Have you ever walked down the supplement aisle and been shocked by the supplement cost of some products?
Then you turn the corner and see the same supplements by a different brand for a fraction of the price.
Why are some supplement costs so expensive while others are in the discount bin?
Is it just about branding, or are some supplements truly better than others?
The truth is that there is a huge difference in quality from one supplement brand to another. Some brands put a lot of work into making the most effective supplements possible. Others are just trying to make a buck.
Below, you’ll discover the real reasons behind the wide range of prices in the supplement world. And, you’ll learn how to choose a supplement brand that actually gives a hoot about your health.
Not All Supplements are Created Equal
You might assume that all supplement brands are basically the same, with the only difference being the label on the bottle.
After all, vitamin C is vitamin C, right? Not so fast.
The reality is that not all supplements are created equal. There’s a wide variation in ingredients and quality, which plays a huge role in the price differences you see across different brands.
Let’s take the essential mineral magnesium for example.
Many supplement brands use magnesium oxide as a source of magnesium. It’s cheap, and it’s technically magnesium, but there’s a big problem: it has low bioavailability.
That means your body can’t absorb it very well.
So, even though the bottle claims that one serving contains 100% of your daily magnesium, you might only absorb around 10%.
Other brands use more expensive sources of magnesium such as magnesium citrate or magnesium bisglycinate. These result in products that are costlier but much more effective.
These quality differences exist at every stage of supplement production—from ingredient sourcing and manufacturing tech to storage and testing. And they all have a big impact on the quality of the final product.
For example, Manna uses advanced technology to encase our nutrients in liposomes. This protects them on their journey through your digestive tract and promotes high bioavailability.
While this increases the cost of our supplements, it also increases nutrient absorption by up to 10 times. We think that’s worth a few extra bucks.
Trading Quality for Profit
Some companies prioritize profit over quality, which can lead to products that don’t deliver what they promise. These companies are more interested in making a quick buck than ensuring you get a product that will benefit your health.
But how is it possible? Doesn’t the government regulate supplements?
Unfortunately, the supplement industry isn’t as tightly regulated as you might expect. This also plays a role in price and quality differences.
In the United States, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does not regulate supplements as drugs. Instead, they regulate them in a separate category more similar to how they regulate food.
This means FDA regulations focus more on ensuring supplements are safe to consume rather than whether they actually work or contain what they claim to.
Some companies take advantage of this by making exaggerated claims about their products. They often use marketing tactics to justify high prices without backing them up with real quality.
In some cases, supplements may contain less of the active ingredients than listed on the label, or they may be made with cheaper, less absorbable forms of nutrients.
The result?
Supplements that appear affordable may actually cost you more in the long run because they aren’t delivering the results you want.
That’s why it’s important to do your research and look beyond the price tag when choosing a supplement.
The Price of Quality
It doesn’t matter whether you’re talking about supplements, socks, or spaghetti—quality products tend to cost more.
High-quality supplements come from companies that are transparent about their sourcing, production and testing processes.
These brands create products that are safe and effective.
They use high-quality ingredients, and they invest in proper testing to make sure each bottle’s contents match the label.
These companies don’t just go the extra mile—they go many extra miles, and this comes with a higher cost.
But, it also means you’ll probably get the results you paid for. Here’s a breakdown of the factors that impact supplement quality.
- Ingredient Quality & Sourcing: High-quality supplements often use natural or sustainably sourced ingredients that are as close to real food as possible. This costs substantially more than synthetic alternatives. The better the ingredient, the more effective the supplement.
- Innovative Delivery Methods: Advanced technologies, like liposomal delivery, boost the absorption of nutrients. These methods require costly equipment, research and qualified staff to implement. Manna’s team of scientists has developed proprietary technology, NANOFUSE, to better deliver the nutrients your body needs.
- Testing and Certification: Reputable supplement companies hire third-party labs to verify the purity, potency and safety of their products. Of course, this costs money, but it also provides an extra level of safety and quality control.
- Certified Manufacturing Facilities: Certifications such as cGMP (Current Good Manufacturing Practice) ensure that supplements are produced in clean and controlled environments. Manna manufactures its supplements at our own GMP-compliant facility in California.
While it might be tempting to grab the cheapest option on the shelf, it’s important to remember that when it comes to supplements, you often get what you pay for.
High-quality supplements may come with a higher price tag, but they’re also more likely to offer the real benefits you’re looking for.
How to Choose a High-Quality Supplement
Ok, so now you know why some supplements are expensive. But how do you choose a supplement that doesn’t cut corners?
Here’s a simple checklist of what to look for when shopping for supplements:
- Check the Supplement Facts Label: Look at the supplement facts label on the back of the bottle and check for the type and amount of each nutrient. Look up the nutrient source on Google (find it in parentheses next to the nutrient) to check its bioavailability. Avoid supplements with fillers, artificial colors, or additives with long unpronounceable names.
- Delivery Method: How are the vitamins getting into your bloodstream? Opt for supplements with advanced delivery methods, like liposomal delivery, which increases the absorption of nutrients. Chewable or swallowable pills, by contrast, are not very effective because nutrients can be easily destroyed during digestion.
- Country of Origin: Choose supplements manufactured in countries with strong regulatory systems, such as the USA or European Union, where production standards are strictly enforced.
- cGMP Manufacturing: The supplement brand should follow Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) standards. Check for the GMP stamp on the product label or website. This guarantees the product is made in a controlled, safe environment.
- Third-Party Testing: Look for brands that submit their products for third-party testing. This verifies that the supplement contains the ingredients and potency claimed on the label. You can usually check the results of these tests on the brand’s website.
- Transparency and Ingredient Sourcing: High-quality brands share information about where they source their ingredients, whether they use organic or non-GMO ingredients and how their products are made.
We get it. Using this checklist is a lot of work.
Instead, save yourself the hassle by choosing Manna Liposomal Supplements.
We check every box on the list above.
Our supplements are formulated by scientists and nutritionists who are committed to providing high-quality, effective supplements you can trust.
But you don’t have to take our word for it. Our customer reviews speak for themselves.
Choosing Quality Supplements is Worth it
High-quality supplements cost more because they use better ingredients, qualified professionals make them and they undergo testing for safety and effectiveness. These factors cost more money, and those costs are passed on to you.
But consider the alternative. Would you rather buy a supplement with low-quality ingredients that your body can’t even use?
By doing that you’re not saving money—you’re throwing it away. Investing in your health is one of the smartest choices you can make, so don’t settle for cheap products that simply don’t work.
Choose high-quality options that nourish your body with nutrition that actually makes you feel better.
By choosing Manna Liposomal Supplements, you get premium ingredients, high bioavailability and thorough testing.
Most of all, you get the peace of mind of taking a supplement made with your health in mind.
FAQ
Look for third-party testing, GMP certifications, transparency in ingredient sourcing, and advanced delivery methods like liposomal technology to ensure high quality.
The FDA regulates supplements for safety but not for efficacy. This is why it’s important to choose supplements from reputable brands that test for potency and purity.
High supplement costs often stem from superior ingredient quality, advanced manufacturing techniques, and third-party testing, which ensure better effectiveness and safety.
In many cases, yes. More expensive supplements often use higher-quality ingredients and advanced delivery methods that improve absorption and provide better health benefits.
Bioavailability refers to how well your body absorbs nutrients. High-quality supplements use forms of nutrients with higher bioavailability, making them more effective.
Source/s:
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4330859/
