In addition to a healthy diet, supplements can help ensure your heart gets the nutrients it needs for optimal function. Unfortunately, some supplement labels misrepresent what’s inside. It is, therefore, important to understand your heart health supplement label to make sure you are getting optimal support.
Important Information to Look For
You have made the decision to add some essential support to your heart health routine. But how can you be sure which supplement to pick? Having the right information helps you make good purchasing decisions and ensures that you use the product effectively and safely.
Your heart health supplement label is where you will find all the information you need.
Suggested use: Supplements are regulated as food, so labels need to contain information about suggested use or servings. It is important to take only the recommended amount for effective results and optimal health.
Cautions or warnings: A supplement label should clearly state cautions and warnings. This lets you know if you need to avoid or take precautions when taking certain products.
Storage: To preserve the quality and potency of the supplement, it is essential that storage information is provided. Knowing how to properly store the supplement helps you maintain its effectiveness and freshness for optimal health results. Proper storage is also important for your safety and others.
1MD Nutrition’s CardioFitMD® features each of these on the back of the bag:
Suggested Use: As a dietary supplement, adults take one (1) scoop, once (1x) daily, with 12 fl oz of water or as recommended by a healthcare practitioner. CardioFitMD® is a High-in-Fiber supplement. Some may experience immediate effectiveness in promoting proper bowel function. Alternatively, start with a ½ scoop daily dose and slowly transition to a full scoop daily dose.
WARNING: Consult a healthcare practitioner if you are pregnant or nursing, have a serious medical condition or use any medications.
KEEP OUT OF REACH OF CHILDREN. DO NOT USE IF SAFETY SEAL IS DAMAGED OR MISSING. STORE IN A COOL, DRY PLACE. COLOR MAY VARY.
Expiration date: In addition to storage info, the expiration date needs to be provided on every label, assuring you that your supplement will contain the claimed potency until the date provided.
Dietary seals: Dietary and allergen information may be displayed differently, but it must be on every label for anyone with dietary restrictions to clearly see.
Quality standards: Assurance of quality is important when choosing supplements, so look out for the GMP logo on your label. This tells you the product was made according to the current FDA good manufacturing practices (cGMPs).
Manufacturer information: A quality supplement will provide the manufacturer's information, including phone number, email, and website so that you can reach out to them with any questions or concerns about their product.
FDA compliance: Including a statement like the one below shows that the manufacturer is compliant with FDA regulations and that the company has integrity for their products and the statements that they make to their customers.
*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease
Failure to include this statement would be a red flag that the company is not following basic regulations to ensure their product is safe and effective.
Heart Health Supplements
Now that you know what important general information to look out for, you can take a deeper dive into the supplement. What ingredients are included, and what can this supplement do for you?
When it comes to heart and circulatory health, the key features you want to focus on as you read your supplement label are functional description, health category, function claims, and ingredients.
The label or packaging should include a functional description that provides a summary of how the product and its ingredients support your health. CardioFitMD’s description is located on the back of the bag.
CardioFitMD® is the ultimate all-in-one, doctor-formulated, sugar-free drink, packed with superfoods for essential daily nutritional support. Containing a potent daily dose of beetroot, a broad-spectrum fiber, and prebiotics blend, Bacillus coagulans probiotic, and 20 key letter vitamins and minerals, CardioFitMD® is a great-tasting, nutrient-rich drink to maintain a healthy, active lifestyle.*
For a quick reference on identifying the main health attribute of the product and highlighted function claims, labels will provide the health function category.
When looking at CardioFitMD®, the bag features the main product attribute in bold and the key health benefits you need to know at a glance.
DAILY CARDIOVASCULAR & CIRCULATORY SUPPORT
Promotes Proper Heart Function*
Helps Maintain a Healthy Weight*
Supports Healthy Circulation*
Supports Healthy Blood Pressure Levels*
Promotes Proper Digestive Function*
Supports Healthy Energy Levels & Stamina*
Heart Health Supplement Ingredients
After identifying the benefits, the next components to check are the ingredients. Every supplement should include a supplement facts table listing every ingredient, the amount per serving, and the %DV (the percentage of the daily recommended value, this amount of a given ingredient is).
Not every list will include a number in the percentage daily value column. This is nothing to worry about and simply means that the FDA has not made an official recommendation for how much of this nutrient you should have.
♦ Broad-Spectrum Fiber supports proper digestion, nutrient absorption, and healthy weight management while also promoting heart health through the maintenance of healthy blood sugar, cholesterol, and blood pressure levels. The recommended daily intake (RDI) of fiber is 25 grams for women and 38 grams for men.
♦ Beetroot powder as a dietary supplement has a recommended dosage of 3,500 to 7,000 mg per day. Beetroot provides optimum levels of nitric oxide, an essential neurotransmitter that promotes arterial health to support healthy circulation, blood pressure, oxygen, and nutrient delivery to muscles for proper energy and overall heart health.
♦ Bacillus coagulans is a potent probiotic that is considered safe when taken as recommended. By promoting a diverse gut microbiome, this probiotic supports digestive, immune, and whole-body health.
♦ Twenty essential vitamins and minerals are included in CardioFitMD® at recommended dosages and include 100% (or more) of the Recommended Dietary Intake (RDI) of the top 10 most prevalent vitamin and mineral deficiencies facing Americans today.
♦ Rhodiola is a flowering herb that is considered safe for adult supplementation up to 300 mg per day and helps maintain a healthy balance of hormones to reduce occasional fatigue, so your body feels healthy energy levels.
Cholesterol Support Supplements
If you are looking for more targeted heart support, such as maintaining healthy cholesterol levels, you want to look for the same key features as shown on the label for CholestMD®.
Functional description
CholestMD® is a broad-spectrum formula designed to provide comprehensive cholesterol and cardiovascular support while aiding healthy lipid levels and blood circulation.*
Health function category & claims
PROMOTES CHOLESTEROL HEALTH
Promotes HDL Production*
Helps Maintain Normal Triglyceride Levels*
Supports Heart Health*
Cholesterol Support Supplement Ingredients
♦ Niacin is a B vitamin that is considered safe when taken as recommended and helps promote healthy cholesterol and triglyceride levels.
♦ Bergavit™ is a patented, clinically studied bergamot orange fruit extract that helps support healthy blood lipid levels to promote arterial and circulatory health. Doses between 500 and 1000 mg per day are recommended for optimal support and considered safe for adult consumption.
♦ Olive Leaf Extract has been part of the Mediterranean diet for centuries, so it is considered safe and delivers naturally-occurring plant polyphenols that help promote healthy blood lipid levels.
♦ Garlic Bulb Extract is considered safe when taken as recommended and contains allicin, supporting healthy blood lipid levels and arterial health.
No matter which heart health supplement you are purchasing, always choose one that does not contain any unnecessary fillers or additives.
Final Thoughts
As a board-certified interventional cardiologist, I have a strong appreciation for the benefit that naturally-sourced supplements have for heart and whole-body health. But, you want a supplement you can trust.
1MD Nutrition® understands the role labels play in helping you make your choice, so we make the choice easy for you. One look at your 1MD Nutrition® heart health supplement labels, and you’ll find all the information you need and all the ingredients your heart wants!
Dr. Heather Shenkman
Dr. Heather Shenkman is a board certified interventional cardiologist. She completed a six year program at Albany Medical College, graduating at the age of 23. She completed her residency at Henry Ford Hospital, cardiology fellowship at the University of Rochester, and interventional cardiology fellowship at the esteemed Tufts Medical Center in Boston.
