| | | | | | /Frequently Asked Questions If your question is not answered here, please feel free to contact customer service. More FAQs coming soon! | | Q:What is Pioneer's Health Education Library?
A: This is a collection of informative, non-product-linked educational materials, including professionally written brochures that approach specific health issues such as osteoporosis, stress reduction and heart health, from a natural, holistic perspective. It also offers fact sheets, newsletters, clinical research reviews, and a poster about understanding supplement labels. All Health Education Library materials are offered free of charge to our customers.
Q:How do you go about creating your formulas?
A: Product formulation begins with the selection of specific forms of ingredients based on:
1) Evidence from the results of sound, published, scientific research
2) What experienced clinicians have found to be effective in private practice.
Once we have determined which ingredients to use in a particular formula, we search far and wide to find the highest quality materials from the most credible and reliable sources. We assay for purity and potency, both before and after production. Our supplements are tableted and encapsulated in modern, high-tech facilities that conform to strict Good Manufaturing Practice standards. As holistic clinicians, we insist on only natural manufacturing agents, avoiding common allergens, added preservatives, colors and flavors.
Of course, quality often costs more. We could make a less expensive product, but we believe that superior quality is essential for optimum efficacy, and we want our customers to truly benefit from our formulas.
Q:How can one distinguish between a "good" nutritional supplement and a "bad" one?
A: In the world of nutritional supplements, it takes a little detective work to tell the difference between better quality and mediocrity. A lot can be determined through the careful reading of labels, provided one knows what to look for. It is important to really understand all of the information a supplement label gives you.
First, find out what it is you want. Learn what constitutes a "therapeutic" or helpful amount of a particular nutrient, then read the label to see if the supplement provides this. A better supplement gives you therapeutically effective amounts of ingredients and hides nothing. Look for labels that clearly list the amount, source, ratio and, in the case of herbal extracts, potency of each ingredient.
When a label simply lists ingredients in descending order by weight, without specifying exact quantities, there may be a reason. Some manufacturers use this technique to hide information about the formula, for example, by "padding" the label with ingredients that may sound impressive, but are only present in "pixie dust" amounts. Relevent ingredients in therapeutically useless amounts won't help you. Beware of "proprietary blends", as this term really means, "it's a secret."
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