contain all the essential nutrients you would get from a balanced meal, and it’s important to understand the distinctions between the two before investing heavily into them.

 

 

  • Exercise

Many people believe that simply adhering to a particular diet, especially one consisting of dietary supplements, is enough to maintain good health. Although you may be getting your recommended daily nutrients, there is still no substitute for physical activity. Even with generous portions of supplements, you’ll still have to exercise for your body to consume them efficiently.

 

  • Safety

It can be easy to get caught in the consumer trap of consuming large amounts of vitamins simply because they’re advertised to improve your health. If you intend on purchasing meal supplements, it’s important that you understand the effects they might have on your body. Pay close attention to types of supplements available on the market, and don’t rush into buying anything that could be dangerous. Generally, you’ll want to make sure that the supplements you take are approved or certified by a food safety regulatory agency before you buy them. In most cases, you’ll be able to find this information on the labels.

At Dure Foods Ltd. We take this seriously. Contact us to find out more.

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Food Safety Standards: Is Your Supplier Up to Snuff?

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Food Safety Standards: Is Your Supplier Up to Snuff?

 

In the food business, there is nothing more important than food safety. If there’s even a slight chance that your food products pose a health risk to your consumers, you might as well pack up your shop and consider another venture. It may only take one incident of food poisoning to destroy any prospect of success for your business, which is why you’ll want to work with food suppliers who meet the highest standards of food safety in the industry. Food safety standards may vary between different regulatory agencies and countries, but you’ll generally want to work with suppliers who are certified by the following agencies:

 

  • Global Food Safety Initiative

The Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI) is an international trade organization that oversees food safety standards around the world. The GFSI provides a benchmarking process for food suppliers, which include health and safety standards for food packaging, distribution, storage, farming, and manufacturing. Although the GFSI doesn’t accredit or certify food retailers, their benchmarking process serves as the foundation for other agencies to implement food safety protocol, and retailers can receive a GFSI certification through various third-party agencies.

 

  • British Retail Consortium

The British Retail Consortium (BRC) is a UK-based trade association that represents most retail stores in the United Kingdom. In addition to their role in retail management, the BRC is one of the leading authorities on global food safety standards. Companies that supply supermarkets and other food retailers are legally bound to comply with standards put forward by the BRC, which including proper food labeling, distribution, supply chain management, and storage.

 

  • NSF International

The National Sanitation Foundation (NSF) was first established in 1944 in to address the need for standardized sanitation and food safety requirements. Since then, the NSF’s role in public safety has extended to other parts of the globe. Businesses that receive NSF certification, and those that deal with food products in particular, have demonstrated that their products are in compliance with some of the highest international safety standards.

 

  • U.S. Food and Drug Administration

If your business sells food products in the U.S., you’ll have to work with food suppliers that adhere to standards established by the Food and Drug Administration. The FDA is a branch of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, which is maintained and controlled by an executive appointed by the President of the United States. The FDA functions as a regulatory agency that oversees the manufacture, sale, and distribution of food and pharmaceutical products, including dietary supplements, farmed foods, and cosmetics. The FDA Food Code serves as a model for food safety regulations across state and local agencies.

 

Ask Your Supplier

Whether you own a restaurant or a yogurt shop, you’ll want to make sure that your suppliers are able to meet all the required food safety practices in the food business. Food borne illnesses are some of the most common illnesses in the world, and you’ll definitely want to ask your supplier about how they can ensure that consumers won’t become sick from their products.

At Dure Foods Ltd. We take Food Safety Standards very seriously and we do not take lightly that you use our products and you do have a choice.  To learn more or discuss your needs, contact us here.