Review: The Comparative Guide to Nutritional Supplements, 2011 Ed.

Since nutritional supplement products are not regulated by the US Food and Drug Administration, it is difficult for consumers to evaluate and compare them to as to quality. Many over the counter products only meet the government's minimum Required Daily Allowances for vitamins and minerals.


The Comparative Guide to Nutritional Supplements 2011 Consumer Edition  by Lyle MacWilliam http://www.comparativeguide.com/ is a helpful resource for learning about the appropriate use of nutritional supplements and how they contribute to optimal health, disease prevention, and anti-aging defense.

In the latest updated edition, over 1600 US and Canadian supplements were scientifically rated and compared, using 18 critical health supportive criteria to evaluate each product.

What I liked the most in this edition are the two chapters on the history and latest scientific findings on vitamin D.  There is an excellent summary of the overwhelming research confirming the beneficial effects of vitamin D in disease prevention, boosting immunity and strengthening bones.  While the recommended daily intake of vitamin D has been raised to 600 IU per day, there are many experts who believe it should be higher yet.  While the best way to get vitamin D is still from the sun, everyone living outside the tropics or a predominantly indoor lifestyle must supplement for the sake of health.

I found MacWilliam's Guide to be an excellent source of information when considering the various scientific ratings conducted of nutritional supplements for this book. The Guide includes comparative ratings of many popular brands of supplements, including those sold in drug and health stores with other less well known brands which are not available through such venues.